by Cait Marie
“Your Majesty,” Maxwell said, tilting his head in greeting.
Another commander smirked down at the visible rings. “Are congratulations in order then?”
Phillip tensed at the man’s tone, and Shane squeezed his fingers in reassurance.
“How about after we win this war?” Maxwell added with a rare smile.
“Absolutely.” Shane thought it might have been the first time he’d seen the brooding commander appear genuinely pleased. The other man let out a sigh of irritation before walking away.
Shane glanced around as their soldiers began gathering, wondering if they’d face more opposition so soon. However, not a single look of disapproval met them. Andrew stepped to the front of the growing crowd with a grin in place.
“I told you,” he said. “We all support you. Both of you. Don’t think we don’t know what you have done for this kingdom the past few months. We might not have all the details, but many of us were there when your father ordered the search for his own daughter. Rumors spread quickly, your Majesty.”
Shane didn’t know what to say. “Thank you.”
The man bowed then returned to his battalion. Shane watched them. Dozens of horses lingered around them. Hundreds of men and women lined up to fight for him—for their kingdom. He wanted to give some sort of speech, as was the custom according to his books and the journals of his ancestors. But he didn’t have the words. What could he say to these people to give them hope when he barely had any himself?
Phillip released his hand and stepped forward, clearing his throat. In the distance, more and more of their men were coming in from the shore. Thousands all along the wide stretch of sand headed their way. His voice wouldn’t reach them, but those here now would benefit from encouragement, and that usually spread like wildfire.
“Today is going to be hard,” Phillip began. “I won’t lie and tell you otherwise. We’re outnumbered on foreign terrain.”
Shane inched closer, hissing, “Way to be encouraging.”
Phillip brushed him off and continued, “The odds may not be on our side, but we have something they don’t.”
The men waited in silence, some glancing to one another.
“Purpose. This army we’re about to face is following a madman, blindly doing as he says out of fear. We are here to protect our home—our friends and family.” He looked over to Shane and took his hand. “Our loved ones.” Facing their troops again, he went on, “And we will not sit aside while this evil reigns.”
Cheers went up all around them, swords striking toward the sky. Horses neighed at the commotion, some stamping their feet. The sun still sat behind the forest, but the sky brightened to a brilliant shade of indigo that bled into different hues of orange. In any other circumstances, it would be a beautiful morning. Shane knew it would soon be marred red with blood though.
With a nod toward his commanders, they mounted their mares and began the trek across the plains of Rayerna. Unable to provide thousands of horses for all their men, they moved at a slow pace. The soldiers marched to the beat of Shane’s thumping heart. Though the fields expanded far and wide, it wasn’t long before they saw the lines of Michel’s men waiting for them.
Phillip pulled to a stop, Shane and the others following his lead. A large bird screeched as it flew overhead, but there were no other sounds besides the horses fidgeting a step or two. After a moment, Phillip led his mount closer to Shane.
“All right, it’s time for you to move to the back.”
“What?” Shane’s eyes snapped over to his husband. “I’m not staying behind.”
“You’ve made your point,” Phillip said quietly enough not to be overheard. “You’re here with your men; you showed them you’re fighting alongside us. But the front lines are going to be a bloodbath. I know you want to do the honorable thing, but trust me, we need you alive.”
The king didn’t move. He clenched his jaw, gripping the reins so tight his knuckles ached.
“Shane, please,” Phillip pleaded. “This isn’t about us right now. I’m not speaking as your husband but as Captain. If you die out there, in the very beginning of this mess, we will be lost. You are the king. Ada is currently trying to make her way behind enemy lines. Neither of you have an heir, so one of you needs to stay as safe as possible.”
He knew Phillip was right, but it didn’t make it any easier. “Fine.”
Phillip let out a long sigh. “Thank y—”
“Only if you come back with me,” Shane interrupted.
“I’m the captain. It’s my job to be out here in the front.”
Shane shook his head. “No, your job is to lead them. And you can’t do that if you die in the very beginning of all this.” He raised a brow, daring Phillip to challenge him.
His husband narrowed his eyes as his own words were thrown back at him. They stared at each other for one beat, then another. Neither seemed inclined to give in.
Across the field, the sound of beating drums began. They were out of time.
As if thinking the same thing, Phillip whistled to get Maxwell’s attention. The man approached instantly on his own steed. “Yes, sir?”
“Have the men spread out,” Phillip commanded. “Have Wallace, Ian, and Santhia lead the west flank. You, Lana, and Geoff lead the east. The rest will head up the middle.”
“Yes, sir.” Maxwell eyed the king before turning back to his captain. “Sir, I know it’s not my place, but I think it’s about time for you and his Majesty to go to the back.”
Phillip stiffened, but Shane nodded toward the man.
“Thank you.” Turning to Phillip, he said, “Told you.”
“We need someone leading from behind, urging men on,” Maxwell said. He glanced to Phillip’s hand. “And I don’t know how official this is, but if you’re Prince Consort, we need to protect you as well.”
To Shane’s surprise, Phillip lifted his chin. “Fine. Yes, you’re right.”
