by Meg Anne
When they were done, Helena’s army panted and shook with exhaustion. She had a feeling that no one would complain about what a demanding Commander her Shield was again. She’d just proven she was far worse. Hopefully, they’d all live long enough to complain about it.
“Or thank you for it,” Von added, picking up on her thoughts.
She looked at him over her shoulder and smiled slightly. “Somehow I doubt anyone ever remembers that part.”
“As the one who is usually in your position, I can confirm the accuracy of the statement. However, you do not need them to thank you for being demanding in your training. Or right about its necessity. Take comfort in each and every heart that still beats at the end of the war.”
Helena nodded, her smile grim. “I will.”
Ronan moved to her side with a whistle as they watched the troops disperse for showers and a hot meal. “I think you just put me out of a job.”
She snickered. “Hardly. The last thing I want to do is wake up at ungodly hours of the morning to have people run drills.”
Ronan laughed, but the amusement faded from his voice when he spoke. “You’ve just proven that you can prepare them in ways I never even thought of. They learned more from you today than they have from me in days of practice.”
“They would have failed if not for those days of practice.”
“They did fail,” Ronan pointed out.
“Only because they refused to follow your commands. Once they did, they were successful.”
Ronan was silent while he considered her words. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course, I am.”
He raised an eyebrow but grinned when he saw that she was laughing.
“Perhaps you can just stop by every now and then and put them in their place?”
“Isn’t that what I always do?” she teased.
Ronan let out a loud bark of laughter that had the rest of the Circle looking toward them. “I’ll be damned. You totally do.”
She winked at him, leaning over to whisper conspiratorially, “Don’t tell Von, but I learned it from you.”
“I heard that.”
“Of course, you did. But he needed the compliment more than you did.”
She felt Von’s mental shrug. “I’m not worried, Mira. If you learned it from him, it’s only because he learned it from me.”
Helena shook her head, his twisted male logic making her laugh. “It’s always a competition with you two.”
“Oh, it’s no competition.”
She rolled her eyes, amused despite herself. “If you say so.”
“Do you think we’re ready?” Reyna asked, her husky voice uncharacteristically subdued.
Helena shifted focus, turning to look fully at the other woman. “As ready as we can be given the time constraints that we’re under.”
Reyna frowned but nodded. “We still have a few days before the party.”
“True, but we will be trying to move into place undetected. Many of us will be separated. There will not be time to practice all together like this again.”
“No, but that does not mean they cannot continue to run their Commander’s drills on their own.” Her gaze flit to Ronan for confirmation.
“Only if it is safe to do so. We cannot risk detection,” he replied.
Reyna nodded her agreement.
“The Storm Forged can help with that. I will ensure it,” Anduin offered.
Reyna looked up at him in surprise. “We will be glad of the assistance,” she replied.
Anduin held out a hand. “I apologize that our people got off on the wrong foot. I hope that there is still a chance for friendship between us.”
Reyna was slower to offer her hand, but she took his and nodded. “As do I, Stormbringer.”
With that Anduin walked away, leaving Helena, Reyna, Ronan, and Von still standing in the clearing.
“Well, well, Hellion. It looks like you are a miracle worker after all,” Ronan said.
“After everything she’s done, that’s the miracle?” Von asked.
“You know better than anyone the harm that years of prejudice can cause. They are almost impossible to bridge.”
Von nodded. “Aye, I do.”
“All Helena had to do was whip everyone’s ass and prove that they were ignorant fools, and now they want to make nice.”
“Is that what I did?”
“What would you call it?” Ronan challenged.
“I…” she paused, shrugging. “Practice?”
Her friends laughed.
“Whatever you want to call it, it was an important first step toward victory. We knew that we could not defeat Rowena on our own. Now you have an army that is willing to work together. If nothing else, I’ll drink to that,” Ronan said, as they began slowly walking back toward the house.
“And I,” Von agreed.
Helena smiled, feeling more relieved than she had in months. “I suppose you’re right. That is worth celebrating.”
“Care to repeat that?” Ronan asked, holding up a hand to his ear.
Helena punched him in the shoulder. “If you missed it, it was your fault you weren’t paying attention.”
Reyna snickered.
“Hey now, don’t go taking her side.”
“Who said I was on your side to begin with?” Reyna asked, arching her brow.
Ronan gave her a dark look and shook his head. “You think you know a girl.”
Reyna wove her arm through his, pulling him in the direction of the kitchens. “Come now, let me mend your wounded ego with a glass of ale.”
“It’s like you know me,” Ronan said, placing a hand to his heart.
“Or the quickest way to earn a man’s forgiveness, at the very least.”
“I can think of better ways,” Ronan said with a wink.
They continued to bicker playfully as they walked. Von and Helena watched them in silence, turning to one another once they were alone.
“Do you really think it will help?” she asked, finally letting the fear and doubt she’d been trying to hide show to the only person who would understand.
