by R. G. Angel
“Colonel Woods?”
“I vote yes and same as Colonel Wyatt, I volunteer for the team,” Tamlin said.
We are together… We fall together, I thought, hoping to reach his mind. When he gave me a discreet nod, I knew he heard me.
I realized then that it was three against three which meant it was General Woods, Tamlin’s father, who would decide my fate, which pretty much meant that I was screwed.
General Woods looked from Tamlin to me a couple of times, indecision written on his face.
Please… please give us a chance, I thought in a silent plea.
“I vote… yes,” he said after what seemed forever. “Yes…” he whispered again.
“Sorry what?” I asked, dumbfounded.
He ignored my question. “With a vote of four against three, your demand is granted.”
I looked around the table, still having trouble believing I got my way. When I didn’t speak, General Woods continued.
“We will prepare a notice to be sent to Myros, and we will inform you as soon as we have an answer.”
I nodded. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us. Let’s just hope we’re not making a mistake.”
I left, still in a daze, praying I was not making a mistake. I would have the life of my nine volunteers in my hands, but not only that, but I would have the freedom of all the fairies as well as the possible future of the whole humanity in my hands.
I was confident before, but now that I had my way I hoped from the bottom of my heart that I wasn’t making a mistake.
I hadn’t expected Myros’ reply to come on the same day, and yet, I was just about to get dinner when General Woods appeared at my door.
Myros had replied favorably as soon as he received the ultimatum.
“That’s what he’d hoped for, wasn’t it?” I asked, knowing that the general would not sugarcoat it.
“Maybe.” He shrugged slightly. “But Myros is a psychopath with too much self-confidence. The loyalty of his people is driven more by fear and threat than genuine love and trust. I wouldn’t discard an inside coup either.” He extended an envelope with my name on it. “He gave the messenger this for you but don’t worry too much; I would not have authorized this battle if I was not confident you could win.” He cocked his head to the side. “I may be an army man, but I’d never risk the life of my son or goddaughter so easily,” he added before turning around and leaving the room.
I looked at his retreating back just as what he said struck me. Goddaughter?
I walked back into the room and opened the envelope. As far as threats were concerned, it was short and concise.
Thanks for making my job so easy, little fairy. I cannot wait to finally meet you face-to-face… Eight days… M
I read it a couple of times before throwing it in the fire and decided to not mention it to either Tamlin or Aidan. They were already worried enough without adding the personal vendetta to the mix.
I had also wanted to express in front of the general council why I decided to do that, but the martial court denied that demand, thinking it would create too much instability if they knew about this ahead of time.
I really hoped for my sake and all the fairies and human alike that I was making the right choice.
The next day both Aidan and Tamlin came into my room at my usual time of training.
“Are we stepping up the game? Are you both going to train me today?”
Tamlin winked and gave me a wicked little smile which was clear enough; he planned on training me alright but not that way. I couldn’t help but blush.
“For the love of…” Aidan growled. “No, clearly, we’re not here for the same thing.” He sighed. “We’re going to talk to the elite guards today, looking for volunteers. They are the most qualified, most powerful fairies we have in the army.”
Tamlin nodded. “Yes, most of them are knight bloods like me. They are our best option.”
I nodded, adjusting my moss-green tunic over my black leggings. “Let me go talk to them.”
“What for?” Tamlin asked, taken aback.
“Because they are about to go on a very dangerous, potentially final mission on my name and I want to tell them why. I want them to speak with the person who is going to ask them to potentially surrender their lives.”
Tamlin shook his head. “That’s not necessary; they are the elite for this reason—they’re like… the SWAT team in the human world. That’s what they do.”
“So? I still think that I should.”
“And I tell you, Princess, it’s fine. Let me handle it.”
Aidan frowned, visibly displeased by Tamlin's refusal. “Who died and made you prince consort?” he asked coldly.
Tamlin jerked his head toward Aidan in surprise. I took it that it was not like him to say things like that. I’d already pegged my uncle as the strong silent type.
“What? No, it’s just that there’s no need for Fay to take any undue risk and every meeting, every outing is a risk. I just want to keep you safe, Fay. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“The elite is my army,” Aidan replied, not mollified by Tamlin’s words. “If Fay wants to talk to them, it's commendable.” He turned to me. “They are in the training arena now anyway, ready for the talk I was about to have with them. Are you good to do that now?”
I nodded, ignoring Tamlin’s pursed lips.
I talked to the elite in strict secrecy and I knew I did amazing when Aidan appeared later that afternoon to let me know that the whole elite had volunteered for that mission.
Choosing the seven warriors was hard as I was risking their lives, but Aidan helped me choose. As for Tamlin, he was completely absent since that day when the council granted me my war.
“He is training our team,” Aidan kept saying, but I doubted it and couldn’t help but be hurt.
During the next few days, Aidan trained me even harder. I felt I was about to break but thinking about facing Myros, the man who took so much from me, motivated me to train harder, to go over my limits.
On the last day before the fight, Aidan hadn’t trained me. He told me I needed to let my muscles rest.
