And for a heartbeat, Seren holds her breath. One last remnant of the girl desperate for approval.
But conviction rises hot and fast and undeniable—she will not beheranymore.
So she holds Ilyra’s gaze, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly. And Ilyra smiles. Acknowledgement from one underestimated woman to another:let them be wrong about us.
She gives Seren an almost imperceptible nod, and releases her chin.
Approval.
But Seren doesn’t beam—she simply returns the gesture.
“Rise,” Ilyra croons, smooth and elegant.
And that’s when Seren sees the missive.
The group takes a step in, gathering toward Ilyra in a secretive hush.
“We have received a missive,” Ilyra announces, poised, though Seren doesn’t miss the slight tremor in her voice, the tremble in her hands.
But Kael takes another step forward. “Maireth,” he mutters, recognizing the seal, voice laced with venom.
Ilyra gives him a tight bow, royal to royal, and nods in confirmation.
“It appears she… has grown weary of our neutrality,” Ilyra admits, breath shaky.
“What did she say,exactly?” Kael pushes, his voice a rough growl.
Ilyra huffs a pained exhale and passes the missive around.
Ilyra,
As women in a man’s world, we must lead with force, or what we have will be taken by force. Your neutrality in this realm-wide war for dominion has become a liability to my plans. Choose a side, or I will choose it for you. Without your allegiance, we are coming for your wards, your shores, and your knowledge.
Queen Maireth of Caeloria.
Seren sucks in a sharp breath.
Fuck.
Kael lets out an animalistic growl and scrunches the missive in his palm.
But Ilyra swallows her fear, pinning her shoulders behind her. She clears her throat, panning across the group until her gaze fixes on Teddy.
“Therion Ashborne, General of War, the Sword of Zerynthia—I formally request your leadership to train my army in warfare. You must turn our scholars, Runewrights, Venomshades, Aetherstrides, and Earthbound into warriors in mere weeks,” she declares, not flinching at the audacity of the request.
From all the books here, Seren knows they have no Bloodbonds. No Shadowweaves. Certainly no Lightbornes. The fates had never blessed Nymeris with violent affinities. They were a people shaped for peace and knowledge instead.
Ilyra adds, “If you are as good as they say you are, it should not be a problem.”
A challenge.
“He is the very best,” Kael confirms without hesitation.
But Teddy doesn’t answer. Instead, he looks for Seren.
Their eyes meet, an entire conversation passing between them without a word.
He snaps his gaze back to Ilyra.
