I inhaled slowly, rolling my eyes at her.
Three days of endless scheming had led us to a plan that gave us a fair amount of confidence. One mostly concocted by Storm and me. While he might not have spent nearly as much time in Ellevail as I had, to have someone else versed in the art of battle planning proved immensely helpful.
I couldn’t stop the smile remembering how exasperated Storm had become at Kade poking holes in our plans. He was doubtful of everything, mainly because he knew we shouldn’t underestimate Thames and his power. That and the bond between him and Lana had him practically feral over her safety, leading to even more hesitation.
Storm and I fell into devising our strategy with ease. “We will have to use your network of connections as captain and Lana’s role as Hidden Henchman to make this work,” he murmured. “Moving an entire barely trained army without being noticed is a task unlike any other I’ve ever had to accomplish.”
Kade sighed louder than he needed to. “If we don’t move them, we’ll draw too much attention to ourselves and put the women and children here at risk.”
I’d agreed with Storm on the difficulties moving our army, but there was no turning back. We had to hope for the best. Though Kade’s grumbling irked me, he had a point. Staying here was more dangerous each day we remained. We needed to relocate our forces away from the Fae here who couldn’t fight. Or they would have fled to us for nothing.
Even when our plan settled into place, it took an inconceivable amount of convincing for Kade to let me take Lana into the city by ourselves. Kade’s shadows were needed with the army. His ability to hide them with his shadows as the sun began to rise would obscure their movements around the forest. He’d also be able to protect them if they came across their first battles with dark ones. But that meant, staying behind while Lana stayed with me.
Leaving in the middle of the night allowed us to move the fastest while shielded by the night sky. With the “evil beasts” like the razorven no longer an issue, more of the Fae felt comfortable moving under the cover of darkness.
The army would follow behind us, moving slower as one unit, commanded by Kade, with Storm and Raya each leading a battalion.
As soon as night fell, Lana and I prepared two horses to ride hard toward Eomer Forest.
Before we left, Kade threatened me within an inch of my life. Should one hair of Lana’s perfectly rose-gold hair be out ofplace by the time we reconnected, his shadows would have the pleasure of wreaking havoc on my soul. I laughed at him this time. I would never let anything happen to Lana after everything we’d been through. Kade knew it too, but I’d let him have the last word. I felt like I owed him one for helping me realize darkness had been inside of me.
He was still an asshole. Just an asshole I’d tolerate.
Even William saw us off as the clock struck midnight. “I’m finally going to get my peace and quiet again. Thank the Fates.” While I knew he barely seemed to put up with us, I couldn’t help but notice the extra hug he gave Lana and that he’d slipped something into her cloak pocket when he thought none of us were looking.
Vivienne and Cassandra were nowhere to be seen to wish us well, or say goodbye. Maybe it was better not knowing what the seers were doing.
Lana and I left galloping toward our destination ahead of the army.
About a mile ago, we’d left our trusty steeds and walked the rest of the way. We didn’t want to attract any more attention than necessary, the closer we got to town. Kalliah and Corbin would retrieve the horses as part of Raya’s battalion before meeting us in Eomer Forest at one of the Hidden Henchman drop spots.
“It feels like old times,” Lana whispered excitedly, snapping my attention back to her as she ran from tree to tree in the early morning hours. Her cloak billowed behind her as she moved. “It’s like being the Hidden Henchman all over again.”
I looked at Lana, and the moonlight exposed the tremor in her hand, shaking with nervous energy. “Only this time, we want to find Andras and not avoid him at all costs.” She grinned.
I couldn’t help but return her smile. Working together with Lana by my side again just felt right. Knowing that this wouldbe the end of Andras, made it even better. “Remember when he almost caught us after our first drop? I swore he saw us enter through the back kitchen door.”
She laughed. “Thank goodness for Lucien. He really came through and saved the day by knocking over the stack of dishes. We made it just in time to hide in the pantry.”
“I told you he understands us.” Ducking under a branch as we trudged farther through Eomer Forest, I swiped the leaves out of my face. “He came to me in the dungeons.”
Lana stopped and faced me. I hadn’t talked much about that time yet. I knew eventually I could, with her. I didn’t want to burden her, but if anyone would understand, it was her. I swallowed the lump in my throat, rising at the memories. I hated how weak my time there made me feel.
She reached for my hand. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you.”
I squeezed once. “You won’t have to find out.” I let go, retraining my focus on the forest around us.
Lana sighed. “I miss that pugron.” She paused and her face fell. “And Leif. Do you think we’ll find him alive?”
I ran a hand through my hair, worried about our friend. I wasn’t sure why Andras would keep him alive, but I’d refused to accept anything but his survival.
“He’s stronger than you think. He survived Lucinda chasing him around the palace kitchens all these years after all.” I smiled, wanting to break the dread that festered if I thought about him for too long.
Lana smiled, but it didn’t meet her eyes. “I swear if Andras harmed him in any way, I’ll make sure he suffers even more than what I already have in mind.”
“Donotdo anything crazy. We stick to the plan.” I grabbed her arm and forced her to look me straight in my blue eyes as a warm breeze wrapped around us. Nature agreed. “Lan, I needyou to promise me.” I knew her. If anyone was at risk, even that pugron, she’d act without thinking. “If something goes horribly wrong, you get out. We will regroup and come back to fight another day, understood?”
Lana’s jaw clenched. “There is no failing. This happens now. Andras will die by my hand. Ellevail will stand again. We will not lose, Ian. Not if we’re together.”
