She lets out a sigh. “Of course he wanted to go.” She pauses. “What about Queen Kaila? Do you think she showed up to help them?”
“I told her what would happen if she didn’t.”
Auren hums. “I’m surprised you didn’t kill her.”
“Despite what I told her, I will kill her. Gladly. You just say the word.”
“No. You were right to let her go. Killing her would’ve only divided Orea more. Three kingdoms are already in turmoil. You needed her alive to help fight this war.”
“And she’d better be fucking fighting,” I say. “But if not, I’ll deal with her.”
Afterwe deal with everything here.
I brace myself to go see the Drollard villagers. To come face to face with the torment they’ve suffered since they got here…and for what they might say about my mother.
Auren stops at the bottom of the stairs and looks over. She’s so incredibly attuned to me. “Wewillget her back, Slade,” she reassures me again. Just like she has multiple times, because she knows how heavily this is weighing on my mind. “Nothing will stop us.”
My chest goes warm at her protective vehemence. At how fierce she is on my mother’s behalf. “I know.”
We go through the corridor, aiming for the entry that serves as the storefront. When we get to the front door and walk out, the street is still busy, but Wick’s been able to move and is talking with people in smaller groups. Other Vulmin appear to be doing the same.
As we make our way onto the road, the crowd parts, people murmuringTurleyandLyärianddragonas we go. I watch everyone like a hawk, but they keep a respectful distance from Auren, though I still keep my guard up, my protectiveness urged on by the pair bond.
Her ribbons trail behind her like the fabric of a gown, though they twist and twirl, lifting around her—and me. One of them is always touching me.
I smirk down at one as it wraps itself around my wrist, tugging me closer. I watch her ribbons, watch her, seeing her smiling at the fae and them smiling back. Seeing the reverence in their eyes and the way this land seems to glow around her. It makes my heart full—and makes my heart hurt.
Because this is where she belongs.
She was always glorious, but here in Annwyn, it’s as if her soul sings, lit up by the sun and gleaming from the inside out. People in Orea either wanted to exploit her or suppress her. But seeing her here, this is where shefits.
She deserves to breathe in the air of home, to walk amongst fae who are in awe of her. She deserves to have the land sing just from her presence, and the sun stream down upon her gilded skin.
Auren was always too bright for Orea.
When you’re surrounded by jealous shadows, all they want to do is put you out.
But she didn’t succumb. Against all fucking odds. Against Oreans and fae alike, against monarchs and cruelty, she’s here. She’s not only survived, but overcome.
And now she burns brighter than ever.
Which means we will have a lot to talk about when this is all over.
Wick notices us as we get closer, so he breaks away to give us his attention. It’s strange for me to think that this is Auren’s relative. I’m sure it’s even stranger for her.
But I watch him like a fucking hawk too.
“We’d like to speak with the Oreans now,” Auren tells him. “We need to see if they can tell us anything about Slade’s mother.”
Wick nods and turns toward the left. “Alright. I’ll take you to the house they’re staying at. It’s just down—”
“Wick!”
We’re interrupted by a Vulmin running down the street. He squeezes past people, forehead slicked in sweat. His anxious energy immediately makes me tense as he reaches us. “Stone Swords! They’re setting fire to the city!”
Gasps ring out.
“Why would they set fire to our city?” a Lydian cries.
