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“No.” Harald grimaces. “But searching for her will have to wait. Your mate is about to start a war because he thinks the vampires took ya because the furies offered them the monster kingdom. We need to stop him.”
Even if I make it to him in time, the vampires will still know an army of monsters is marching toward their border. There’s no stopping what Orcus started… unless… there’s a way for the furies to know what happened. Maybe in exchange for peace, we give them what the furies have wanted all along.
Justice.
This all started because of the king. It’ll end with him. I could be making the dumbest and biggest mistake of my life, but my gut is telling me I’m right. This is the answer. And if I’m wrong, hopefully Prometheus can try to scorch the vampires so we can escape.
“You’re right. We should go see the vampires.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“I know, but I have a plan.”
“Better be a good one,” Lagertha says as I climb on to Prometheus’ back, settling between the dragon’s shoulders and behind the trulls. “Cause if I die, I’ll kill ya.”
FORTY-THREE
The first speech
ORCUS
The crowd of gathered monsters is restless. Harpies and their webbed wings. Minotaurs with deadly sharp horns. Centaurs and their bow and arrows. Gargoyles with fists as hard as rocks. Snakes and the poison that runs through their veins. Misilents with their taloned feet and deadly beaks. Each and every one is battened down with weapons and their eyes gleam with the promise of violence.
It only took a few hours for them to heed command and gather in the courtyard. Those that are on assignments at other borders will remain there, but the majority of our army is in front of me. Rows upon rows of sworn warriors, hundreds of monsters waiting for orders.
Like me, they take Daisy’s capture as a personal affront. The vampires have stolen their future queen, and while she may be smaller and fragile than any monster, she’s still irrevocably mine. An attack against me is an attack against us all.
“They need to hear from you,” Orlena says softly.
“She’s right.” Maddox glances at my sister with interest, but I can’t be bothered to care if it’s romantic or merely a warrior respecting a fellow warrior.
We’re standing at the gates, the only thing keeping them at bay. My father is whispering with Basil and the snake’s eyes flash toward me. I don’t trust either of them. That’s why Orlena and Maddox are by my side. I’m sure the snake hates it, but showing the blood bags they can’t come onto our lands and take from us without repercussions takes precedence.
“Orcus,” Orlena prompts again, this time she sounds a little too much like our mother.
She’s right though.
Stepping away from them, I hold my hands up and the chatter dies down and every monster stares at me, waiting for their marching orders. I’ve commanded monsters before, but this isn’t the same. This battle will be the difference between life and death, because if we don’t get Daisy back, I’ll be dead inside.
“Some might say you’re all here because you swore your allegiance to the crown.” I move my gaze around, making eye contact with as many as I can. “Some might say you joined because you enjoy fighting. Both of those things might be true, but I know another truth. I know the vampires, the ones with their blood-soaked teeth, breached our walls and took my mate. They laid an invitation at our feet.” I take a breath, but it doesn’t keep the rage from seeping into my voice, hardening it until it’s as sharp as the blade at my hip.
“Today, I ask you to march with me. To remind them that we’re not just monsters, we’re a wall of fire they cannot douse. We’re the flames that will incinerate their land to get back what belongs to our realm. To take my mate, your future queen, is an act of war. So I ask you. Will you accept the invitation with me?”
The roar from the crowd is an undeniable answer. The monsters are so busy rallying they don’t notice my father slipping away.
“Father!”
His head whips in my direction, eyes narrowing.
“Will you honor me by leading our warriors?” I shout so every monster can hear my question.
Monsters glance at him. There’s no way he can deny me, and I won’t let him sit this one out. This is what he wanted. He’ll be there when it all goes down. Some might consider the shift in his expression as determination, but I know his anger better than anyone else. He’s pissed.
Too damn bad.
* * *
Orlena sidles up to me.She’s wearing leathers riddled with sheaths for all sorts of knives and blades. Her hair is half braided back and the rest is pulled into a tight ponytail. Kohl is smeared across her cheeks, probably Oretta’s idea.
