‘Norok and I have a plan. Trust me.’
I hoped it was a good plan.
Chapter 59
NICHOLAS
We rode nonstop for two days, and I wondered how much of my army was gone. How many had Nora stolen or killed
of those who stayed loyal to me? Percy assured me that his friend noted Nora barely sent any men to protect the
border. Most of them were either sent away on forsaken missions or left to return to their families.
I was grateful when they answered my call for aid.
I’d been glad to receive word from my cousin, Genu, who’d sent her fleet of ships, as well as herself towards the other
side of the border. We enclosed on the Crystal Fae anyway we could.
I just hoped it wasn’t too late and the wind was on our side to bring them quickly to our aid. I needed all the help I could
get, without harming Ornella’s family. I was lost at what to do or how I would get her back.
If it came down to her brother and me, I wondered who she would pick. Who would she shout to fight, and who would she
beg to stay alive? I hoped it would be me, but after everything, I wouldn’t blame her if she chose her family.
“Nicholas, do you sense that?”
Vanessa rode beside me along with Morgana and April. Stupid of them to be so close together. It was always the best battle
plan to spread the heirs out. They looked just as tired and weary as I felt. All of us longing to rest our aching backs and down a
pitcher of ale.
“The air doesn’t feel right,” Morgana said.
I’d not noticed anything. I’d been too lost in my own thoughts to even pay close attention to what was around me. It was
only when Vanessa pointed it out, did I feel a sudden charge, as if lightning had gone off recently.
“It feels as if something happened here.”
Raising my hand to bring everyone to a stop, we slowed down. Stopping in the middle of the treeline, concealing our men.
Morgana jumped off her horse first and began to hold her hands up, feeling the air and everything around her.
“Magic. Old, ancient magic. Can you feel that?”
Vanessa joined her and lifted her hand up, too. Dismounting from my own horse, something shot through me suddenly as my
feet touched the ground, making me stumble. April was quick at my side as was Percy, both asking if I was okay. Other than
being dizzy, I felt fine.
Taking a few more steps towards my sisters, I felt as if something hit me square in the chest causing me to drop to my knees
as a flash of Ornella’s face ran through my mind.