Shane didn’t know if Phillip actually agreed or if he only said so to get him to safety. He couldn’t find it in him to care either way. They wished the commander luck and then trotted toward the back. Andrew met Shane’s eye on their way and tilted his head in a bow. The man was near the front. He’d be one of the first to reach the enemies, and Shane knew Phillip was right about the front lines. Those on foot would be slaughtered quickly.
When they reached the rear of their forces, Shane looked from one end to the other. The numbers were impressive, but it wouldn’t be enough. As the soldiers began marching again, he sent up a quick prayer to the stars that Adalina and Lee’s plan worked to kill Michel. The latter still hadn’t shared with the princess what he’d done to help their side, and Shane hadn’t dared hope it would come through. If it did, perhaps the prophecy could be fulfilled another way.
As the two armies clashed together, shouts flying through the air as much as dirt and blood, Shane knew if it didn’t, this war would be over before it even began. They needed the rest of their men—the fleets who’d refused to follow him. But only one man could make that happen, and they had no idea where he was.
And while he hadn’t been told for certain, he had no doubt the immortal pirate was responsible.
Chapter 33
Adalina
They weren’t going to be able to reach Michel through the forest. That was clear as they headed north. The enemy camp didn’t back up against the forest like they’d assumed. Walking all the way around to approach from the other side would take precious time they didn’t have by the looks of things.
Ada and Lee squatted at the top of a nearby cliff, at the base of a copse of trees, watching as the Rayernan forces lined up and headed for the wide-open fields. She could just make out her own army in the distance. And the numbers against them were worse than she’d ever imagined. Before leaving camp that morning, Ada saw their reinforcements coming in, but it wouldn’t be enough.
“We’re going to have to go through them,” Lee said, pointing to the figures atop horses i
n the center near the back. They were too far to see details, but she knew Michel was among them. He’d trained on horseback growing up, and it was the best way to keep him safe for as long as possible. She hoped her brother had made the same choice. Or rather, she hoped someone made it for him. There was no way he’d voluntarily stay in the back.
Most of the Rayernan front lines were also on horseback. So, the few near the back had to be Michel. Unless it was a trap, and they wanted them to think that was where he was. As she told Lee this, she looked through the soldiers, knowing it was no use.
With a hand on her arm, Lee said, “Your choice. We fight our way to those riders, or we watch and see if we can spot him.”
The two sides charged. Thousands of footsteps rolled across the fields like thunder. Within minutes, the lines would converge. She scanned the army again. Something caught her eye—a group offset from the rest once they all began moving.
“There.” Ada pointed, but she didn’t wait for a response. She took off down the hillside, stumbling and sliding to the bottom with Lee on her heels. He didn’t question her.
They’d still need to make their way through a number of men, but she angled them to go around the back of the army. With their attention on the Detmaryan soldiers, she hoped they wouldn’t be completely bombarded.
The first battalion they passed behind paid them no heed, but the next had stragglers that came for them. Ada pulled out her dagger, leaving Ddadwneud in its sheath in fear of losing it. As if reading her mind, mid-run, Lee grabbed one of his own and tossed it to her before pulling out his sword.
On the far side of the field, the clash of steel echoed through the world. Half a dozen men approached Ada and Lee, blades drawn. Shouts filled the air as their feet moved over the pale green grass. As she reached the first soldier, Ada ducked and twirled away. She pierced her dagger up through his side, through the weakness in the armor she knew awaited her.
Lee easily took out three of the men, reminding her that he had done all this before. A long sword swiped down at her head, and she had to drop to avoid it. She kicked out at the soldier’s knee. With a grunt, he fell to the ground beside her, and she lunged.
When he stilled, she looked around. Lee pulled his sword from the last of the batch and reached out a hand to help her up. Once on her feet, they started moving again.
They kept running, taking on soldier after soldier as more seemed to notice their trajectory. Across the field, the small group she suspected Michel was in followed the battle without getting into the fighting. Ada’s breath came out staggered. Her arms and legs ached, despite the past few months of training. As they took on dozens of men, she tried to remember all Ren had taught her, all the practicing with Brienne and Lee, her brother and Phillip teaching her how to handle a dagger.
Michel working with her on her archery and hand-to-hand combat.
Now, she was on her way to face that very man.
With a break in the fighting, she raced toward that group in the distance. As if seeing the destruction heading their way, some of the men broke away to wait for them while the others guided a shrouded figure up the nearest incline.
“I was right,” she managed to shout. Lee simply grunted in agreement as he fought off those who should be under his command.
When it was just them and a handful of Michel’s guards, they paused, their breath heaving. Ada wiped the back of her hand across her brow, no doubt smearing the blood, dirt, and whatever else that lingered with the sweat sticking to her skin.
“I’ll take them,” Lee said, standing close enough their arms brushed. “If you can get past them, you go after Michel. I’ll be right behind you.”
She nodded, unable to form words. This was it. The final battle.
“Ready, blodau?” he asked.
The sound of her childhood nickname brought her back. It reminded her why she was doing this. For her mother. For her brothers. For her friends and kingdom.
