With that, she pushes off into the air, crashing into the blur of wings and swords that engulfs the courtyard. I lean into Ashen’s ear, surprised when he takes to the sky without me uttering a word. He has become like the creatures of the forest, responding to my thoughts more than my words.
Ashen’s wings are magnificent, leaving trails of smoke in the air with each powerful stroke. The battle rages on, and amid the frenzy, it’s impossible to discern who holds the advantage. But while the pawns clash, I fixate on the queen.
I tug at Ashen’s mane, and he banks left, veering away from the fight and toward the balcony where Lanneth watches. Kaelus kneels at her side, his hand pressed to his neck where Zyphoro’s smoke arrow struck. But Lanneth appears unfazed, her focus locked on the turmoil unfolding below.
We charge forward, each beat of my heart punctuated by the loud pops of Mordorin void walking and the clang of their weapons. As we close in, I see Solena stumble on the courtyard, her sword clattering to the ground. A Blade stalks toward her, wings shaking rain loose from his feathers, his sword spinning in hand before he raises it above his head. I tug on Ashen’s mane, urging him to bank right, but quickly realize my aid is unnecessary.
As the Blade swings his sword down upon Solena, it is intercepted by another. The Blade looks up, confronted by a Reaper staring from the depths of his shroud helm. The Reaper disarms him, flinging his sword across the courtyard with a screech against the stone. He presses the tip of his sword tothe Blade’s throat, forcing him to his knees, before delivering a sharp elbow to his nose.
The Blade reels back, collapsing with a hard thud while the Reaper removes his helm, tossing it aside as he lifts Solena into his arms. I watch as Orios holds her in a way that would make the stars themselves envy something so breathtakingly beautiful. Solena crumbles against him, and if the last thing I see is two people desperately in love, I feel grateful for the sight.
I grip Ashen’s mane, steering him back toward Lanneth, his wings leaving a smoky trail behind us.
Faster.
He pins back his ears, his wings thrashing harder as we barrel toward the queen. A grin creeps to the corner of my mouth as we close the distance. Her back is turned to me. She won’t see me coming. I will have her on the ground in surrender before she can react. But then I recoil in horror as her head twists unnaturally, all the way around, her glamor flickering as our eyes meet.
Turn, Ashen!
My command comes too late. Lanneth extends her hand, and a rope of smoke hurtles toward me, lashing around my throat and yanking me from Ashen’s back. The constriction pulls me into the air, my fingers clawing desperately at it, but it tightens further.
Ashen roars, charging toward Lanneth, but she retaliates with a second rope of smoke that lashes out, striking him hard across the back. I watch in horror as he’s sent careening through the air until he collides violently with a tower, the impact echoing like thunder. He plummets to the ground, but I can’t scream, the rope constricting my throat stealing my breath.
“Enough, Amara!” Lanneth’s voice cuts through the chaos, her head twisting back around. “I do not want to hurt you.” She pauses, her gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that chillsme. “Not until the baby is born. Don’t you see? That precious Fae in your belly is the very future of our house. It must be protected at all costs.”
Suddenly, a silver blade arcs through the night, slicing through the smoke and severing its hold on me. I begin to fall, the wind rushing from my lungs, but I come to a jarring stop as two strong arms scoop me from the air. I look up into Zyphoro’s gray eyes, my breaths coming in desperate rasps.
“Hello, dear,” she says, a grin splitting her face. She carries me back to the balcony, and I turn to see Daed facing off against Lanneth, Death Singer glinting ominously at his side.
“How could you?” Lanneth’s voice drips with venom as Zyphoro sets me down. “After everything The Father Below has given you. Everything I’ve done to secure your rule for a thousand years.”
She lifts her hand toward Daed’s brow, but he turns his head away from her, and I can almost see her heart shatter, confirming she actually has one.
“I loved you like you were my own,” she hisses. “And now you turn away from me? For what? A human? She was chosen because she was disposable, but she possessed enough Fae magic to strengthen your heir. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with her, Daedalus.”
Daed dismisses Lanneth’s questions, which only seem to pain her more. He takes a step back, pointing the tip of Death Singer at Kaelus. “Step down, Father,” he states, his voice cold and steady as rain drips along the sharp contours of his face. “And you will be spared.”
“You want my crown?” Kaelus gasps, his voice rasping like dry leaves. “You’ll have to kill me for it, son.”
Daed’s shoulders rise and fall as he draws a deep breath. “If that’s what it comes to.”
“No!” Lanneth shrieks, her gaze turning to me, revealing her sharpened canine teeth. “He does this for you, but you can’t comprehend the monster he is. He knew his duty when you arrived in Baev’kalath. To bed you and put an heir in your human belly, and he succeeded. Now he has brought you home. Can’t you see everything is unfolding asplanned?”
A shiver runs through me, and I turn to Daed, desperation clawing at my chest, but he shakes his head defiantly.
“She’s lying, Amara. That’s what she does. She’s trying to turn you against me.” Daed’s voice cuts through the tension, but doubt clings to my thoughts like mist.
“I do not have to try!” Lanneth laughs, throwing her head back with abandon. “Even now, the girl doubts your loyalty. I can see it in her eyes. And you are right to—he is a beast of the void, and you are nothing but meat.”
My jaw clenches and I feel like she sees straight into my soul, all my fears and mistrusts laid bare before her to skewer on her fork and sink her teeth into like we’re at the table all over again.
“Do not listen, Amara!” Daed yells, desperation lacing his voice. “She is poison.”
Zyphoro raises her daggers, directing one toward Lanneth and the other toward Daed. “She is not the only one, brother,” she retorts, stepping in front of me as if to shield me from both of them. Her eyes narrow, filled with intensity. “You are no innocent in this. You killed our mother.”
“And I have lived with that my entire life,” Daed hisses through clenched teeth. “But that is not who I am. Not anymore. Now I am a husband.” His gaze locks onto mine, his resolve shining through. “Now I am a father, and I will protect those I love with my life.”
Lanneth throws her head back, laughing—hysterically, unsettlingly loud. When her laughter finally fades, I see herglamor flicker between two faces, her magic straining to maintain its mask.
