“I did.” She flutters her eyelashes at me like she isn’t the absolute badass who just busted through enemy troops.
I take her hand in mine. “Come. Bring the sludge.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To the war room. Your presence is just as importantas mine.” I grab the boy’s arm as I pass. “Find my sister a room.” I point at Karyl.
“Yes, sir,” the boy says and scurries to Karyl’s side.
Hand in hand with my mate, I make my way through the bodies, through the smoke, into the compound and to the war room.
Eloise has her chin lifted, her eyes straight ahead. She’s trying not to see the bodies.
“There are no children among the dead,” I whisper. “Not that I can see anyway.”
The revelation doesn’t comfort her the way I’d hoped. “I remember Tempest telling me that Aendor sent them only young men, and few at that. I suspect Nevina thought this would be an easy win. She’s keeping her secret weapon—the children—for another battle. Saving them for the Borderlands and Zephrine to shield their forces from any who oppose them.”
“But you have the potion.”
She nods. “Thank the goddess. We have time to free them.”
Thane is shouting orders when we reach the war room. “Use the west wing for anyone recovering, and I want those prisoners guarded around the clock. Damien! Thank the goddess. What’s our next move?”
I take my spot at the head of the table, feeling as if I’m standing in my father’s shoes and not liking the fit at all. No matter that I was raised a prince and fought my share of battles. No matter that I learned military strategy at my father’s knee. I am not my father, and leading this offensive is as foreign to me as Eloise’s Earth once was. Nothing prepares you to lead your people toward possibledeath. Nothing prepares you to face a situation where your own death is not only probable but worth it.
I turn to one of the envoys waiting near the door. “Send word to Seamus through the shadow network. It’s time. Deploy the mountain dweller forces to defend the northwest. Careful, though. New Stygarde will be listening. It will be enough to say the weather is turning. Understand?” The boy bows and leaves the room.
“Thane’s and Percy’s teams will stay here to hold Aendor and prepare to advance on New Stygarde when the time comes.” I look toward Eloise. “Wait for the code ‘the dragon roars.’ Do not trust the shadows without that code.”
“Yes, sir,” Percy calls and races from the room. Thane bows and moves out after him.
“Cassius, deploy your vampires to the Borderlands.”
“Is that wise, Damien? My vampires are the most susceptible to sunlight. You’ll have them sandwiched between Entrydal’s and New Stygarde’s forces.” I have to hand it to him. There is no accusation in Cassius’s tone. His voice is a smooth, unemotional challenge to my logic, not my authority.
“Unfortunately, that vulnerability will occur anywhere. Maximus—” I turn to the Rivertoad general “—you will deploy your men across the Borderlands as well. Together, you’re a sizable force. Try to use your numbers to your strategic advantage by shielding Cassius’s men from elven magic. Vampires have no heartbeat. Even the hunters won’t hear them coming.”
Maximus bows and leaves the room. Cassius’s eyes meet mine, and I send him a message down the shadowsthat we have the antidote and I will need his help delivering it. He places a hand over his heart and nods.
“All other teams, including mine, will deploy to Zephrine to take back the west villages.” I look to Lord Prandle, and he gives me an affirming nod.
But Lord Undaku scowls. “You’d have shades from the Borderlands fight in the west?”
“Yes, Undaku. The west has suffered the ravages of starvation for far longer than the Borderlands. The troops from the region don’t have the strength to hold it alone. I need you to help secure Zephrine the same way we did Aendor.”
His scowl twists skeptically. “I think you foresee New Stygarde using our children against us and have sent the vampires to the Borderlands because they are from another world, and therefore are not related to anyone on the battlefield. The vampires have no bond with anyone the queen enchants to attack us. They will not hesitate to kill our babies to take back the castle.”
Bile churns in my gut as I face him, knowing that every word is true. “Eloise has a plan to help the children using her magic. It’s not foolproof, but we are going to try. However, you are right. If we fail, I wish to spare you that indignity.” Our eyes meet and hold. The hatred in Undaku is not for me. It’s for New Stygarde, for the loss they’ve endured. While the west starved, the Borderlands attempted to sacrifice the few to save the many. But there was no right answer. The west lost a few children to starvation. The Borderlands lost more to New Stygarde. “It is sound strategy,” I say softly.
His throat bobs on a hard swallow, and then he bows, removing himself from the room.
“Tempest.”
“Yes, Damien?” She is the last in the room, other than Eloise. “I am giving you charge to direct your healers. Send at least one medical unit to every region.”
“A wise choice.” She raises her fist in the air. “For Stygarde.”
I echo the motion. “For Stygarde.”
