What I would give to rake my nails across that mask…
Selvina stepped forward and relayed what had happened, her regal composure unwavering as I stood like a godsdamned fish out of water.
Bayne’s eyes shuddered, and he dropped his gaze. Queen Antares stilled when Selvina explained Carina’s death. The queen merely blinked at her daughter’s name before her lips hung open and she let out a sob.
I envisioned myself as a statue as I forced the emotion from my face and fought the urge to shake my head at her in disgust. I pressed my teeth together as her golden brows pinched up in exaggerated grief, and she forced a wail to her throat. A muscle feathered in Bayne’s jaw as Antares played the part of a grieving mother.
She didn’t give a shit about her daughter. She had dismissed Carina her entire life…
Rage surged. White flames danced behind my eyes, but I kept as still as a rock.
I am a statue. I am a rock.
“We will prepare a tribute to her sacrifice,” the queen said as she wiped the last of her forced tears away. “A grand feast in her honor. The tree singers will erect a monument to?—”
“A monument?” I cut. “We are at war. We need to find these goddesses and avenge her?—”
Bayne cleared his throat and placed a hand on the queen’s arm as her features softened into the calculated malice I’d grown used to seeing on her.
I am a statue. I am a rock.
“We will pay tribute to her sacrifice,” Bayne said as he schooled his features into calm confidence. “And we will avenge her. If Ganmira and Renova are in the Realm of Vael, they’ll be coming for us, for the Bellators. And we have no idea how their power of transformation will manifest,” he murmured, running his thumb over his chin.
“We’ve only seen a glimpse of what Lyvia can do with the Transcindiel power that came from them,” Selvina agreed. “Can they change their own forms? Will they even appear the way we’ve seen them?”
The thought alone was terrifying. What would they transform into to take back what was stolen?
“Someone needs to warn the others, warn Lyvia and those in Sultira,” Ursa cut in, furrowing her brows.
“We don’t have many bodies to spare to guard the gate,” Selvina replied.
I shook my head in agreement, a reluctant resignation forming at the transition to strategy. I replayed my last conversation with my cousin, the last of my flames diminishing as I recalled what Selvina had said.
“No.” I shook my head and straightened. “You were right. We need to stop playing guard dog and take out the threat. We need to destroy the gate. We’ve lost too many good fighters in trying to stop the creatures from entering. And if another Embodied enters through that gate, there’s no telling if anyone would survive.”
“Olienna said that the Celestyn Bone was used to destroy the first gate thousands of years ago.” Bayne nodded.
I moved across the room to the large map of Vael spread across the wall.
“She also thought that the Celestyn Bone was still with those creatures in the Lumerian Mountains in Sultira. We’ve been cut off from Sultira for too long. We need to find out if they’ve located it.”
Selvina nodded her agreement as she strode to my side, examining the long mountain range stretching through the center of the human kingdom.
“So, we leave the Vael Lacrima unattended?” Ursa asked, concern drawing her brows together.
Selvina strode across the room and twined her fingers through Ursa’s. “For now,” she murmured. “We can’t risk any more soldiers. And we can’t stay here. We need to evacuate Kayj. Keep to the Crystal Castle and the mountains. Keep training the soldiers and the bears. Maybe we can figure out how to take this with us.” Selvina motioned to the orb with a delicate hand.
Ursa nodded, her eyes going distant.
“Nerissa can take Aquila and find out what’s happening in Sultira and try to locate the Celestyn Bone so we can close the gate on Kayj,” Bayne cut in, drawing our attention back.
“And what of Lyvia?” I asked, an unintended sharpness edging my words as I recalled my last conversation with Bayne regarding her. “Someone needs to warn her about Ganmira and Renova. They’ll no doubt come for her first.”
A muscle feathered in Bayne’s jaw, and he looked as if he would say something when Selvina stepped forward.
“Nishanth and I will find Lyvia,” she said, her back straightening. “It shouldn’t take long to fly to Votruvia, assuming she’s still there.”
Ursa snapped her face at Selvina, her brows rising as she processed the words. I looked away as she began to blink rapidly.
