“It’s only two more days.” I finally spoke as my gaze darted between the two. “We’ve dealt with worse in the past.”
“Two more days of insanity,” Axel insisted.
“Look,” I stated, my tone tight. “It’s not my preferred plan either. But we don’t make the rules here . . . we just follow orders.”
“Speaking of orders,” Eleana added. “How are you feeling about Elion’s commands for the final portion of the battle?”
My jaw tightened as I looked toward her, my fist clenching and unclenching by my side as I remained silent for a moment longer. “I’ve been given orders. It’s my job, right . . . ? To follow through on the Eternal’s commands.”
“Well, yeah,” Eleana began, her eyes assessing me closely. “Commands or not, this is the most widespread use of your affinity in multiple centuries.”
I ran my hands through my hair, sand falling loose as I looked between the two angels I was closest to in Aurelia. “It is what it is. We’ve seen how widespread the corruption has become in the Quarter, and we know it needs to be stopped.”
“We’ll have your back,” Eleana replied softly. “When the time comes . . .”
I nodded once, staying quiet as my mind shifted from my final orders for this battle toward Raelyna—praying that she’d received my message and reached out to the Remnant we’d met in Solis, the one Elion had confirmed was the current Remnant leader.
We needed the remainder of the Remnant to gather in Raelyna’s apartment when we attacked as well. It was the one marker for protection when Solis fell. The one place I couldguarantee their safety while Solis fell. But more importantly, I needed her safe—needed her to stay out of harm’s way for the next two days.
A voice sounded from outside our tent, followed by the words, “Commander Drachen has summoned the Shade.”
My head tilted to the side as the footsteps retreated from outside our tent.
“Summoned?” The word rolled off Axel’s lips in disgust. “One doesn’tsummonthe Shade . . . one doesn’t even truly summon anyone from the Guild. Doesn’t he know who he’s talking to?”
I huffed a laugh as I stood, strapping two firearms into the holsters on my side before turning toward Axel and Eleana.
“Whether we can be summoned or not, I, for one, would prefer some stars-damned intel before we attack in two days. Let’s go.”
“So, we’re letting the commander summon us?” Axel grumbled. “This gives a big stigma if the commander believes he can summon us at will.”
My phone chimed in my pocket as Pierce continued grumbling, and I glanced down at the device, a smile creeping up my lips as I read the text flashing across my screen.
Rae: Loxl just thought you should know that I haven’t been up to anything stupid . . . as promised.
Me: You mean nothing stupid since your drunken flight across Solis?
Rae: That was not stupid.
Rae: It was a stars-damned girls’ night.
Me: Do all your girls’ nights involve flying across the Quarter in dresses far too short?
Rae: Nope! I only do that on nights that end in ‘y.’
I let out an audible groan of frustration, shaking my head.
“You coming?” Axel inquired as he pushed the tent canvas aside, stepping out into the wind.
“Coming,” I confirmed as I shot one last text before pocketing the device and turning my attention toward the meeting we’d been summoned for.
39
RAELYNA
DAY SIX
The suns were coveredby dark clouds as we exited the apartment. Finn and Iver stood beside me as we snuck down the stairwell leading into the deserted streets of the Nox District. After much arguing, it had been decided that Kira, Sage, and Emberly would stay and organize everyone as they arrived at the apartment tonight, and Iver would replace one of the spots in the rescue mission—the only one with any actual experience in this sort of thing.
