I thought for a moment then shrugged.
“Don’t you think it’s suspicious if you just show up at Vespera’s gates and suddenly ask to join the Academy? You’re a southern lord, Torin. And, if you’re confident in your sources, then there is already speculation that you’re part of the rebellion. Alois isn’t going to let you anywhere near his Academy or army without a really damn good reason.”
“We figured as much.” Peytor blew out a heavy breath, and I felt Torin tense behind me.
“There is always the chance that the gods make a move in the Borderlands,” Torin said. “The likelihood is actually quite high that they do. They’ve been trapped for centuries—all of this freedom and access to their magic will eventually force them to do something brash. Inevitably, it will create a power vacuum that is too strong for Vespera and the north to ignore—your husband will have to step in or risk losing Elyria to the gods completely.”
I chewed my lip in thought. “Then we wait for that time.”
Both boys raised their eyebrows at me.
“Ell, you need to get out of there. We can move up the timeline—” Torin started, and I shushed him with a finger to his mouth. Heat ran through me with the motion, and I had to take a breath to calm my awakened body.
“Aren’t you supposed to be the ‘master general’ here?” I snarked, peeling my finger from his lips as they lifted into a smirk.
“Yes. And if I think I can enter Vespera now without sustaining heavy losses, then that is what I need to do. For you, for me, for Elyria.”
I shook my head again, peeling myself out of his arms before crossing my own.
“No. I can handle another few weeks or months here. Let me see what I can do from the inside. Or at least what information I can find that would help.”
Torin carved his hands through his hair, the motion leaving the ends sticking up at wayward angles. Peytor’s arms were crossed, his face set into hard lines; it was the same look Father got when he made up his mind, his word final.
Ire rose in me; I knew that they both loved me, even after everything I’d done, and their actions came with good intentions. But I needed to find a way for myself.
“Let me do this. Please. I need . . . I need to be able to do things for and on my own. I know you mean well and only want to protect me, butfuck.” I exhaled and Peytor’s eyebrows jumped in surprise at my curse. “I’ve been protected all my life, and look where that’s gotten me.” I thrust my arms wide.
Torin at least seemed to contemplate my words.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, the sky beginning to dance and writhe again, and I knew our time was coming to a close.
“Please. At least just wait until there is a better, safer time to come to Vespera. Showing up at the gates without a legitimate reason isn’t just foolish—it’s suicide.”
“Fine,” Torin said, unhappy but acquiescing nonetheless. “I have . . . connections that could help provoke the gods a bit. I’ll see what I can do.”
His voice faded, as did their spectral images, as they were wrenched from the Dreamscape.
Fuck.
I could only hope that they listened to my plea and heeded my words.
Stupid, stubborn men.
Chapter 21
Kaos
One Month Ago
The air snapped loudly as I stepped from the ether, my black boot sinking into the wet ground just south of the Crystal Mines, or what used to be the Crystal Mines. The air was thick with acrid smoke—the scent of burning flesh and charred forest hung stagnant as the faint popping of a still-burning fire sang in the background.
There was no other noise; no birds chirped, no animals moved.
Through the thick fog, I could detect the faintest shred of magic—powerfulmagic; more so than anything I’d felt since before my imprisonment.
I hummed softly, contemplating what that could mean as I padded through the thick ash and dust covering the scorched grass. I did little to hide my existence, there was no one left alive here to see me.
The closer I drew to the mines, the thicker the smoke became until it was almost unbearable, even for me.