I was in bed, trying to forget that tomorrow will be the day, the end. I was replaying the plan repeatedly in my head, making sure I was not going to forget anything.
I had closed my eyes when I heard a soft rattling knock on the door.
I groaned, almost wanting to ignore it, but the person knocked again, still quietly but with some kind of urgency to it.
“Fay, let me in,” Tamlin whispered, and when I heard his voice my heart almost jumped out of my chest.
“Tamlin?”
“Yes, open up, please.”
I had barely opened the door when he slid in and closed it behind him, resting his back on it.
“I didn't expect to see you today,” I admitted, somehow angrier than hurt about his absence. “You were just so busy.”
“Fay…” He sighed.
I shook my head. “You can’t just disappear when you don’t agree with me or when you’re angry.”
“I’m not angry, I’m terrified of losing you.” He took a tentative step toward me. “I’ll fight with all I have tomorrow, body, heart, and soul for you to go home unharmed. But…”
“Don’t say it,” I asked quickly, closing the distance, resting my fingers on his lips.
He kissed my fingertips before gently taking my hand down. “I want one more night with you,” he whispered; his jade eyes darkened with a passion that made me shiver. “One more night with you, touching your soft skin, inhaling your flowery smell, hearing your quiet breathing… knowing that you are safe in my arms. That’s all I need and if I were to die tomorrow, I’ll die a happy man knowing that I had that crazy all-consuming love that people spend their whole life searching and never find.”
“My heart could not face the future… this life if I were to lose you now, you know.” I grabbed his arm with all the urgency I felt. “We’re
so close to getting our happy ending. When I found you, I started to believe that it can happen, that it existed. I won’t let anything happen to you… to me tomorrow; it’s as simple as that.”
“As simple as that,” he whispered, burying his face in my hair. “I love the confidence you have.”
“I just don’t have a choice.”
He sighed, tightening his hold around my waist.
“Come on,” I invited after a while, wiggling out of his embrace, taking his hand. “Let’s get some sleep.”
He smiled before taking his shirt off, making me blush like every time I was eyeing his perfect torso.
“You like the view?” he questioned playfully before joining me under the covers.
“I always do,” I confirmed, settling against him with my ear upon his heart.
Tamlin started to caress my hair softly while humming a peaceful tune I didn’t know but it was like a lullaby.
I closed my eyes, lulled by both his peaceful heartbeat and his voice. We were going to war tomorrow, not even sure we’d make it back, and yet it was the first time in a month that I felt safe and I knew it was because I was in Tamlin’s arms.
Chapter 21
I was woken up by a gentle nudge and a cold nose skimming the skin on my neck.
I sighed, moving slightly, giving him better access to my neck.
He chuckled against my skin, kissing my throat. “I’m sorry to wake you up so early; the sun is barely up but… we’ll go soon, and I wanted to tell you goodbye the proper way.”
I smiled as he kissed me. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours,” I whispered, “and then we’ll have all the time in the world to be together.”
He looked down at me thoughtfully, gently brushing my cheekbone with his fingertips. “All the time in the world…” He smiled sadly. “Yes, you are right; we’ll have all the time in the world.”
I knew he was humoring me, but I decided to let it go.
As soon as he left, I took a shower and got ready for the fight.
It was Aidan who came to pick me up this time to go meet Tamlin and seven others just outside the city.
We decided that the meeting with the faes would take place in a clearing in between both territories which was about a two-hour horseback ride from the palace.
I was riding in the middle of the procession, and it was a quiet, peaceful ride. I looked at all the men coming along with me; they were breathing confidence, like there was no doubt in their minds we were going to win.
When Aidan helped me to choose the volunteers, he picked the ones with the most personal reasons to hate the faes. Some of them had lost family members to the hands of the faes. We wanted the ones with the most anger, the ones who would have taken any opportunity to pick up the weapons against the faes. I was sure that one of the reasons for which Aidan chose them was to ease my guilt in case we didn’t all make it.
When we arrived at the clearing, Myros and his men were already there.
“Please take care of the horses,” Aidan ordered one of the younger knights, “and come meet us as soon as you’ve secured them.”
“James, Derrick, and Frank, check the perimeter,” Tamlin ordered, coming close to me. “I never trusted the man… make sure he doesn’t have any other of his men hidden here.” The three knights nodded before disappearing in the nearby trees.
“Ready to go?” he asked, turning to me.
I simply nodded as the six of us walked to meet Myros. I couldn’t help but feel safe flanked by both Tamlin and Aidan.
“Ah, Princess.” Myros gave me a predatory smile. “Isn’t it a pity to officially meet in such a sad circumstance?” He didn’t look at all like I expected him to look. He was thin and rather short with gray-brown hair. He didn’t look that threatening despite the huge amount of power, but his face was enough to make anyone shiver. His eyes were dead—devoid of any emotion even if the desire to cause pain and suffering was clear in his face.
“Yes… I couldn’t wait to meet you either.” I was trying my best to keep my feelings in check. Aidan had warned me; he told me to keep everything bottled up until the actual fight. The more I was frustrated, the stronger I would be.
