We stepped through the portal. I clutched Emma tightly to me as the sight of hundreds of tents came into view, lined underneath pine trees in the middle of the forest.
The temperature difference was staggering. It’d been nearly warm in Ireland, but here in Malovia, it was chilly and dark. Snow was still falling from the sky.
“Is there somewhere we can take Emma where she’ll be safe?” I asked.
“We already have a tent saved for the two of you outside the main camp,” Amantha said. “We didn’t want everyone knowing Emma was here until it was time to fight.”
Indeed. The sight of the Worldweaver would inspire rebellion in the people. They’d want to go to battle straightaway. We needed another night, at least.
And we only had one more day until the Spring Equinox. Emma needed to be ready.
I kept the bag that held the crown on my side. We couldn’t risk losing it. I wasn’t letting it out of my sight until it was time to give it to Emma. Amantha hurried off to find a doctor, while Finlay showed us to our tent. When we stepped inside, I saw that the tent had already been fashioned into an elaborate illusion. The interior looked more like a grand bedroom than anything. I laid Emma down on the bed, and a short time later, Miroslava entered to examine her.
“She didn’t break anything. I believe she’s fine,” Miroslava replied. “But the hard hit to her head concerns me. Have her drink this potion the moment she wakes up.”
“Thank you,” I told her, taking the vial before she walked out. I put it on the bedside and waited.
After the night got even darker, Emma’s eyelids fluttered open. She groaned, and cringed on the bed. “Where am I?”
“The refugee camp. We got the silver crown, and Ailen Dierdra’s dead,” I told her. “Everything’s going to be all right.”
That felt like a lie, but I wasn’t sure what other words my tongue could form that would shield her from what I had to share. I helped her sit up, and uncorked the potion. “Miroslava said you had to drink this. Here.”
I dribbled the potion past her lips, and cupped the back of her head to help her drink. Color came back into her cheeks, and she seemed more aware of her surroundings as she said, “I’m so grateful we got the silver crown. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”
“Are you hurt badly?” I asked in concern.
“I don’t think so. I put up a shield at the last second before his tail hit me. It absorbed most of the impact. It didn’t kill me, but it still hurt.” Emma groaned again.
“The potion should help you get back to normal by tomorrow,” I said encouragingly. “Everyone’s here. All our friends, our allies. You have nothing to worry about. Your family will be along soon. Your parents and your brother had to… take care of some things.”
I was spewing words, and Emma caught on to it. There was an insecure tightness across our bond that made her uneasy, and she said, “What about Babcia and Bapa? Did they make it here okay?”
Her gaze was so innocent and unaware. Delivering this news was going to be harder on me than the actual act of watching the people she loved die.
A hard knot formed in my throat as I rasped, “Emma, I’m sorry. Your grandparents aren’t coming.”
Chapter Twenty
Emma
Icouldn’t believe my grandparents were dead.
They’dalwaysbeen there. I hadn’t known them for most of my life, but the time that Ihadspent with them was profound and real. They’d been my family in a way my mother and father had failed to be. They’d instructed me in Unseelie magic, taught me my heritage, and had been there for me during some of the toughest times of my life. No matter what I was feeling or what I’d been going through, I could always stop by for a warm meal and a bit of comfort. They were the easiest people to talk to, and they gave the greatest advice.
And now they were gone. They’d died a true fae death, like they’d wanted… even though I hadn’t been there to say goodbye. It felt like the very world had been knocked sideways.
But I didn’t have any time to grieve, because we were going to war soon. We had the silver crown. There was no point in waiting anymore to face Droga, because the Spring Equinox was tomorrow. The portal to Edinmyre was going to close for good then, and if there was any hope of saving the fae, we had to do this now. It was time to face what was coming.
Ethan had left early that morning to make war plans with the others. I needed to be there, so we could make a plan of action for the battle the next day.
I got dressed in a navy velvet dress with a white fur cloak. The girls hadn’t grabbed everything from the estate when they’d fled, but they’d made sure to take items that were important. The dress and cloak had been a birthday gift from my grandparents, and they were indicative of a royal.
I knew who I was and what I was coming back to be. I needed to show my people that.
I wasn’t ready for all the refugees to look up as I emerged from the tent. A crowd had formed outside my tent, like they’d been waiting for me to come out. A heaviness settled in my heart as I observed their weary, impoverished faces. These people had been through hell, and now they were looking at me like I was some kind of savior.
Or a ghost.