Von placed both of his hands on her shoulders. “I do, Mira. A group that bands together will always be stronger than one that does not.” He took her hand and lifted it so that it was in front of her face. Wiggling her fingers, he said, “A hand can cause harm like this, but it does much more damage when it strikes like this.” As he said it, he balled her hand into a fist. “You have taught them to strike as one. They will be more powerful because of it.”
“Then let us hope they remember that when the time comes.”
“They will,” Von said confidently.
“How can you be so sure?”
His eyes glowed as he said, “You reminded them what their failure meant. They had to watch, over and over, as their friends fell in battle. It will haunt them.”
“I didn’t mean—”
He cut her off. “It was an important lesson, Helena. One you should never feel guilty for. You saved lives today.”
She took a deep breath, letting his words soothe the part of her that could still hear the cries of fear. Some of their party were seasoned warriors, but many in their ranks had never seen a battle firsthand. Not at this scale. They had been safely tucked away living in relative peace their entire lives. Ronan’s lessons had not sunk in, because they had not fully understood the importance of what he was trying to teach them.
Now they did.
When she thought of it that way, she much preferred that she was the one causing the nightmares rather than Rowena. Because at least if it was her, they were all still alive.
Chapter Seven
“It begins.”
The three robed figures stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking the twisted stone that made up Greyspire. Their hoods were lowered as they stared down at the snow-covered fortress. Wind whipped at their cloaks, revealing the snaking navy runes that pulsed and moved along their skin.
�
��It is yet another step down a long and arduous path.”
“The outcome will be telling.”
“She cannot go back now.”
“She never could.”
“The choice was made long before she entered this world.”
The central figure lifted a skeletal arm and pointed in the direction of the forest. “The Vessel is near.”
The men on either side tilted their faces up, the pits of their eyes staring vacantly up into the glittering night sky.
“So much power.”
“It tastes so sweet.”
“Pure.”
“For now.”
They lowered their chins and turned their faces to look in the direction of the forest, as if they could see the woman of whom they spoke. Perhaps they could.
“The darkness swells around her.”
“A storm about to strike.”
“Ready to devour us all.”
“She sits at its heart.”
As one, they took a step back from the cliff, moving out of sight. Before they faded into the cavern at their backs, the central figure stopped and sniffed the air.
“Our daughter will be joining us soon.”
The others turned, the gesture sharp, indicating surprise at the announcement.
“You are certain?”
“There is no doubt.”
“That is joyous news indeed.”
“Shall we stay awhile longer to greet her?”
“No. This is not the place for it.”
The men nodded, and the trio disappeared into the inky darkness.
“That’s the last of them,” Von said.
Helena eyed the newest arrivals, wincing in sympathy as some immediately hunched over and began to empty out the contents of their stomachs. Travel by Kaelpas stone was certainly not for everyone, and the first time was especially difficult.
“Have we heard word from the others that they are also in place?”
Von dipped his chin. “Aye.”
Helena took a deep breath, letting the wintery pine scent fill her lungs and settle her. The weather here was so different from Daejara. Usually a trip like this would take weeks, so a person had time to adjust to the change in temperature, but only moments ago she had been in Daejara’s much more temperate clime.
She shivered at the frostbitten air. “I forgot how cold it was here.”
“You were a bit preoccupied last time.”
Her lips quirked up. “To say the least.”
Von frowned as he stared at the castle. “I do not like that you are going back in there without me.”
Helena’s heart twisted in her chest. She didn’t like it either, but she needed him handling things out here. Their bond gave her a direct line of communication to what was happening outside and would allow her to signal them when it was time to strike. There was no one else who could relay the message for her.
The castle was still, there was no hint that a party was already underway inside.
“Tell me again that this will work,” she pleaded, using the bond so that no one else would hear her uncertainty. Right now they needed her to be fearless, even though that was the last thing she was feeling.
Von ran a hand along her back, moving it to wrap around her hips and pull her back to him. He rested his cheek along the top of her head. “I cannot promise we will not fail. No one can. But if we are to fail, we will take down every last one of them on our way.”
“Your pep talk could use some work.”
He chuckled. “Would you rather I lied?”
“No,” she said honestly, sighing.
“We are as ready as we can be.”
Helena nodded, her expression grim. She was not afraid to face Rowena, the heartless bitch certainly had it coming. She’d taken enough from Helena. First Von, then Anderson, and finally Darrin. The time to repay her cruelty was more than overdue. It was the thought of having to say goodbye to more people she loved that had her stomach twisted in knots.
Her mind ran through the plan one final time. Everyone knew their roles. She’d split up the Circle so that at least one or two members were paired and overseeing a portion of the army. Reyna, Ryder, and seven others in her contingent would be joining Helena, along with Kragen. No one in the Circle was willing to budge on that point. They would not send their Kiri into Rowena’s trap without at least one of them by her side. With Von needed outside and Ronan leading the main charge, her Sword was the obvious choice.
