Chapter 32
KADEN
Leaning over the desk, I glare down at the map. Xs mark where our enemies lays, camps surrounding our border to the south. A detailed report was given by Zeke and Samkien after days of staking out our lands and both hover at my side as I try to make sense of it.
Or rather, try to plan.
Griffin’s forces are large, spread out in staggered positions. They cover the other’s blind spots, making sneak attacks harder. I could easily take out a camp with my siblings, while the soldiers stay back, but to be seen and captured would not help.
“And the rest of the troops?”
“On their way,” Zeke informs. The medals on his chest gleam in the candlelight. My first act since returning was to promote Zeke to General and Samkien to Captain. My mother would approve.
It was a rumor, one I saw firsthand growing up. My mother never loved Zelos, but she did love Zeke. By honoring him, I honor her.
“How long?”
Samkien rubs his chin. “Days, still.”
The lords further out in our kingdom were sent word once I arrived. It’ll take them time with their armies to come to our aid. If Griffin decided to attack, we’ll be short of help.
“Fuck,” I groan, slamming my hand on to the table. The map ruffles and neither of the Fae react. Luckily, without the curse, I’m no longer prone to losing control with small frustrations.
Fee strides in my office—what was once Zelos’ office. It still bears the marks of his rule—tall imposing bookcases, hidden compartments I’ve yet to explore, and small lavish details I’m slowly ridding of this home—but it holds my things now.
Oslo’s journals are in the desk, where I can easily reach them. It aids me in feeling like the old Fae is still guiding me.
“Do you kiss your queen with that mouth?”
Glaring at her, I smirk snidely. “I do other things with my mouth to my queen.”
She holds up a hand, face turning green as Zeke coughs a laugh into my hand. “Pass.”
“What do you bring?”
She tosses a small parchment onto the table, Mal entering behind her. He’s taken to blending into the Black Palace, wearing darker clothes like the rest of us. It’s not so weird; when he was a child, he often rummaged in Reid’s clothing to find something.
“Nothing good. Griffin’s men are still coming. He has wagons full of weapons and an arsenal coming in.” She crosses her arms, annoyed. “I’d say we’d find a way to hit him on the trails, but we’re limited.”
“You could blast them with fire,” Mal offers, looking at the map. “I’ve had to stop her no less than five times on our scouting missions.”
I give Fee a look. I do not have time to control her while preparing for war.
She shrugs, looking away. “I didn’t do it. But it would make things easier.”
“And then what, Fee?” I ask, gesturing to the map. “If we attack, we better be prepared for the return.”
My sister rolls her eyes, cocking a hip. “I didn’t think that far. That’s why you’re king.”
“Acting,” I remind her. I’m technically only king in name and power because of my birthright. I’ve not been formally coronated.
She waves me off. “You’re the king in all the ways that matter.”
“What shall we do?” Mal walks to stand beside me. “There’s only so much information we can get. Soon, they’ll be here.”
“I don’t know what they’re waiting for.”
“Griffin,” I answer smoothly. “He thinks he has the upper hand and wants to be the one to take the palace. I assume my head, too.”
“You did threaten to take his,” Fee says, brightly. “I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten that.”
“Probably not.”
“We should stock pile the armory,” the Woodland Fae offers. “Weapons, shields. I can help the blacksmiths.”
Fee cocks an eyebrow. “You know how to work metal?”
He winks. “There’s plenty you don’t know about me, Princess.”
I watch the interaction, confused. Looking to Zeke, I see a frown on his lips as well. Only Samkien seems to be amused by their banter.
“Whatever this is, can stop,” I say, finger gesturing between you. Looking at Mal, I jerk my chin. “Head out to the blacksmiths. Tell them we will pay double for their time.”
I see the surprise on my soldier’s faces. Zelos never offered it. But our coiffeurs are well stocked. Money isn’t what I’m worried about now. Only that we survive Griffin’s assault.
“You,” I command, pointing at my sister, “will work with Zeke training the current guards and the new troops that come in. I want them as one unit, not separated.”
