Nearly two thousand survivors from scattered backgrounds were crammed together beneath the canopy, uncertain how to build order from ruin.
But the fractured assembly was slowly knitting together. Thalaesyn, Jassyn, and the healing magus had claimed the hollows of massive trees, transforming them into a makeshift infirmary.
Through the bond, Serenna sensed Vesryn to the southeast, hunting with the rangers and dracovae, while Fenn scavenged farmlands with Lykor somewhere in the northern realm.
Serenna unloaded the cart mechanically, the spoils a product of Lykor’s impatience. He’d all but flayed his warriors with snarls and scathing glowers, herding them through portals before dawn.
He seemed determined to outfit their entire ramshackle camp before noon, raiding the supply lines to Alari with ruthless efficiency. After much grumbling, he’d even reluctantly permitted a handful of magus to join the forays under Kal’s direction.
“Is there a plan?” Velinya asked beside her. She fumbled for a basket in the cart, movements sharp and quick, her body still a stranger.
Serenna bit her lip, searching for words—anything that might offer hope. “Lykor is working on it,” she finally said. An empty answer. “He thinks there will be refuge across the Wastes.”
“And if there’s not? What if the elves find us here first?” Velinya’s crimson eyes caught a shard of sunlight, fear flickering to life. “At Centarya, I barely touched a weapon, and I don’t think I have elemental powers like you and Jassyn.”
Serenna heard her own buried fears reflected back at her. The expectation to be something she wasn’t. In Velinya’s case, taking up arms.
“Not everyone has to fight,” she said, watching the former queen pull order from chaos across the clearing. “You helped manage Vaelyn’s court for years. I’m sure Mara could use you—someone who knows how to hold the seams together.”
Velinya was nodding as Serenna finished. Before she could say more, a burst of activity spilled from a portal at the center of the glade. Fenn’s presence leaped back into Serenna’s mind, the bond blazing brightly from his close proximity.
Essence rippled from his outstretched claw as he walked backward, streams of force dragging loaded wagons through the rift.
Crossing her arms, Velinya released an amused scoff while Fenn’s squadron funneled more supplies into their camp—canvases for shelters judging by the bursting carts. “Typical. Males will always find shortcuts to avoid work.”
Serenna’s lips twitched as Fenn casually hauled another set of carts through the rift with Essence. Lykor emerged when the final wagon rumbled through, flicking his gauntlet to seal theportal shut. Without a word, he stormed through the warriors, carving a path into the jungle.
Fenn flashed Serenna a grin before leaning in to exchange quick words with Mara, who was briskly organizing and doling out the plunder. With his task apparently complete, he then wove through the clusters of wraith processing supplies in the clearing, sauntering toward her and Velinya.
Flinging an arm around Serenna’s shoulders, a ribbon of Essence darted from his fingertips, hooking an apple from the cart and snapping it into his waiting palm.
“This is your friend from your ocean home, she-elf?” he asked, biting into the fruit.
Serenna barely got through the introductions before Velinya’s eyes began to dance with curiosity, flitting between her and Fenn, obviously piecing together a story. Serenna shot her a pointed glance, pressing her lips into a tight line—a silent plea to save the questions for later.
“Koln’s squadron scouted a lake nearby,” Fenn began, squeezing Serenna’s shoulder to draw her closer under his arm. “It’s no Lagoon, but everyone thinks it’ll do.” He took another bite of the apple, eyes on fire with mischief. “We should bring Velinya—and the wraith your princeling collected. After everything they’ve endured, they deserve some proper fun.”
Spluttering, Serenna’s cheeks flamed as she shoved him off. “I’m—I’m not… You can’t even swim!” she shot back, glaring at him. Crossing her arms, she added, “And finding a replacement for the Lagoon was everyone’s first priority?”
Fenn shrugged and Velinya’s delighted laugh rang out. “Are we going tonight?” she asked, fingers steepled over her mouth. “I’ve heard about this…Lagoon.”
“How—?” Serenna started, then clicked her teeth shut. It hadn’t been a fullday, but evidently rumors here had already sprouted wings.
Fenn’s jewelry clinked as he raised his brows, his mouth quirking when he glanced down at her in question.
“You—you can go with Koln,” Serenna stammered, heat crawling up to the tips of her ears. Velinya was practically bouncing on her toes, buzzing with eagerness. Serenna flapped a hand at her friend. “And take Velinya so she’s not begging me all night.”
Fenn chuckled, cocking his head as he asked Velinya, “Has she always been this shy?”
“Notshy, exactly.” Serenna’s traitorous friend grinned, the tips of her fangs peeking out as she shot her a sidelong glance. “But back at court, whenever she tried sneaking around her mother’s watchful eye, she got caught. It was a scandaleverytime.”
With a groan, Serenna buried her burning face in her palms. Now there were two of them—both utterly insufferable.
Fenn snorted, dragging his lip ring between his teeth. Serenna tried to sever whatever calculated jab he was preparing next with a sharp elbow to his ribs.
But that didn’t deter him.
Fenn launched into an exaggerated retelling of the time she’d supposedly ordered him to bite her—though Serenna recalled it differently—before diving into an elaborate explanation of the pleasures of wraith venom. He listed each benefit in painstaking detail for Velinya, who clearly hadn’t realized how effective small doses could be. With sweeping gestures—on Serenna’s body—he pointed out the ideal spots to sink their canines.