Ada glanced over to the legendary immortal at her side.
For Loxley and all the wrongs done to him.
“I love you,” she said.
His eyes snapped to her, though she knew he still monitored those waiting for them. “Remember your promise; no sacrifices.”
With a smile, she raised up on her toes to brush a quick kiss across his lips. “No sacrifices.”
She wanted to tell him, knew she should, but she couldn’t bring herself to just yet. If he knew about the baby and she didn’t live, it would only hurt him more.
“I love you, Adalina Rose,” he said, facing forward once more. “Now, let’s go end this war.”
Chapter 34
Shane
They were surrounded.
Staying near the back turned out not to matter when they were so outnumbered. Men fell all around them. Shane’s horse had thrown him off too early. As soon as he hit the ground, Phillip was leaping from his own mare to stay at his side. Even with years of training, even with the best-known swordsman beside him, they could barely hold their own.
The chaos made it difficult to tell who was the enemy on the battlefield. More than once, Shane had missed the end of a blade by a mere handsbreadth. War was so much louder than he anticipated. It was overwhelming and disorienting. His head pounded with the shouts and thumps of falling bodies.
Phillip fought like he’d been born for this. And Shane supposed he had. His husband had known what he’d wanted his whole life—to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Shane yanked his sword from a body he couldn’t look too closely at and then turned to find the man in question. Panic coursed through him as he realized they’d somehow separated. For that was the only reason Shane couldn’t find him. He refused to believe the alternative might be true.
There wasn’t time to search though. A blade nicked Shane’s arm, and he twisted out of the way with a curse. He blocked the next strike, but the man was strong. It took all of Shane’s strength to fight him off. Their swords met above their heads, each man using both hands to try to force the other back. The soldier growled in the king’s face.
Shane backed off while dropping to a crouch. The man staggered forward, thrown off balance for half a heartbeat. But that was long enough for Shane to stab the man through the side. He hadn’t even fallen to his knees before the next few soldiers were on top of them, swarming Shane.
With aching arms, he went on the defensive. There were three surrounding him, and he was already exhausted. He knew the fighting had only just started, but it felt as if it had been hours on that field. Blood muddied the ground at their feet. The sounds of death were everywhere.
Shane took down one of the men, kicking at a second coming at him from behind. He twisted his sword before pulling it out of the next fallen soldier. An arrow flew past him, so close he felt the air from the fletching. Instinctively, he leaned backward, turning to watch it meet the neck of a man he hadn’t seen coming for him. Shane whipped around and sighed with relief. Gwyn, Brienne, and at least a hundred men and women stormed down the hill into the chaos.
Gwyn and Brienne made it to his side, the latter looking as if she’d seen better days. Though, he supposed they all had at this point.
“Where’s Phillip?” Brienne yelled as they fought side by side.
“I don’t know.” He wasn’t sure if he said it loud enough, but she didn’t press for more, to which he was thankful. If he thought about his missing husband right now, it would consume him. He told himself the burning in his eyes was from the sweat and dirt.
“There!” Gwyn said, pointing to the opposite direction they’d arrived.
Shoving at the man he’d been fighting and piercing his blade through the joints in the armor, Shane didn’t wait for the soldier to fall before he turned to find Phillip. He was leaving the chaos, pulling an injured man out with the help of another. Shane ran to cover them.
But he wasn’t fast enough. One of the Rayernans, who looked too small to even be there, darted out of the fighting straight
for them. His sword aimed right for Phillip’s back.
Shane screamed, running as fast as he could. He yelled for Gwyn to shoot, but they were outnumbered, and she couldn’t draw a bow while surrounded so thoroughly. Shane’s heart clenched as the figure closed the remaining distance to Phillip.
At the last second, the other soldier helping carry the injured man looked back and saw what was happening. She leaped between Phillip and the charging blade. Phillip whipped around, stabbed the attacker, but it was too late. The fatal strike meant for him went straight through the other soldier. Phillip caught his savior before she could hit the ground.
Shane reached their side as Phillip lowered the gasping woman. He fell to his knees beside Phillip, his heart pounding. Taking half a second to rest his brow on his husband’s shoulder, he whispered over and over, “You’re alive.”
“Thanks to her,” Phillip said, removing the woman’s helmet.
Shane glanced around them, moving to a crouch with his sword out. But Gwyn and Brienne had made their way over, protecting their backs.
“What’s your name?” Shane asked the woman who’d sacrificed herself for Phillip.
“Ka—Kat.” She choked, and blood dribbled out of her mouth.
Shane placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Thank you for saving my husband.”
It was a horrible thing to say, but he could not come up with more soothing words. She seemed to understand though. The corner of her mouth turned up.
“Live, my King.” Her eyes fluttered shut. “Get your happily ever after.”
She took one final breath, and then her chest ceased rising. Shane swallowed, Phillip whispered a quiet prayer to the stars, and they both stood, going back to the injured man Phillip and Kat had been pulling from the fray. When Shane saw that it was Andrew unconscious on the ground, he shook his head.