Fee bows once, Zeke taking her arm to direct her to the training guards. She knows where to go, but I’m sure he feels the protectiveness I do rising in my chest.
She throws a look at Mal and fuck, I don’t like that at all.
Later. After the war, I’ll kill him.
Looking at Samkien, I call him forward. “We’re going out.”
“Is that wise?”
Shrugging, I grab my sword from the table, and ignore the crown everyone wants me to wear. “No. But I need to see things for myself.”
“And where are you going?” my mate calls, chasing after me as I stride through the main gates. Looking back, I try to keep the teasing smile off my face.
It’s a losing battle. Especially when it comes to her.
“Out.”
“Like Seti’s Hell,” she exclaims, skidding to stop before me. I’ve only just seen her that morning, and yet, she steals my breath. Dressed in a typical gown of silk with high slits, her hair hangs around her shoulders and her eyes shine brightly.
The look suits her.
Her crown, the blue gem, sits proudly on her neck, right under her scar. She hardly touches it now. In such a short time, the meek kitten from the peace summit has grown into a strong queen.
“I need to see for myself what is happening,” I placate, holding up my hands.
“And be killed in the process?”
She’s challenging me and I can’t help but smirk.
“Do you want to come with?”
“I want you to stay here,” she says, pointing to the black floor. “Safe. Where we can plan for the worst.”
Grabbing her chin, I kiss her deeply, uncaring of who watches. As king, this is my right. To shower my queen with love. A queen who sacrificed everything for me.
I hear a few servants murmur and I angle her head, tasting more of her perfect mouth. Brightness with a sharp tartness, she is a warm summer day to the coolness of life.
Pulling back, I laugh as it takes her a moment to fully open her eyes. “Ride with me.”
It takes her less time to change and mount the horse with me than it did to argue. As badly as she wanted me to remain at the castle, she’s going insane with the anxious energy. We are waiting for the attack, and it bothers both of us.
Stopping just short of the closest camp, we lower ourselves under the thick trees.
The land between the Shadowlands the rest of the Neevea where Witches and Humans live, is a mixture of the black gnarled trees from The Crow’s Feet Pass and the Eternal Night Forest. The grass is lush under our feet, and reaching branches of impersonal fingers of death hang overhead.
My mate looks around, smiling at the gothic beauty. I forget she’s never seen it. Last time we came through this way, she was unconscious in my arms, struck down by Griffin’s arrow.
I make another mental note. If he has more of that poison, I’ll order Fee to burn it on sight.
“This place is beautiful,” she whispers. “We should have a summer palace here.”
I smile, catching on to her meaning.
She’s making plans for the future. The threat of what’s to come, the pending war, doesn’t intrude on this wish.
Grabbing her hand, I follow Samkien further into the brush, all of us on silent feet. Thankfully, my queen has learned a few things under Fee’s tutelage.
“When we’ve won,” I murmur into her ear, “I will build you a summer palace fit for the Gods. With as many windows as possible to let in the cool air. And those pansies you’re so fond of planted along the edges. With a nursery.”
Her eyes twinkle. “Make it two.”
My heart pounds in my chest and I’m so happy she can’t hear it. She’s going to be the death of me.
At the edge of the trees, Samkien motions for us to kneel. Odd. My ears pick up what he hears—many voices, all male and the clang of metal. The Humans.
They’re closer than the map says. They’re expanding.
We pull down the bush, taking care to remain in the shadows. The crowd before us is not a simple camp of scouts or soldiers readying for a king. This is an army.
And there are many of these pockets, all situated around my borders. Around my kingdom.
Fucking Human scum.
“We’re outmatched,” Samkien says quietly. I hate how it sounds—like we’re the weaker foe. But he’s right. “When the troops come, they will override us with sheer force.”
We are the better archers, the better swordsman, faster and stronger, but yet, they will defeat us from numbers alone. There are too many Humans for each of our skilled soldiers.