Von would be stationed on the nearby cliffs with Starshine and the rest of the Talyrian pride awaiting Helena’s signal. Ronan’s melee force would be hiding in plain sight, Anduin and Reyna’s people concealing them with a combination of their unique abilities. The sheer number of people Anduin and Reyna’s forces were concealing was beyond impressive. Ronan, Nial, Serena, Effie, and the rest of the Chosen and Forsaken fighting force had already begun to move into place so they would be ready when Von took to the skies. Helena knew where everyone was situated, but even still, she could not make out any sign of them amongst the snowy banks leading up to the castle.
Timmins and Joquil would be staying in the forest and heading up the ranged team. They would remain hidden until the battle began, supporting the fighters with their magic to help pick off any of the outlying threats. Miranda and the Etillions were with them, their skills more suited to ranged attacks than hand-to-hand combat.
“Everyone seems to be in place, I guess that means it’s time for me to do the same.”
Von remained silent behind her, his concern and love washing over her in a soothing wave. She curled into his embrace, laying her head on his shoulder and feeling his heart beat in time with hers. The world fell away. The Talyrians’ snarls, the nervous chatter, the call of the birds. For a series of heartbeats, the only people in that forest were her and her Mate. There were no words to say, the bond making speech unnecessary. Hope. Fear. Love. It was all there swelling around them.
Helena forced herself to step away, knowing she had to be the one to make the first move. Von would never willingly walk away from her. Not after everything they’d been through. His eyes bore into hers, flaring gold as the intensity of his emotion took over.
“I’ll be waiting for you in the sky, my love.”
“Don’t have too much fun without me, Mate.”
“I could never.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Helena leaned forward and pressed a fast kiss to his stubbled cheek. Tears made her eyes blur, so she spun away and all but ran toward the spot where Reyna was waiting for her. As she passed Midnight, she stopped and looked the massive cat dead in the eye.
“If you let anything happen to him while you’re up there, I will geld you myself.”
The Talyrian snarled at her and backed away.
Her eyes moved to Starshine. “Keep them safe for me, beautiful girl. If all goes well, I’ll be joining you soon.”
Starshine pressed into her, the peaty smell of fire and smoke filling her nose as the velvety fur rubbed against her skin.
“Let’s go,” she said thickly, not pausing to wait and see if she was followed, and not sure why leaving them felt so much like saying goodbye.
The others fell in line behind her, moving away from those that were staying behind. When they were a good distance away and not yet in sight of the castle, Helena called her power up. It rose quickly, greeting her like an old friend.
Illusion magic was a complicated blend of Spirit, Water, and Air. The power that rose felt like being submerged in a warm pool of water. She let it flow along her skin, feeling the subtle changes of her body as the transformation took place. Once it was complete, she pushed it out, watching as it washed over the rest of the party. Smoke and mirrors, she thought. She could see the bodies standing before her, but her eyes felt the pull to look away. Strong magic indeed, if even she was affected by its lure.
With a little bit of effort, she was able to fight the pull and focus on her friends. There was nothing
specific that had changed about them, although it did appear as though their faces were slightly blurred and their dark attire was hazy at the edges, as if their bodies were trying to blend in with the forest around them. With one final pulse of magic, Helena made subtle changes to their clothing, turning their leather armor into more appropriate party wear.
Pleased with the results, she nodded and turned her attention back to herself. While none of them would be attending the party as themselves, the role she had to play required that she stand out a bit more than the others, which meant that she needed to take slightly more effort on her appearance.
As she released a breath, Helena ran her hands along her body, feeling her fighting leathers transform into a satin dress the color of midnight. It hugged her body, swishing as she moved. The top was a fitted corset, the bodice staying tight until just below her hips, where it flared out in black waves to the floor. To enhance the air of mystery, she added a netted veil that attached to a small feathered headpiece and obscured her face. She knew that they would receive masks once they were inside, but she didn’t want to take any chances that someone would be able to see through the illusion and recognize her.
When she was done, she could feel nine sets of eyes on her. She looked up, wondering if something was amiss with her disguise.
“Von is going to kill me,” Kragen declared.
Reyna whistled. “If discretion is your plan, you’ve chosen the wrong dress. I have never had a preference for women, but you’re giving me ideas.”
Helena laughed, color rising to her cheeks at the comments. “Let us hope no one feels the need to get too handsy.”
“We will be nearby ready to relieve anyone of the offending limbs if they try, Kiri,” Reyna promised.
Helena moved into position in front of them, the constriction of her dress making her usually long strides slow, while the hidden slits gave teasing glimpses of creamy skin as she walked. The flash of light against the dark material made her think of moonlight shining through the clouds.
Kragen looked up to the night sky, his calloused hand running over his bald head. “He might as well kill me now and get it over with.”
Helena spared him a glance over her shoulder. “Don’t forget who you serve, Sword. You have more to fear from me than him.”
