“If that’s how you want to describe an incoming undead army, sure.”
“What will I be if I leave you behind?”
“Smart.”
“A coward. I’m not going.”
“Cowards live to see another day.”
“I’d rather die than be one.”
Cendri gave me a sideways glance. He rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. “The stench isn’t helping with the nausea.”
“I’d offer you something to wipe yourself with, but I don’t have anything on me.” I was completely bare, my skin exposed to him. I’d left my clothes and weapons close to Neremin’s mansion. My dagger was there, too. I’d had that weapon ever since I was a child, spending countless hours training with it. It was going to suck not having it around anymore.
“No, you don’t.” Cendri’s voice had dropped lower. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes tracing down my form. I saw hunger in his violet gaze. I folded my arms across my breasts, suddenly self-conscious. “Your flesh’s displayed, there for them to feast upon.” He dragged his tongue across his lips.
Awaiting an oncoming undead army wasn’t a good time to get aroused. His gaze blazed a trail down my belly. It stopped between my thighs. Cendri pushed himself from the tree trunk and aimed toward me. He fingered the edges of his shirt, then dragged it off his torso.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I asked. My cheeks flushed. He revealed his sculpted form beneath. Even under these red skies, his skin looked like it shimmered. His unclothed figure was just as painfully beautiful as his angled face.
“Here,” Cendri said. “You dragon-kind might not care for being naked, but fae do see it sexually sometimes. Cover yourself.” Sexually? The tips of his fingers skimmed mine, sending sparks up my arm. I inhaled a sharp breath, then snatched the shirt from Cendri. As my body continued to heat, I tugged the shirt over my torso. Cendri was far taller than me, and so his shirt was much too large for me. The hem of it ended at the center of my thighs. It smelled like him. I was covered by his scent, and that gave me a warm feeling.
“Are you sure you can’t call to your dragon?” I asked. “If we have to fight that army alone, we won’t win.”
Cendri drew his fingers through his hair, sweeping his tousled locks from his face. “I can try. I’m hoping Nemreth comes in the next ten seconds, though.”
“Thanks for saving me,” I said, shifting my feet so they were right next to each other.
“It’s what I do as part of the triad. Save people.”
I snorted. “Yeah, sure.” That comment deserved a couple of eye-rolls.
Before we turned to teramarth food, Nemreth appeared from the trees. He was running. A white beast followed him. I squinted, making out the edges of the creature, then realized it was Mayhem who stalked behind Nemreth. Relief surged. I’d been thinking about my wolf constantly, even though I’d been trying to hide my worry.
“About time,” Cendri said. “I thought you were going to leave us to die.”
I ran toward Mayhem and sank myself into his fur. “Aereala bless me.” I turned to Nemreth. “Where did you find him?”
“On the way here,” Nemreth replied. “He was fighting a horde of teramarth on his own.” I leaned backward to take a better look of my wolf. He smelled, but everything smelled so much that I’d stopped thinking about it. I hugged him despite the grime covering him. I didn’t care for cleanliness. I was just glad that Mayhem was back.
“Thank you,” I said, nearly crying. I dragged the back of my hand across my eyes.
Nemreth shook his head. “I merely helped him, and he followed me. It wasn’t much. The horde wasn’t too big. After that, I came as fast as I could. Hurry. Aland needs us. His magic is faltering.” Nemreth took both our hands in his. Mayhem pressed into Nemreth’s side. The soul beads on Nemreth’s wrists flashed, and we teleported away from the danger. Away from Lysunth and the teramarth. Only then could I breathe properly. I’d survive today, at least, until the teramarth neared us again.
And it was all thanks to Cendri, the man I didn’t want to forgive.
Thirty-Six
Nemreth, Cendri, and I arrived back in the new realm. The stars flickering above flashed, warning us that the realm was about to collapse. I saw the realm’s boundary turn to smoke, before misting back into a corporeal form again. Our time to hide had obviously reached its end. We needed to run soon.