Glancing back, I open my mouth to ask my queen’s opinion, and stop. She’s looking to an herb on the forest ground, head tilted.
Returning to her side, I look down at the flower. A bush no bigger than my palm it’s dotted with red flowers. In the right light, they look almost like tiny flames, dancing in the black-green foliage.
“See something, love?”
“Burning bush,” she whispers. She picks up one of the leaf and rubs her fingers together, a black oil residue covering them. She holds them up. “I haven’t seen this since the Blackwoods Coven.”
I nod, though I don’t follow her. I know she understands plants better than most—one small gift from the woman who betrayed her—but I’m not sure how that helps us.
“I understand if it brings back memories—”
She grabs my wrist, yanking me forward. “The old crone who planted the bush, always warned me never to let it near a flame.”
Curious, I tilt my head. “Why? What happens?”
“It explodes.” She looks back to the oil, smiling. “I think we figured out a way to attack the paths leading to the camps.”
My eyes fall to the oil and I grin brightly. My fucking clever wife.
“We’ll have to harvest them.” I look around the small patch, seeing little pockets of the plant hidden under larger bushes. “And then figure out what to do.”
“I know how to harvest it,” she says proudly. “The old crone was the only one who used to let me work in her garden. She was a bit eccentric.” She shrugs, smirking. “I never thought her lessons would help one day.”
Kissing her hard, I smile against her lips. “You might have just given a chance in this war, kitten.”
Along with Samkien, we follow Max’s instructions. We use our daggers to cut around the roots, never cutting the leaves. Apparently that smallest bit of friction can be enough to set the plant on fire.
We pack the saddle bags full, including the pockets of Max’s satchel. When we make it back to the Black Palace, Baris stands at the front entrance, glaring down the parapet, arms crossed.
His expression changes when he sees Max, unharmed, holding a bouquet of the pink flowers. His eyebrow rise and he smirks—the closest to a real smile I’ve seen from the grumpy Fairy.
“Burning bush.” He nods. I guess everyone recognizes this plant. I thought it only a weed. “Good choice.”
“Did you do it?”
Glancing between them, I remove my gloves, tossing them at Samkien. The captain has the balls to glare at me. Luckily, I’ve known the Dark Fae for decades.
“Of course.”
“What did you do, Baris?”
The Fairy nods toward my wife. “Sent a hawk at her insistence.”
He takes our bags, promising to harvest them correctly. He too was given the same lessons about the volatility of the plant.
Grabbing Max, I swing her into my arms. “Sending secret messages to an admirer, kitten?”
She rolls her eyes playfully, tapping my chest affectionately. “Does sending a message to an old friend count?”
“No,” I respond casually. “But if the old friend is the bard—”
“It’s not—”
“Then I need his address and my sword polished. I’ll be using it in the morning.”
Max laughs, holding tight to my neck. “I have eyes for no one else but you.”
Lowering my head, I capture her lips in mine. No matter how many times I touch her, taste her, kiss her, I can never get enough. Thank Bel the urge to constantly drink from her subsided. I can only assume it was an effect of the binding potion.
“And I see no one else but you. Who was the letter to?”
She shrugs, pulling me from the gates. “Hopefully, help. If not, it doesn’t hurt to try.”
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I walk behind her, trying to direct her to our bedchambers. She giggles, a majestic sound I want to bottle and listen to on my bad days.
When the nightmares take me and I can’t seem to remember I’m safe, I would play the sound and remember the good.
“What are you doing?”
“Since it’s the end of the world,” or will be if we fail, “I thought I’d make good on my promise on a future child with you. Can’t do that unless my cock is inside of you.”
She smiles, shaking her head. “Another time. We have a kingdom to defend.”
I’d be disappointed if I didn’t admire her tenacity. Picking her up, I throw her over my shoulder, ignoring her feeble protests.
“Who knows what tomorrow brings, kitten? I’ve been a prisoner to other people’s whims and plans enough. Right now? I’m enjoying my mate.”