Somehow, with all the emotional family turmoil lingering in our group, nothing had blown up yet—Nico’s family had steered clear of him, and with Bergan rotting in the dungeon in Verbial, Declan didn’t have to worry about his monster of a father causing problems.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to have the Star Court forces come in from the North?” Luciana’s voice rang out in the tent. We were all gathered around the large circular table, a map of Lethenia placed in the center.
“It would give us the element of surprise,” Declan argued.
“Or it gives the Blood Court an easy opportunity to spot a small group of our forces and eliminate them swiftly.”
“She has a point,” Nico said. “No offense, Lennox, but the Star Court forces aren’t as strong as some of our other groups, and they’re smaller.”
I chewed my bottom lip as I considered both of their ideas.
“It will take at least two extra weeks for them to get here. That’s two weeks we sit here twiddling our thumbs. We can’t afford to do that. We can’t give Adreona any extra time,” Nico continued.
“Then we need to send someone to help them. My mother is no general. They need a leader.”
“What if you go.” Declan’s voice cut through the silence.
“Me?” Luce laughed, the sound bitter as she rolled her eyes.
“Yes, you. You’ve demonstrated in the past few weeks you’ve got a knack for strategy. You’re a good fighter and leader. You can go and lead them.”
“You can’t be serious.” Luce narrowed her eyes at the harpy.
“I am.” Declan’s golden eyes swung to me. “Lennox, what do you think?”
“I think it’s a good idea. I like the idea of having someone I trust leading them, someone I know rather than someone I’ve barely met. I would do it myself—they are my people, but I’m needed here.”
“But I’m needed here too, am I not?”
“Yes,” Luka interjected. “But someone can easily slip into your role, we can fill in for your absence. We don’t need you to do the spell on me until we meet Astria and Adreona in battle so you can go with the legion for now.”
“Do you not want mehere? Is that what this is?”
“Luce.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “I would love nothing more than to have you here, fighting by my side. Goddess knows it would be less stressful. But I also need you to go where you’re needed. With the Star Court legion is where you’re needed.”
She was quiet for several beats. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Declan cracked half a smile. “Alright, General Ambrose.”
Luce’s lip twitched up. “I might like that title.”
“I have an idea, too,” Nico interjected. “What if the wolves went with? In our wolf form, we can run fast, faster than any horse.” He looked down at the map on the table. “If we keep up our pace, we should be able to intercept and meet you at a designated point outside of Cel Nox, to the North. That way, we buff up the Star Courts forces and don’t leave them vulnerable.”
“The numbers would still be smaller.” Declan rubbed his chin. “But it would provide a great boost for the Star Court legion if Adreona did manage to scope them out and send a group there.”
He looked at me. “Lennox?”
“I think it sounds like a good plan. If you’re willing to let the wolves go, I think we should do it.”
Declan tipped his head to Nico. “How long do you need until you can leave?”
“We should be able to leave as soon as possible.”
“Tomorrow morning?” Luka asked.
“Yeah, the sooner the better,” Nico concluded.
“I’ll make sure the rest of the Generals know the change in plans. Luce, you’ll let your mother know?”
