“Lia, I’m sorry for blaming you earlier,” Gage said, pure sorrow radiating in his deep brown eyes.
“Gage,” I whispered as I walked over to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. “You had every right to be upset. I know you care for my sister.”
He blinked and gave a small, slow nod in understanding.
“How fast can our ships sail to Isla?” I asked.
“From here?” Zaela asked. “It would take nearly two weeks, and that’s if the tide is on our side.”
I blew out a breath. “That won’t do, and we can’t waste any more days. All of our soldiers will have to remain with the land fleet.” Rubbing at my temples, I tried to think of a plan.
“Is it bad for our entire army to remain on land? Wouldn’t it be better to all be together at the foot of the gates?” Zaela asked.
“I want them surrounded on all sides, including the harbor,” I answered, and then my eyes widened. “Wait a second.”
My mate looked at me with a raised brow as I stormed across the chamber and opened a wooden chest we kept on the side table. I reached in, my fingers closing around the smooth, iridescent conch shell I had stolen from the sirens all those weeks ago.
“I think it’s time to call in my favor,” I announced as I made my way back to the stone table and took my seat at its head.
“Favor.” Zaela snorted. “I think you mean bribe?”
I shrugged with a lazy smile. “Semantics. Regardless, they know that if they want this back, they must aid me somehow in the war. And I think I know just what that would be now.”
“What are you thinking, then?” Veli asked.
“We will have the sirens in Isla’s harbor. If there are ships there, then perfect, we have one of our secret weapons ready to attack. If no ships lay in the harbor, then we didn’t waste precious time sending our own fleet there.”
“And how do you wish to alert them?”
“You will rift walk back to Elora and tell them the plan. If they show up and fight for me, they get their sister’s conch back. If they don't, it will be destroyed.”
“That is a bold threat, Elianna,” Veli hissed.
“If they had legs, I would have them take a knee before me, but they do not. This is how they will show their loyalty to the true heir of the realm.”
She grinned at me wickedly, shadows dancing around her face. “Very well.”
“I have one last plan to obtain more allies.”
“Lia,” Zaela breathed. “There’s no one left. We have our armies ready for war, but it won’t be enough. Not against the faeanddark magic.”
“I have made friends along the way,” I exaggerated. “They may help us.”
“Who are these so-called friends, Elianna?” Veli demanded from my opposite side.
I winked at her, earning a huff of disapproval. “The realm itself works to support the true heir and Valderre bloodline.”
“Yes, but vines on trees won’t—”
“Let her finish, Veli.” Jace’s voice radiated authority.
I cleared my throat. “After I escaped the Islan dungeons, Nox and I spent time in the Sylis Forest. We were attacked by a herd of centaurs, and when my skin bled into the soil, the forest reacted. The herd no longer worked to attack me and, in fact, let us go a moment later. As the witches stated to us in the isles, the creatures of the wood don’t wish to upset the balance of the realm.”
“And you believe these centaurs will help us?” Zaela asked.
“I believe we have a chance of many creatures coming to our aid. All it will take is a bit of convincing.”
“Lia,” Jace breathed as he placed his hand atop my own on the table. “We don’t have the time or resources to wander around the Sylis Forest looking for them. Not to mention, it’s dangerous.”