“Where is everybody going?” I asked, looking at the line of fae heading toward a portal.
“Neremin has used the forest orb,” Cendri said. He had his arm slung over my shoulder. “We don’t have the artifact anymore. It’s gone for good, and we’re never going to have another mage meister.”
“Is that important?”
“The dragon fae love their traditions.” Cendri pursed his lips. “Well, considering Cardell’s gone, it’s a time to end traditions. The forest orb, though—that artifact has existed as long as the fae themselves. How are we to go on without it?”
“Cardell isn’t even ours anymore. It’s just another worry. There’s so many right now that we don’t even know where to begin.”
The realm’s boundary flashed in and out of existence. The fae folk had to move quicker. I saw so many crying faces. These people might have treated me badly, but I felt sorry for them for losing their home. The well-to-do and commoners suffered the same fate. Both lords and peasants, all wearing clothes of different status, huddled together.
“Are you okay?” Cendri asked.
I blinked at him. What was with the sudden different treatment? “I’m fine,” I replied, confused.
The fae moved in large groups through the portal, and through it, I saw Constanria with its tall, concrete buildings and river-filled landscape. Seeing it now, it was like through new eyes. I’d changed so much in such a short time since leaving that place. No longer was I the innocent princess, thinking that life was a game. The disaster that surrounded me reminded me of that.
I wasn’t sure what Father would think about having so many new people—people who didn’t even like dragon-kind—in our country. He was a good king and he wouldn’t let anybody, not even refugees, starve on the streets. Still, I foresaw the country going through problems.
Cendri hovered right next to me. I heard his breathing at my ear, and his spicy scent wafted toward me. I swallowed, fingering the hilt of my sword. He was close. Too close. The simmering heat between us flushed my cheeks. “I’m so glad that is over,” I said.
“You and me both,” he replied.
Silence fell between us as we contemplated what had happened. We’d been near death, and I owed Cendri my life. Could I still hate him after all that? I should. He’d made my life a living hell. But after facing a goddess together, something had changed between us, and I could no longer view him with the same hatred. I saw him in a different light. One that grew uncomfortable.
“Things are going to be much different after we’re in Constanria,” I said. “I won’t be on the outside anymore.”
“Instead, we will be. Do give us fair treatment.”
“Do you think you deserve it?”
“No.” Cendri shook his head. “I was wrong about you and dragon-kind in general. I’m sorry.”
“Hm.”
“You’re not forgiving me.”
“Nope.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?” He didn’t strike me as the understanding type.
“We’ll see how things go,” Cendri replied. “I won’t force you to forgive me. We put you through all that. I’m surprised you didn’t leave.”
I scratched my ear. “I’m surprised, too.” I reached down, digging my fingers into Mayhem’s fur. I usually did that for comfort.
The last group of fae was walking through the portal, traveling neatly. Despite the world collapsing around us, they evacuated calmly. The fae were less emotional than dragon-kind. I wondered how that might play out when the two races mixed.
Kaji was slung over Ma
yhem’s back. He was still knocked out. Gaean’s blessings. I really hoped he’d be okay. With Cendri with me, he’d stand a chance. The best I could do now was pray to Aereala for the best.
“Do you think you could fix him?” I asked Cendri. “Make him better.” I still couldn’t accept the fact that I might lose Kaji.
Cendri nodded. “We can. First, we’ll have to survive this. Once all the fae are out through the portal, we’ll see what we can do.”
“Even with you in this condition?”
“I can use magic. Nemreth and Aland will back me up.”
Cendri sounded confident enough. That should make me feel more relieved.
The last of the evacuating fae folk disappeared through the portal, his form melting away into the image of Constanria.
Nemreth looked toward it. “We can’t hold the realm up for much longer!”
The barrier flashed again. When it did, I saw dragon teramarth flying, their black wings flapping through red skies.
“Now!” Neremin shouted.