Myros tilted his head as if he was pondering something and seeing his amber eyes firsthand made me sick… The hate burning in me was all-consuming.
“I really don’t see why you ever considered her as a challenge.” He turned to his right and I finally noticed that beside him was Gareth, and I couldn’t help but frown at the expression on his face. It seemed to be a mix of anger, betrayal, longing, and pain… a very strange combination. “She is not even pretty,” he added, clicking his tongue in his mouth.
Tamlin let out a small growl, making Myros laugh.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot she brought her lover to this fight. I apologize,” he added with a tone that sounded like everything except an apology.
The four others finally came back, taking their place at the back of the formation.
“So, you checked that there are no big bad faes waiting for you in the bushes? Don’t worry. I don’t need any more than what I have here. I even have too many,” Myros added with amusement. He was so sure he would win… It made me wonder if he knew something I didn’t.
“It’s not like you are trustworthy” Aidan replied placidly.
“Touché… So, are we going to fight or spend the rest of the day chatting and drinking tea?”
At that comment I saw the huge man behind Myros smile and his smile made my skin crawl. I didn’t know why but I was sure he was the man who killed my brother; I could almost see his big hands break his neck.
I took my sword out of its holster. That was it. I was standing here with these men, my people, facing an evil I didn’t know existed a few short months ago.
I was standing straight, keeping my head high, but I was scared. No, I was not scared; I was terrified, but I was not scared to die.
I was scared to let them down… Fairies and humans alike. But above all, I didn’t want to let down Tamlin and Aidan, as they stood trustful beside me.
I was just a kid. I was not supposed to lead a full nation, and yet they trusted me to save our world.
I quickly glanced up. Tamlin's eyes met mine, and I could see all the trust, all his pride; he was putting his life, their lives in my hands.
I turned to Aidan and he gave me a warm smile that seemed to say ‘you can do it, I know you can. Just trust yourself and we’ll triumph.’
I took a deep breath and concentrated my eyes on the amber ones I’ve learned to hate.
It’s now or never, I thought, closing my eyes, unconsciously reaching for Tamlin’s hand, and I smiled when his warm fingers met mine. It was a simple brush of fingers but it meant everything… With him by my side, I could do anything.
“So little one… you can still surrender; it’s not too late,” Myros taunted with a smirk. “I’m even sure Gareth would still take you,” he added dismissively as Gareth looked down.
Not so long ago I would have run away, maybe even begged, but not now. Now I was different, completely changed… They changed me.
I smiled at him. “We’re here in defiance of tyranny that you tried to impose for so long. We’re free and we will remain free till death.” As I spoke, the words echoed deep in every cell of my body. “We’d rather die with courage than live with shame,” I added so loud and sure that I barely recognized my own voice.
“As you wish,” Myros replied darkly before the good and evil were unleashed in an ultimate fight for which the issue was more than uncertain, but dying for the right reasons was all I could ask for and I realized that surrendering had never been an option for me.
“They are all free game, but the princess is mine,” Myros ordered just as Tamlin came to stand protectively in front of me.
The other knights took position in a loose circle around me, and I understood that when Tamlin organized the battle, he did everything to make sure I was being safe.
I q
uickly looked around to the fights between the elites and the faes as they kept the protective circle strong.
I reverted and kept my eyes on Myros as I knew he would be trying to make a beeline to take me out. If I was taken out, there would be nothing left for the knights to do but surrender.
The huge fae, the one I was pretty sure Gareth had warned me about, occupied Tamlin as Myros managed to sneak in between two knights on my right.
As soon as he stepped a foot in my protective circle, I allowed myself to sink in the painful memory of my brother’s death as I knew it would be the best to make my hate for Myros reach its peak.
Myros only took a step past the knights, and I raised my hand, trying to throw all my anger at him as if it were a shield like Aidan told me to visualize.
What surprised me was the force of my blow. I expected to make him waver or maybe to even fall flat on his butt like it happened with Aidan on our last training.
What I didn’t expect was to see him fly back under such a powerful blow. He landed at least fifteen feet outside the circle.
Tamlin threw me a quick startled look as the fae he was fighting was looking at his king to see if he was still alive.
I couldn’t help the smug grin forming on my face, and I didn’t need to see Aidan to picture the look of pride on his face.
Tamlin concentrated on the fae again who was still looking at Myros. His few seconds of inattention was his loss. I saw Tamlin’s sword strike; some blood dripped from it, and the fae fell heavily to the ground. Tamlin didn’t have time to even look at me as another fae, who just took down Derrick, concentrated on Tamlin.
Myros started to laugh and it seemed to be genuine. “You have been training, haven’t you, Princess?” He stood up smugly, pretending to dust off his pants. “Well, I have to admit I’m pleasantly surprised; at least you will be a bit more of a challenge when I kill you.”
“Well, if you manage to approach me first,” I replied tauntingly, jerking my chin toward him.
A bone-chilling smile spread on his face. “At least I’ll get the joy of seeing your face when you see him die,” he marveled, pointing to my left.
