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“I love you.”
She nuzzled her face against my throat, her damp cheek wetting my skin with her tears. “You are my whole damn soul, and if you do not return, I will drag you from the Otherworld myself.”
I laughed and trapped her face between my palms. “We did not fight so hard to be together to have it all ripped away now.” My nose brushed hers. “Look after the queen. I will see you there when the time is right.”
Malin’s chin quivered. “You make sure to return to me, but bring her king back with you.”
I had no plans of losing Valen Ferus tonight. The trouble was I had no idea what was about to happen.
All I knew was the camp was to remain at a distance and behind protections until we were long out of sight. They were our second line of defense and would follow to Felstad once Valen—hopefully—cleared an opening for our army to break through.
While they waited, Niklas had lined one half of our camp with an herbal elixir he said warded against most creatures in the forest. Hagen stood in front of the line, ready to guard against mesmer or earth fury. Would his ability to block also guard against a curse? I didn’t know.
Bard, Northern Warriors, Falkyn, and Kryv all waited, weapons in hand, to protect Malin, Elise, and the innocent folk we dragged at our backs.
I looked over my shoulder once more.
Malin smiled, a heady fear written in every furrow, every freckle of her face. She was dressed in black. A leather jerkin over her shoulders with loops and buckles littered in small knives. Tova had helped paint Malin’s eyes in kohl and pinned a wreath crown of rowan berries in both queens’ hair.
Two fated queens in battle together. The moment felt significant, and I hated it. One step closer to the end, but the nearer we came to our battle, the more I feared Malin would be taken from me and I would not be able to get her back.
Malin linked her arm with Elise, although I wasn’t certain the Northern queen even realized it. I’d never seen such a pallid expression on the woman. The way she looked off in the distance, it was as if Elise Ferus was not even aware of her surroundings.
“I should go with you.” Thirty paces away, Sol Ferus argued with Tor, Halvar, and Valen.
“We did this for centuries,” Tor said, voice low. “We will do it again. We’re prepared for it.”
Sol let out a breath of frustration. “He’s my brother, and I should be there with him.”
Heat burned my throat, cascading to my chest. Fear, warm and sharp, spilled through my veins. The corner of my mouth twisted with admiration for the Sun Prince. Sol wanted to be with Valen for no other reason than the eldest prince was terrified he might lose his brother once again.
These folk were worth stepping into battle with. The sort that loved fiercely. The ones unafraid to be the villain to protect the ones that held their hearts.
Valen rose from a crouch. His forehead was beaded in sweat. Wet, painful red lined his eyes. But nothing else about him seemed amiss. He hooked an arm around his brother’s neck and pulled him close.
Sol gave in and pounded a fist more than once between Valen’s shoulders. His brow furrowed and he buried his face against Valen’s neck.
“You always looked after me,” Valen said.
“Reluctantly,” Sol muttered.
“True. But now I need you to stay back.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Sol.” Valen looked at him with a pained expression. “Elise . . . remember what I told you. I need to know you are there for her, if—”
“Shut up, Valen,” Sol snapped, hugging him once more. “Don’t say the word ‘if’ again. There is no damnif.”
It took more persuading from Halvar and Tor, but eventually Sol embraced his friend and knight, then his brother one final time, and kissed Tor before stalking past me.
His blue eyes were alight in rage, pain, and fear. “Keep them alive until we meet you, Nightrender.”
“I plan to.”
Once Sol was near the others, Valen blew out a long, shuddering breath when Tor handed him a vivid red cloth. The king handled the fabric with care, almost a terrible reverence, then slipped it around his face.
“The red helps us find him in the dark better,” Halvar explained.
