Page 71 of The Reaping Rose

His jaw tightens, and he looks back at Perame. “Was there anything else?”

“Unfortunately, no.” She frowns.

“And what of Malachi in the meantime?” Aurora asks, no gentleness to her tone. “We don’t know if the void is recoverable, and he continues to rip apart the realms with whatever destruction he’s brewing. We can’t sit around and wait much longer.”

“Is there any update on his location?” Wilder asks Darvel, who shakes his head.

“The Ley Court has been abandoned as far as our scouts can tell. Rohldova is being overwhelmed by creatures from the Well. There are whispers he went north.”

“Lochlan would have let us know if he was in Solace.” Wilder’s tone sharpens.

“Ah, yes.” Aurora rolls her eyes. “Because your friends in Lyrichia are so trustworthy.”

“Lochlan can be trusted.”

“Why does she hate Lochlan so much? He’s been helping you since he gave you the seed to the Arch?” I ask Wilder through the thread.

“She’s never met Lochlan. It isn’t about him. Aurora is content judging from Quietus, avoiding anyone not of this realm.”

“She must love that we’re here then.” I huff out a laugh, and Aurora narrows her gaze at me, not knowing what I said.

“She will get over it, or she will leave,” Wilder says with utter certainty.

Protecting me like he always is.

Wilder squeezes my thigh, looking to Darvel and the rest of his court. “There’s been no word on where Malachi and Hazel are hiding. But if he went north and he’s not in Solace, then there’s a chance he’s in Echme. It doesn’t really matter until we have the void in our possession. We don’t stand a chance against the orb without it.”

“Well, since you have this all figured out, I suppose I’ll excuse myself.” Aurora pushes from her seat, irritation hot in her tone. “Let me know when you need our armies. Until then, they’ll continue holding the line.”

She storms out of the room, and while it’s rude, I understand her frustration. All we’ve done lately is wait, but we’re running out of time.

Atlas chuckles, and Darvel cuts him a glare. But he shrugs, unapologetically.

“I’ll continue working on the Arch,” Callum says, ignoring the fact that the meeting just imploded.

“Let me know when you need my blood.” I force a smile, and Wilder stiffens. “And here I thought you liked my blood.”

“In your body or between my lips, undoubtedly, Starfire. But spilling it for our cause…”

“Only if necessary,” I assure him.

Darvel stands, and Wilder follows, not the least bit relaxed from this conversation, even if we are getting closer to what we’re searching for.

“How long are you staying?” he asks Darvel.

“Only the night. The battlefront needs me. The troops are… weary.” The weight in Darvel’s gaze hints at more. “I had my hesitations walking in here, but I hope you manage to pull off the unimaginable. At this point, I doubt it will take any less. Until then⁠—”

“We fight,” Wilder says, looking around the room at his court.

“We fight,” Darvel agrees. “We fight until the end.”

Chapter 24

Wilder

My eyes flutter open at the surge that rushes through me. I’m so used to my nightmares waking me from sleep that it takes me a moment to adjust and realize it was something else. This sensation isn’t pain or fear or dread.

Warmth caresses my stomach, trailing downward as Elorie’s fingers wrap my hard cock.