“Thank you.” I blew out a breath as I surveyed the map laid out on the table in front of us. “Thank you for breaking it all down for us, it’s overwhelming. I don’t know what we’d do without you.” I gave Declan a soft smile. I meant it, I waslost when it came to war strategy, just another thing I wasn’t equipped with being queen.
The edge of Declan’s mouth turned up, a smile, one only the few who knew him could spot graced his lips. “Good thing you don’t have to. The commanders will check in with us each evening when we will reassess the plan for the following day and adjust as needed. We will also continue to train the people as we travel. We are made up of so many courts it will take us a while to figure out everyone’s strengths. Some have been trained and know their strengths, but others will need to discover them to figure out which legion is best suited for them. I will observe training as much as I can to offer input as to where I think soldier’s skills will be best suited.”
“What about us? Where are we going to be?”
“You will be forming a legion of your own. You and Luka as the heads. You won’t be on the battlefield right away.”
There was no fucking way I was standing on the sidelines of a war I was starting. I opened my mouth to protest but Declan cut me off.
“You are the High Queen; you will get to fight. I wouldn’t tell you otherwise if I valued my life, but I can’t have you jumping in right away. I have a plan, Lennox. I’ll go over it with you and Luka later.”
“Fine.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Only because you’re the Captain.”
The side of Declan’s lip quirked up. If this was going to work, I needed to trust him fully. He might not have ever led a company into war, but he sure as fuck knew what he was doing more than I did.
“I talked with my mother this afternoon.” Luciana stood, setting down her book. “She will be making her way to Arcadia in a couple of days with the Star Court forces.” That had been a point of contention for the last severaldays, how would we reunite the Star Courts forces with the rest of the group without a leader there to lead them. I wouldn’t ask them to march alone, and Declan wouldn’t let me. It had been Nico’s idea to ask Caterina and Endora, Caterina had gladly accepted the job, leaving Endora to stay back with their people in Arcadia until we could all be reunited before marching to the Blood Court.
“The groups Lennox directed to guard each city—they have been provided with a crystal to use to communicate with us if needed. They are all connected to these crystals.” Luciana passed the bracelets around the group. “The commanders will receive one as well so we are all able to communicate if we need.”
“Anything else to report?”
Everyone shook their heads. Declan dismissed them, one by one they filed out of the tent until only my friends,my family, were left.
“How was I?” My pulse picked up speed. “Did I do well? Is there anything I should have done differently?” Luka wrapped an arm around me and pulled me into his side.
“You were perfect.” He placed a kiss on my jaw.
“You’re my mate, you’re supposed to say that.”
“Declan?” Luka looked to the harpy.
“You were great, Lennox.” Part of me still didn’t believe him, but I didn’t argue further.
“Before everyone else goes, I have something to share. Something I didn’t want to talk about in front of everyone.” I twisted my head to look at Luka.
“Something you haven’t told me?”
“Yes.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “We haven’t exactly had much time to talk.”
A knot formed in my stomach as Luka swallowed, his face pinching.
“The witch with Adreona this morning, that was Keziq, right?”
I nodded.
“You’re certain?”
My brows pinched. “Yes, I don’t think I’d forget the face of the witch who tried to ruin my fucking life by distorting my memories. Why?”
“I’ve met her before.”
“What do you mean you’ve met her before?” I asked carefully.
“I saw her in the Stygin market.” I tensed, my heart picking up speed. “She’s the witch who told me how to find Astria’a journal.”
I moved out of Luka’s hold. “No.” I pushed him back with a firm hand on his chest. “No, no she’s not. I saw her?—”
“But from a distance. Would you remember her from only that?”
