Gage's scrubs at his forehead as he blows out a breath, his voice far harsher than he usually takes with the Celestial heir. "You didn't even know what blood magic was, Soren, there's no way to describe to you how dangerous this plan truly is. If that murderous cunt has managed to convince the regent that he can bring the bloodwitches home, then surely he's figured out how to walk within the valley. We're no good to Rhosh if we're dead."
Roan nods his head with a scowl on his face as though furious to be agreeing with the Briarfrost but he's looked apprehensive about the journey from word go.
"I've seen their handiwork up close before and I agree that it should be avoided at all cost."
Cerson glances down to me before she shrugs. "Unless you’re prepared to ride through the night and risk the witches finding a way into Banshee’s Call in that time, this is our only option."
Gideon slashes a hand at his brother. "I'd sooner face Oskar Reborn and risk his blood mist before I abandoned Rhosh. If you're so terrified, brother, then just stay behind and assist with guarding Yregar."
With a scathing look back, Gage murmurs, "There's no way you love that bloodthirsty wife of yours that much brother. No one could love a fae enough to face that…beastwillingly."
Cerson stands abruptly and begins to usher everyone out the room, her gaze lingering on me but I keep my focus on the neat row of stitches across Kytan's stomach where it’s best served. When her attention moves to the grayed pallor of his skin, she cringes. She's spent enough time lingering in my various healer's quarters and guarding me as I've worked to know the outcome is not looking all that good for Yregar's commander. The true cost of war is that there's nothing else I can do for him now while we have hundreds of lives at stake. With the wound now carefully bound shut, it's the best that I can do for now and will have to be enough.
Rather than allowing Cerson to see him out of my presence, Soren waits at my side to escort me up to our chambers with little more than a haughty look at the grinning Elmswyrd witch. After leaving a long list of care instructions for Kytan, I let my Fates-blessed mate lead me back upstairs, my elbow grasped gently in one of his large calloused hands.
There's no hiding the tension coiled within me from him, and even as we change into riding clothes I feel as though I am close to wriggling out of my own skin. Still, Soren's is nothing.
By the time I'm sitting on Northern Star's back, dressed in fighting robes and the Fates writhing beneath my scar, the Briarfrost battalions are in formation and ready to ride out. Every soldier is sitting tall in their saddles, armed to the teeth and not just ready to ride to their princess’s defense, but eager. The air is thick with anticipation, not a single soldier looking hesitant at the journey we’re about to embark on. Both princes sit in the saddles with stoic faces, no sign of apprehension or concern on either of them.
Cerson directs her horse to walk next to me, Soren flanking my other side as we ride through the gates of the inner wall. Moving such a large group comes with certain restrictions but the short ride to the snow-covered farming plains won’t delay us any more than saving Kytan’s life had, both necessary compromises. Gideon had accepted Soren’s command on both issues easily. Eager as he is to reach his wife, he’s not a foolish male.
As we work our way through the village towards the outer gate, I see Tauron hesitate to Yregar behind for the first time. He accepted Soren’s command to ride out easily, never one to shy away from battle, but even knowing that his brother is remaining in Yregar to take command of the household, the long look he gives the stone walls of the castle is undeniably full of longing and pain.
Cerson sees it and catches my gaze with a grin. "I think Thea is going to be a wonderful healer, Æfanya. She's certainly picked up the delicate art of brewing tea far quicker than any high fae I've endured."
It's a high compliment but, misreading the amused lilt in her voice, Tauron's teeth clench viciously as he snaps at her,"Why come here if you're going to be forced to endure the high fae? Surely the peace in the Northern Lands is preferable to the raving war bands and the Unseelie Court."
Soren turns his head just far enough that his cousin can see the snarl on his lip but Cerson is unperturbed. "This is my home, just as it’s yours. I’ll burn the stink of Kharl's magic out from every witch myself if that's what it takes to restore the kingdom to what it once was and return to my forest. Given the Fate’s commands, there's not much I can do about the Unseelie Court except to teach the lot of you better. I'll admit it's tiring after centuries of sorting out the Seelie Court but such is the life of a witch."
Tauron frowns at her but Soren's lips move, his words to low for my ears, and his cousin's head bows instantly. Cerson is happy to leave the topic behind but there's a tension laying over us all that wasn't there before and I heave out a sigh.
"Thea is definitely showing promise and Tyra has been excellent with her. The long path ahead of us certainly isn't looking quite so bleak."
Cerson nods agreeably. "Whatever happened to the fae who hurt her?"
Even Soren turns to stone in his saddle as the males all react to the reminder of Thea’s abuse but I answer honestly. "We still don't know who’s to blame but they’ll be held accountable the moment we do."
She nods again, rolling her shoulders back before turning in her saddle to peg Tauron with an icy look, one that forces even the strongest soldiers to hesitate. "I know a witch who can find the truth of her bloodline with ease; no pain or torment involved. The moment Rooke took the girl into her care, she became my ward as well and that means it's my duty to hunt the disgusting fae who harmed her. If you learn to play nicely, I'll letyou help but just know that whatever death they receive, it‘ll be a slow one."
Glancing over, I smile at her and Cerson tips her head back to laugh at me, the sound bright and warm as it weaves around us all. Even as the snow falls steadily, dusting my shoulders and the hood of my cloak, the land breathes in the sound and rejoices that she's home once more.
Tauron doesn't have a reply for her but Roan mutters quietly, "You’re far too happy considering the task ahead."
Cerson shrugs. "If I let the prospect of death and war diminish my joy I'd be a morose creature like the rest of you and what a terrible thing that would be! My Æfanya couldn't possibly handle any more scowling soldiers in her midst."
She casts a sidelong look at Soren and when he resolutely ignores her she grins at me instead, wriggling her eyebrows until I struggle to hold back my own chuckle at her antics. Reed glances between the two of us and then risks a look at Soren, only to find Cerson’s teasing hasn’t caught his temper at all. After so many fraught months, the Outland soldier is clearly shocked but it tugs at my own heart desperately. Soren’s unquestioning acceptance of Cerson goes beyond what he’d offer my closest friends and fellow soldiers; he treats her with respect he expects any fae to show my brother's wife, regardless of her standing by the Court’s standards.
Cerson leans into my side, switching to the Seelie common tongue to murmur to me, "How is he going to stand by and watch you wage war against the Betrayer as the Fates command you? He really has no idea what's coming, does he?"
I feel the icy fingers of guilt stroking in my belly as I shake my head at her, my chest tightening painfully. When the outer wall begins to loom before us I finally reach out to Soren through our mind connection, fighting to keep the blush from my cheeks when he lets me in without pause.
What’s troubling you, croí?
Taking a deep breath to settle the writhing nerves in my gut, I keep my gaze ahead as I speak.When I first returned to the Southern Lands, I had no intention of ever calling for aid. I left my family behind and avoided speaking of them here to keep them out of this war but… I’ve endangered more lives with my stubbornness, my fears of losing anyone else blinding me. There’s a lot I haven’t told you yet, Donn, and I’m finding now that we’re riding out, I regret that.
He’s silent for a moment, the mind connection solemn, before his answer almost takes me to my knees.You owe me nothing, croí. Not a single answer to any question, no matter how desperately I want to know. When you’re ready, I’ll hear whatever you have to say, but for now our focus should be on the task ahead.
I clear my throat, wishing it were really that simple, but I nod anyway and build the wall back up between us as the battalions’ stream out into the farming plains and ease back into formation meticulously.
