35. Aldrin #3
Worst of all are the civilians who flood the streets.
Titania’s cult following. They wear makeshift, hand-sewn imitations of the Truth Templars’ uniforms, blood red with crude black wilted roses painted across their chests, but without the protective armor.
These fae smash shop windows, pillaging the goods within, and attack groups of my soldiers in uncoordinated charges.
They are little better than frenzied wild beasts.
The City of Vertical Gardens has fallen under a spell of death and violence, ripping itself apart, but that was Titania’s aim. Anything to distract from her crimes.
The screams from below float up to us as my people suffer, along with the smashing of glass and booms as shops collapse in columns of flame. The tang of blood and smoke in the air adds to the bitterness in my mouth.
Keira turns her glassy doe eyes on me. “We need to do something, Aldrin. We cannot let them die down there, while we are safe up here.”
“I have been fighting in the streets all day and most of the night, since the moment you were taken.” I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“We have rotated task forces, allowing some to return to eat and rest while sending out others. It is a difficult thing, fighting rioting civilians. Most turn and run as soon as we arrive, and we cannot slaughter people who have taken to vandalizing shops, even if theirs is a targeted attack. On the other hand, we have killed many Truth Templars and Wildrose Guards, but more seem to keep coming. Her numbers are…shocking. She has her own personal army right here in the city. They are purposely taking the fight to the streets to coax us out. To make the army react and break their siege.”
“I never expected things to escalate this badly, though I should have,” Keira says softly. “How do we hold an election when the city has fallen into civil war? How do we do it quickly?”
I wrap both my arms around her waist, holding her tight with her back to my chest. “We do it the fae way. And on the backs of dragons.”
She rotates in my arms. “That doesn’t tell me much, Aldrin.”
“Elections are conducted with magical oaths in this realm. I will use my royal powers of compulsion to force a vote from every single citizen in the Spring Court. They only need to whisper to the wind which candidate they choose by sunset. When it is done, the markings of the oath will cover the winner’s skin for weeks.
For that time, every voter will have their new ruler’s name etched into their skin. It is undeniable.”
“As simple as that?” Her voice wavers.
“Well…” I rub a hand across my face. “We will need to fly across the court so I can get close enough to all the people to compel them. This magic doesn’t travel particularly far.”
“You can’t just compel your rioting citizens out in the streets to put their weapons down and go home?” She gives me a wry smile, because she already knows the answer, probably thinking of the time I used the same magic at that pixie mound.
I kiss the tip of her nose. “Yes, I could. The Spring fae would stop what they are doing and bow down to me immediately, but it would only last a handful of heartbeats. The ability is not enough to change the tide of a battle. Besides, I would only be able to control small regions at a time.”
She takes in a long breath and lets it out slowly, tension hunching her shoulders. “So, we roll the dice and call the election tomorrow.”
“We will leave with the sunrise, in a couple of hours. We must start at the edges of the court, covering all the wilds, townships and smaller cities, returning to the City of Vertical Gardens last and hoping Titania doesn’t find out before then.
The gods know what she will do to Sasha if she works it out sooner. ” My words fall heavily upon us both.
Keira’s shoulders deflate. “I must remember that we are not out of options yet, even if it all seems so bleak.”
“Come.” I take her by the elbow and lead her away from the balcony, toward my quarters. “You’re exhausted. There is still time for you to sleep.”
“Sleep?” Her eyebrows shoot up. “How can I justify sleeping when our world is ending?” Her hands are on my chest, fingers curling around the edges of my armor as she clings to me desperately. “I feel like I should be fighting right now, not leaving our people to their fate.”
“Keira.” I drag out her name. “There is little you can do tonight. They do not need one more warrior, no matter how powerful. What we must do tomorrow—that is a different story.”
She shakes her head, eyes squeezed tight and lips trembling.
“Let me take care of you.” I pull her into me, placing kisses along her neck and speaking against her soft skin. “Please, Keira. Let me take care of you after everything you’ve been through. You deserve it. Need it.”
A shiver ripples through her and I don’t wait for her answer. She lets out a small yelp as I bend down, scoop her up and throw her over my shoulder, relishing in the press of her soft curves against me. I can’t help the arousal that burns through me.
A hot bath and a bed for sleeping. That is all.