“Leave that to me. With the proper frame, the picture won’t appear so bleak.”
“Fine. Do what you will.”
“As you wish, Sire. Now,” Gronwen continues, his voice perfectly diplomatic, “it seems that war is upon us.”
“What does Vod want?” Lord Conwell asks.
“Me.”
Every head swings in my direction.
“Kylian is coming for me. And for Aegar. He wants all five kingdoms, and now he has control of the portal. Those creatures can pop up here anytime.”
“The castle is secure. For now. The ward masons are working on repairs as we speak.”
“How many dead?” Lord Conwell turns to Sir Max, standing behind Jace, bruises and cuts scattered around his face and neck.
“So far the body count is near two hundred. We lost a good deal of men, but we were able to get most of the servants, the females, and children to the tunnels before they breached the keep.”
My heart flutters. I pray Igrid made it to the tunnels alive.
“I’ll alert the nobles. Tell them to ready their armies,” Conwell says, scribbling across his stationery.
The High Priest’s age-weathered voice spreads through the room. “The portal presents a pressing issue.”
“I’ll go to Hyrax.” I rise.
Zadyn joins me. “We’ll gather support from Berringer and figure out a way to stop anything else from crossing over.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jace offers, but Gronwen shakes his head and taps the table.
“You are needed here, your Grace.” Jace blanches at the title. “If it’s the Dragon Rider Kylian is after, we can certainly expect more attacks.”
“What are you suggesting?” I ask. “That this won’t stop until I give myself up?”
Jace’s body goes rigid.
“What I’m suggesting, girl, is that you take thehead start on offer and get as far from here as you can. This place is no longer safe for you. Or that dragon of yours.”
A chill skates down my spine at his unfiltered warning. I find Jace looking at me, his expression forlorn.
Turning to Zadyn, I say, “We’ll leave tonight.”
“I’ll pack a bag.Meet you in your room in ten,” Zadyn says as we bustle down the hall.
I try to stay focused as we split off. I can fall apart later. But for now, I have to stay strong. For Jace. For Derek.
“Don’t go.”
I freeze, neglecting the heap of clothes I was stuffing into a sack. Jace is leaning against my door frame, his face hollow.
“I have to.”
“Serena.” He shakes his head, closing the gap between us. “I just got you back. I don’t want you out of my sight. Not now.”
He has no idea how badly I want to be here to help him through this. Because I know what a loss like this tastes like.
Ash and nightmares.