“Let’s go,” Cendri said.
We dashed forward, Mayhem bounding along with Kaji on his back. I needed to support Cendri most of the way, and even though he tried to run, he was struggling.
“Hop on,” I said. I lifted him onto my back, piggybacking him through the portal.
“This is mildly demeaning,” Cendri said.
“Oh, shut up. I’m carrying you without complaint.”
“You’re so small that it puzzles me how you’re able to do it.”
I was holding him at an awkward position, his legs dangling from my arms. His limbs seemed too large for me. Cendri tightened his arms around my neck, squeezing and pressing his body tighter against mine.
I rushed onward, toward the gleaming portal that shone with redemption. I jumped through it, joining the rest of the fae that had escaped.
As soon as I stepped through the portal, the difference was like day and night. I’d returned to the warm atmosphere of Constanria, standing on a hill. A large group of pointy-eared beings stood before me, and there were some dragon fae in dragon form flying above. The gates of the city were right in front of us, lined with bricks and iron. The fences that they hated. Was this to be their new home, or their prison? And to think they hated me for being dragon-kind.
The uglier side of me wished that the students who’d bullied me would suffer the same fate. It was vindictive and petty, but I entertained the bad thoughts, if only for a bit. How would the triad fare against my fathers? Should I let my fathers know how badly I’d been treated? They wouldn’t let the triad off.
“Safe,” Nemreth said, sweeping his hand over his brow. “For now.”
The sky was blue again, and my boots sank into green grass.
I was home.
Gods, I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed this place. I tightened my grip on Cendri’s legs.
“You can let me down now,” he said.
“Um, sure.”
Neremin was the last to step through the portal. I turned to him. His face looked ghoulish. I’d never seen the fae king look this sick before.
Alyxe, his partner, clutched his arms. “Remin? Hey, are you all right?” She supported him, along with Elfaryelle, who sat on Alyxe’s shoulders. They were accompanied by a firehound—the beast that followed Alyxe around everywhere.
He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “That… using the orb… it came at a cost.”
“Remin. Oh gods.”
The fae king kneeled on the ground. His face contorted and he placed a hand on his belly. He opened his mouth, rasping, and a moment later, blood poured from his mouth, splashing on the ground. It formed a huge puddle and stained his sleeves.
All the fae turned to him.
“Gods, gods, no,” Alyxe cried. Elfaryelle hugged Alyxe’s neck, expression frozen. “Remin, you can’t…”
“I’m sorry, Alyxe,” he said. “So… sorry.”
He slumped and lost consciousness.
“Remin!” She burst into tears, her whole body shivering. She pulled him into her arms and palmed his face. “Why are you doing this to me?”
It hurt to watch her.
“Y-you can’t…”
Gently, I set Cendri down. I hooked my fingers around his, and together, we watched Alyxe anguishing on the ground, not knowing what to say. The firehound made a purring noise and nudged Alyxe’s cheek. She lowered herself to the fae king’s chest and continued weeping. Her sobs sounded so painful that my insides twisted.
Collectively, the fae bent their bodies and placed their hands on their shoulders. They mourned the fae king for his sacrifice.
“It was a feat to transport so many people to safety at once,” Nemreth said. “He did his duty in the end.”
“R-r-emin.” Alyxe had turned into a complete wreck.
It was good to be home. But not like this.
Thirty-Seven
I woke up. I stared at the fixtures of my room in Constanria. It seemed so foreign to me, even though I’d grown up looking at it every day. I was almost twenty, and the last two months had felt longer than the first nineteen years of my life. I pushed my blanket away and stood. Yawning, I stretched. It was nice to live amongst stone walls and marbled tiles again. The lively architecture of Thesnan was different and interesting, but the constant forest smell could get annoying.
Today, the fae were to be given their new quarters. The king had accepted them. I told him nothing of how they’d treated me, instead telling him the good traits of the fae folk. It was hard to suppress the bad memories when I spoke of them. I managed it, somehow, finding strength within myself.
