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I wait for Vivia to agree with me. To tell me how everything I feel is true and we should prepare for the worst. After all, she has seen the Nephilim’s brutish strength and power up close, so she should know more than anyone how fucked we are.
Except she doesn’t say any of those things.
Vivia takes my hand and squeezes it gently. Her soft brown eyes hold nothing but comfort and something that looks a lot like respect. “Not special? Tell that to every single family you have reunited by awakening their loved ones. Or Mina who has never had such a wonderful friend like you.”
“But—”
“Don’t deny it, My Queen. In your short time here, you have changed the lives of so many people. Perhaps it’s time you see the impact of what you have done.”
I snort. “Yeah, I can see the impact just fine. Mina lies in a healer’s room and Malix is cursed.”
“Due to things out of your control. Did you capture my wife and slice into her face? Did you curse Malix?”
“No, of course I didn’t, but?—”
“Exactly. Mina doesn’t blame you and I can guarantee you that neither does Malix,” Vivia says. Her assurance in me almost makes me want to believe her, but I still can’t help but feel like the situation is out of my control.
“What if Ender is wrong?” I whisper. “What if I don’t actually belong here and the awakening thing was just a fluke?”
Vivia shakes her head. “No. I’ve known Ender for a long time. He doesn’t make mistakes. If he brought you here, there was a reason for it. As you know, he’s not very forthcoming.”
That’s putting it lightly. Everything about Ender is a mystery, down to his very existence. I don’t know what game he’s playing or the stakes he holds in all of this, but something tells me he has just as much to lose.
But I’ll let him keep his secrets.
For now.
“Listen, My Queen?—”
“You can call me Rose,” I interrupt.
“I could, but I’ll stick with Queen for now. To remind you who you are.” She winks, a knowing smile on her face. “You have two options. You can continue to mourn what is lost or you can fight for your kingdom and your husband.”
“That’s not much of a choice,” I mutter and I hear Vivia laugh. I know why Malix likes her as an advisor though. She says things you need to hear and not just what I want to hear.
I needed the reminder. I’m queen, whether I feel like it or not. Malix would want his people protected and it’s the least I can do for him. I’m not going to let all his hard work as king be for naught.
I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I know I’m not going to stay in my chambers alone with my own thoughts. Malix would want me to fight. He saw my strength even when I didn’t, and now Vivia sees it too.
Maybe it’s time to believe them.
Vivia notices the change in my demeanor because she smirks at me as if she knows my answer without me even having to say it. “I want to fight for Dragon’s Keep.”
“Welcome to the fight, My Queen.”
A fight I’m not certain I have the power to win, but I must try. For Malix and for Dragon’s Keep. The pressure settles on my shoulders like metal armor, heavy and impossible to ignore.
I wipe at my puffy eyes one last time before I remember Vivia came in here for a reason. “What is it you wanted to tell me?”
The smile on Vivia’s lips fades and she’s once again the resilient warrior. I brace myself knowing the next words she speaks will be hard to hear.
“My Queen,” she starts, and the world around us disappears. “Trusted reports have spotted Gadreel. He’s days away from fully escaping his prison. We must start rallying our army.”
Chapter 33
Rose
We waste no time getting prepared for Gadreel's escape and the inevitable attack that will follow. Every morning I join Aracelia and Vivia in the meeting room to discuss work and split responsibilities. The most important item on our agenda is making sure all the awakened dragons are receiving the care they need.
