He neighed, bumping his nose into my shoulder.
Closing my eyes, I released a few shadows from where they trapped the darkness, hoping against rational thought that perhaps being around Lana had destroyed it altogether. The evil inside me opened its eye, waking. I was in control now, too surrounded by Lana’s light for it to overtake me, but the fact of the matter was it still remained.
As quickly as my chest constricted, it relaxed as Lana’s presence drew closer. I breathed deeply, taking in the soothing calm she brought me.
“Jax’s group should be back soon with the last batch of weapons from The Knotted Willow,” she said.
I murmured in acknowledgement, tugging her back until she rested against my chest. We stood quietly as we stared out across the barren land before us.
I caressed her shoulder with one hand, while I held her against me with the other.
Behind us, Fae moved about the camp, speaking in low voices among themselves. The closer we got to the border, the quieter the group became. I couldn’t blame them.
Though a few reassuring breezes swirled around us, a heavy tension lay thick in the air. The weight of what was to come bled into everything around us.
Hooves padded the ground, approaching from the east. Jax led a group of riders, and some of the anxiousness at being separated from everyone eased. I needed to know that evenif something happened to me, Lana would be protected by others who loved her. Those who would ensure she succeeded, whatever it took.
Six Fae rode behind Jax, straight to the center of camp, bags hanging from the sides of all the horses.
“If you don’t already have something to fight with, grab one here. Take one you’re able to hold and wield without tiring yourself completely. Work with another Fae if you need to practice how the weapon feels and moves with your body,” he shouted. “Spread the word to everyone arriving, there’s plenty for us all.”
He helped the others gather the various swords, scythes, bows, and daggers in the center of camp before striding toward us.
“Thank you,” Lana told him.
He flung his arm around her, effectively taking her from my grasp. “Anything for my queeny.” Jax eyed me over Lana’s shoulder. “Ready?”
I nodded. Jax, Storm, and Raya had all kept an obnoxiously close eye on me, either worried Thames would drag me away again or that the darkness would creep up to overpower me. I knew Storm especially wondered how this was going to play out, but he saw more than most.
Ian and Raya walked forward after finishing their own tasks among our army. “I’m going to fly,” he said. “I’ll see where they are. Figure out how much time we have.”
“We’re sure they’re coming this way?” Kalliah asked, trailed by Leif.
“Can’t you feel it in the air?” Raya looked skyward. “I think the Fates themselves are holding their breath.”
The Fates themselves. Fuck, they had better be on Lana’s side.
She has us. She will survive.
My shadows remained confident. Though they were as burdened as me, their unwavering conviction that Lana would remain alive in the end hadn’t faltered.
No matter what, she would live.
Me? Neither my shadows nor I held confidence in that.
“Be quick,” Lana told Ian. Her voice remained calm, but she twisted her hands together in front of her.
The captain shifted and took to the skies, soaring higher into the distance until disappearing from our sight.
“There’s at least two more groups arriving according to rumors among the army,” Storm said. “One is a large contingent from Larkslary, the other from Starhaven.”
I cocked an eyebrow at Storm.
Lana chuckled. “You learned the city names fast. Perhaps I’ll make that Colonel Storm title official. Maybe even before we dub Jax General Wilder.”
Jax scoffed as he stared out across the void. “Rude, Your Majesty.”
He may be playful, but I’d trust the man with my life. He scanned the horizon, his eyes shifting to those of his panther, using his superior eyesight to catch anything we might miss otherwise.