I walked over to my cupboard and pulled it open. The uniform I’d had to wear in Rakarthen Academy sat at the bottom of my wardrobe, neatly folded. Sitting atop it was the dragon fae flower, the badge glistening in the morning light. When would I wear it again? Maybe never. I picked up the badge, ran my thumb across its ridged surface, then set it down again. There were no more morning bells for me to answer to. My mother had cancelled my classes for the next week, too, thinking I’d prefer the time to rest. I peeled off my pajamas and shrugged on my day’s outfit, pants made of the finest leather and a silk tunic adorned with golden trimmings. If I wanted to, the servants would help me wear my hair in a pretty fashion, despite it being so short, but I decided to leave it hanging by my cheeks.
When I was finished, I looked in the mirror and let my hands fall to my sides. Had I always looked this stern? I sighed and straightened my collar. After that, I strolled to the door.
Kael awaited me outside, his hand raised and about to knock on my door. He lowered his fist and his expression brightened. “Good morning.”
I brushed my finger across my nose.
“What’s wrong?” Kael asked.
“Nothing. Just a little peckish,” I lied. “It’s about time for breakfast.”
“Breakfast can wait. I have a surprise.” Kael had an arm behind his back. He pulled it out, and in it was a dagger. “Micah told me you lost your first weapon in the fae lands. I was always mad that he gave you your favorite weapon, so now’s my chance.”
I took it from him and flipped it around to inspect its hilt. It looked similar to the other one, with the same curved blade and ivory hilt.
“It has an engraving of you on it,” Kael said. “But this time, it’s updated. You’re not a little girl anymore. You’re a woman. One who has explored. Like it?”
“It’s great, Dad.”
Kael’s shoulders sagged. “You don’t seem very happy about it.”
“I am, really.”
“Do you want a challenge? A duel, perhaps?”
“Mm?”
“You know, testing your skills against mine. I’m sure you’ve learned a lot from Thesnan. Come, I want to see how my daughter has grown.”
“Maybe another time.” I was in no mood for play at the moment. Kaji was still under intensive care with the triad, and I’d stayed up late thinking abou
t his wellbeing.
Kael frowned. “I’m not used to this.”
“Me being tired? Isn’t that normal?” Thesnan had worn me down.
He placed his hand on his hip. “My daughter might have grown a little too much.”
I shrugged. I just wasn’t as interested in winning petty battles anymore. A storm was about to come. Lysunth was going to regather her strength, and the drae lands were going to be her next target. I had to prepare myself for the coming chaos. First, however, I had to make sure that Kaji was fine.
“I’m going now, Dad,” I said. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Of course,” Kael replied, stepping aside to make room for me. I moved past him and was on my way.
I snapped my new dagger to the belt at my waist, in the same position my last one had been. It felt comfortable wearing iron again. The fae hated how there was so much of it in the drae lands. The king had been getting constant complaints about it.
As I walked through the palace, I passed by Mom and Frederick, her trusted companion, standing in a corridor. Mom was carrying her scrolls and books as usual, and Frederick helped her with some materials.
“It’s a bother,” I overheard Mom saying. “There’s so many of them, and we had to evacuate the whole left quarter to make space.”
“I know,” Frederick replied. “I’m getting it settled.”
“Oh, Aereala.” She shook her head. “The logistics are such a pain. And they’re making a fuss about iron, too, saying they’d prefer that they have more plants around the place. You’d think they’d be kinder, since we’re helping them out, but the fae are a haughty bunch. Did you hear about the fight?”
“At the quarters?”
“Between a drerkyn gang and a group of fae. The place was wrecked. We’ve gotten so many letters about that.
“I’ll help you with the letters tonight.”
“I know you will.”
Frederick scratched his wrinkled forehead. He was getting old. As a darmar, he aged much faster than my hidrae parents. “I wonder how long they’re going to stay for.”
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