We clasped each other’s arms as our foreheads met, and we breathed in each other’s presence. Cain was the only thing I had that resembled family; everyone else in my life was either dead or untrustworthy. However, Cain had always been a constant presence in my life since I had met him. The one man who had put my needs above his own, and although I swore to distance myself from him the last time we spoke, I needed the friendship he offered now more than ever. The isolation was crippling.
Before I could register what was happening, Cain was ripped from my grasp as Demir barrelled into his side. Cain morphed into a bird and flew out of Demir’s grasp before he could pin him to the ground. Instead of flying away, he landed on my shoulder. Demir seethed with a rage that felt palpable in the air. I had never truly seen him like this. Everett came running, pulling his friend back.
‘Explain yourself,’ I said as I drew my sword from its sheath and raised it to meet his gaze. Something pained crossed his features, as though some internal battle was being fought in the recesses of his mind.
‘Mine!’ was all he shouted, in the most animalistic way. I could not stop the laugh that left my body because it sent a curious thrill through me to hear him claim me like that in front of everyone. Something not many did who weren’t duty bound.
‘I’m not your anything, princeling. This soul bond we have is an unfortunate mistake that I will fix the moment I find a way to break it.’ Though I didn’t believe my own words, given that Cain had already shot down any hopes of that happening, and something small within me wanted this. I prayed to the gods that the promise I had made with the Wiccans would come to be. I lifted my hand to Cain on my shoulder; he stepped onto my outstretched finger and then stepped off, morphing back into the man I knew him to be. Cain’s eyes held a twinkle of amusement.
‘I know… I don’t even want you; it was the bond controlling me,’ Demir said, meeting my eyes with fury burning within them. He was lying, and he was angry—but not at me or my actions; he was angry at himself for his reaction. I understood that anger because when he said he didn’t want me, something hurt within my soul, even though I knew it was a lie. Or perhaps that’s why it hurt more, knowing how he really felt, yet he still had the need to hide it in front of others, as if there was something so wrong with wanting someone like me.
‘The bond is growing, Cain. What do we do? We need to sever it before it gets any deeper and becomes irreversible and I need a way to end the Mrak before it sinks into these lands.’
Anguish washed over Demir’s features, and something tugged at me; I wanted to take a step towards him. Even though I had all but avoided him over the last few days, the bond was still growing, especially knowing what I knew after our time in the cell and reading his deepest thoughts.
Cain dropped a note into my hand and I could see the anger flare back to life in Demir’s eyes.
There is someone I have invited to the ascent of the souls who may have some answers, Mother Zeina. She is the maker of theOracle, a goddess in her own right. She may have answers to everything, but she will only give us the answers if we provide her with theOracle. She says she was tricked into parting with some of her power to create it, and she wants it back. Do not rush this decision. In the meantime, we mustprepare for discussions with the other rulers and leaders of the realms; we need allies in this fight regardless, and they will all be at the ascension. That is when we make our move.
‘Thank you Cain. I don’t know how you managed to do all of this while already dealing with the near impossible task I set for you in Voldina.’
Leaving Cain to catch up with the others, I took my leave.
Thirty-Seven
The next day, I avoided Demir like he was a sickness, but I saw him out in the field with Jasper and some of our soldiers; he and Everett were learning all they could from our fighters. Demir was faster and stronger than all of them, and he was adapting to the new fighting style well. Stepping back from the window of my council room, I waited for the others to join me.
Sienna and Cain entered first. Geraldine was now relieved of her duties now he’d returned, and he had already sent her back out to see what else they could uncover to help us in this war. Her gift for warping memories made her particularly useful, more so than our whispers and shadows, because even if found, she could still leave without a trace but she had never had to rely on it, she was just that good. Mattias had followed my orders and remained invisible in the lead up to the Ascent, never daring to step foot near this room.
As I prepared to begin the meeting, Vivianna walked through the door, a smug expression on her face as she noticed my shock before I could school my features back to their usual stoic state. She was never able to surprise me much, but this I truly did not expect, and she relished it. Looking at Cain accusingly, he onlyshrugged, confirming that he had known of her arrival but didn’t think it was worth mentioning.
