“We’ll find something for you. Don’t you worry, Finn,” Lia said as she reached up and gripped his cheeks in her hand, squeezing them together. He shook out of her grasp with a huff of annoyance.
“Are you going to tell us what happened? This one is being strangely vague,” he said as he gestured to me.
Lia pressed her lips firmly together as the rest of them joined us. “Yes,” she answered. “But not here.”
Once back at the Cadoria Estate, Lynelle prepared a welcome home meal—freshly baked bread, roasted chicken, and vegetables from Alaia’s farmlands blanketed the table. As the scent of the food reached my nostrils, my stomach growled in agony, aching from days of hunger while flying over the sea. However, the thought of us all needing to form a new plan due to my actions made my stomach churn, leaving me too queasy to eat.
As the food made its way around, Finnian insisted on filling my plate, his concerned gaze fixed on me. Everyoneate in an uncomfortable silence that had been lingering since our flight home.
“We all have much to discuss,” Lia broke the quiet as she took her last bite of food.
“What happened?” Landon asked.
My sister’s gaze flashed to me and then back to him. “It has become evident to me that I underestimated the true nature of those we sought, and I should have listened to Veli’s warnings.” She flashed the sorceress an apologetic look.
“So those witches won’t be working with us?” Finn realized.
“They will not be,” she answered. “The High Witch of the coven has also managed to reclaim the book of dark magic.”
“What?!” he gasped. “How?”
My stare moved around the table, and no one would look at me.
“It was my fault,” I stated. “I stole the book from where Veli had hidden it and brought it with me. They were able to rip it from our grasp without even touching it.” My head bowed in shame.
“Avery,” Finn whispered as his stare seemed to see right through me. He turned back to Lia. “Where does this leave us in the war?”
“That is precisely what we need to find out,” Zaela cut in. “We no longer have the hope that magic will aid our victory, and we have an army full of mortals that are significantly easier to kill. We need to be smart.”
“We have magic,” Veli huffed. “But it is that of a single witch. It’s still something. Do not count me out entirely.”
A wicked smile crept up Zaela’s face at Veli’s challenging remark, and she placed her hand atop the witch’s. I glanced over at Finn, who also took note of their interaction, and he looked at me with a knowing smirk and shrugged.
“I will take the blame for what happened at The Elora Isles,” Lia said.
“No. It was my fault.” My voice was as firm as I could muster—I wouldn’t let her be held responsible for what I had done.
“You shouldn’t have come with us,” she said sternly, and I flinched. “You weren’t ready, and I know that you never had any intention of what happened, but what’s done is done. I led us there. The fault is mine.”
“Lia,” I pleaded softly, but she held up her hand to stop me.
“I’ve been thinking too much like a captain and not enough like a queen. Commanding and ruling are not one and the same, and I had been a fool to think it would be. I don’t just have to worry about soldiers under my command but the innocents who rest in their homes as we fight to protect them. My way of thinking has proven futile, and I’m inclined to believe that I need an adviser if I am to further lead this rebellion to victory.”
Jace snorted next to her, and her eyes slowly wandered to him. “Is something funny?” she asked, a hint of amusement in her tone.
“You realize you would need tolistento an advisor, right, my Lia?” He winked.
She cackled softly. “As much as it pains me, yes.”
Gage stood from the table. “My dearest queen, you may hold your breath for the question you are about to ask. For I accept.” He gave her a deep bow, and I suppressed my giggle at his attempt to lighten the mood.
“Gage, sit down,” Zaela demanded, but her words ended in a laugh.
“Why would it be you?” Finnian teased, and it surprised me.
“Well, who else would it be?!” He sat down, grinning.
Lia was at the opposite end of the table, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed as she observed everyone and their fake bickering. She looked at her mate and winked.