I refused to be the first one to break, so I sat, watched and waited as she circled the room and pulled up beside me.
‘I’m sorry, Sky,’ she said as she knelt down at my side, all arrogance draining from her, ‘I shouldn’t have kept anything from you; I should have trusted you the way you have trusted me all these years. And thank you. Thank you for taking away the choice for me, so that I wouldn’t have to be the one to kill my own brother. You saved me from a pain I can barely comprehend. I don’t deserve a leader or a friend like you. Please, I can’t not have you in my life anymore. I’m ready to take my place back by your side.’
In an instant, all the apprehension, fear and anger I had been holding onto faded. That was the Viv I knew, but even after all those pretty words, I knew one thing for certain. I could never fully trust her again, even if the flame remained quiet as she spoke; but I could trust her just enough.
‘Take a seat. We have a meeting to start.’ She grinned happily at my invitation. ‘I assume you have information and updates for me after speaking with your commanders.’
She nodded. She was never one to shirk her responsibilities. ‘Prince Acheron of Cazina has vowed allegiance, but his father, King Tiberias, is still warming to the idea. They will be in attendance at the ascent of the souls, where we will make our case.’
I stared at Viv, shocked. Cazina had historically allied with Morgad and Suncela. ‘Perks of sleeping with the prince, I suppose?’ I jabbed.
‘Oh, there are many perks—BIG perks,’ Viv joked before she continued, while Sienna groaned. ‘Word is that the rest of the Morgadian army is making their way to the nearest border of the Ancient Forest. It will take four weeks for them to move that many soldiers, but they’re preparing for a massive assault. We are moving all our fighters to the outskirts of the Ancient Forest and the border. We still don’t know how he managed to get in andout with no one seeing him when you infiltrated Morgad. We believe they found a way to tamper with the wards. No as for our soldiers, we will be there a week ahead of them, so we’ll be ready. The Forest Fae battalion, led by Jasper, will leave on the night of the Ascension to pick off any scouts and smaller units attempting to make their way through while the rest of our people proceed. This is it—the fight we have been prepping for. We are ready, but we need more fighters; that’s where our allies come in.’
Once Viv had finished, Cain slid me a note.
Every ruler will be in attendance at the Ascension. There, we will finally confirm who our allies are and how we will use their soldiers to our advantage. We have enough time to get their people into place while Morgad crosses their lands to our border. The outlier lands that are too far will come through portals; Sienna has been toying with some new magic thanks to our new Nomadie ally. We have confirmed that Sebastian already has access to some form of dark magic; it is unclear where it originates or how to stop it, but I believe Mother Zeina will have answers. You need to give her theOracle—you will gain more from one conversation with that being than you ever will from looking at its pages. I also need you to prepare yourself for the reality that there may not be a way to break your bond with Demir, other than perhaps his death—but it would fundamentally change you in a way I don’t think we can predict. It would be a shattering of the soul.
I took a deep breath, not liking much of what I had read, as I passed my gaze around the table to Viv and then Sienna.
Sienna spoke up next. ‘My mother will be at the Ascent of the Souls—the rest of the High Elder Wiccans have refused—but I’ll ask her tomorrow about what form of dark magic Morgad has. Perhaps she has heard something new.’
‘If the other Elders are refusing to attend, it’s safe to assume that they have allied themselves with that swine Sebastian and were perhaps the ones that manipulated the wards to allow him entry,’ I said.
Sienna gasped; the thought had never crossed her mind, butjudging by Cain’s expression, I could see he had similar suspicions.
After discussing a few more minor details, I dismissed the council. Viv stayed behind, waiting for the room to clear before she cleared her throat. There was still tension between us. All of my instincts told me to make her suffer, to keep being angry, and to hurt her the way she had hurt me, but I fought against them. Those are the instincts that had left me so broken and alone in this world, and as hurt as I had been after Visarous’s betrayal, perhaps it was my tendency to keep everyone at arm’s length that had left me so blind. Perhaps I needed to draw them all in closer instead.
