“What will that even get us?” asks the white dragon. “War will come. The last war wiped out several thousands of fae. Back then, we fought for control over the isle. What will we be fighting for this time?”
“Like I said, I don’t have all the answers yet. I don’t know what the end result will be. But I do know we’ll be fighting for a better world. A better life for all beings on the isle. We’ll be fighting for freedom from prejudice and hate amongst fae and humans. We’ll be fighting to rid the isle of corrupt leaders and oppressive rules. We’ll be fighting for a world where fae aren’t captured, experimented on, and sold for parts. Where females aren’t sent to brothels.”
Fire heats my core, fueling my words. “We will fight for a world where the unseelie are free to be who they wish without sacrificing their ways, their homes, or their land. A world where seelie may keep the lives they cherish without diminishing the rights of the unseelie. We will fight for a world where human girls aren’t considered expendable, where they will not be groomed as brides to the fae for a Reaping that never should have been created. We will fight as one. I will fight at your side for all of you. I will defend both humans and fae, and I will fight both humans and fae. Our allies are not those who look like us but those who dream of the same world. I ask you to consider if you want to be part of that vision.”
Silence answers. Countless eyes stare back at me, some wide, some hopeful, others narrowed with hostility.
The crustacean scuttles forward. “You’ll fight for us, but are you one of us? How can you understand the unseelie if you can’t even show us your form?”
Echoes of agreement rattle through the chamber.
“Yes, show them,” a malicious voice hisses from the shadows behind me. I whirl toward it, hearing footsteps echo through the cave walls. Someone followed us. Or found us.
King Ustrin steps into the chamber. In his wake, trails Mr. Duveau.
35
The sight of the councilman hits me like a punch to the gut. He meets my eyes with a stony expression, no remorse, no smile. He’s stoic, the way he was when I met him at the mayor’s. I can’t see his face without imagining the revolver, the bullet, my mother’s blood streaming into the water below her. A chasm of sorrow opens beneath me, but my anger burns alongside it, keeping me from falling to my knees. I allow it to grow but keep it at a simmer.
Aspen steps forward with a low growl while shadows curl from Nyxia’s fists. The two royals come up beside me, facing our unwelcome guests.
Aspen’s gaze burns into Mr. Duveau. “I thought I gutted you.”
The councilman shrugs, the hint of a teasing smirk playing over his mouth. His stiff posture is all that betrays the underlying wounds he’s hiding. “You tried. Merely got one solid gash in. Better luck next time.”
Several guards file in behind Ustrin and Mr. Duveau, while a small brown rodent, one I’m fairly sure I saw flee the cave when I arrived, circles the Fire King’s ankles. Ustrin looks down at it in disgust, then opens his scaly orange palm. A yellow flame ignites over his hand, then disappears. “Your family has been released,” he says with a sneer. “Thank you for your service. You may go.”
The rodent emits a squeak before scurrying back out.
A violent shudder ripples through my mate as he lowers into a half-crouch, ready to charge.
Ustrin’s eyes whip toward him. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Not if you want your precious refugees to live.”
Aspen bares his teeth, chest heaving. “What are you talking about?”
The Fire King takes a casual step closer. “My soldiers stumbled upon them days ago trying to cross Fire in secret. When Mr. Duveau contacted me with the results of Maven Fairfield’s trial, I realized the refugees would provide the perfect cover to infiltrate Lunar and coax a meeting from Miss Fairfield.”
“Where are they?” I ask. I remember Marie saying one more group remained unaccounted for. If there are even half as many as those who came this morning, there could be dozens.
“They won’t be anywhere unless I make it back to them by midnight,” Ustrin says. “My guards have orders to kill them if I don’t return by then. Therefore, we should hurry on with our business, yes?”
Aspen emits a growl, shoulders trembling. “What’s to stop me from torturing you to an inch of your life until you tell me where they are?”
“Do you think I’d give you the chance?” Another ball of flame, orange this time, ignites over his palm. “I can also send a message. With a snap of my fingers, this flame will leave my palm and transport to my guards. Another sign that they may proceed with the execution.”
I burn him with a glare. “What do you want?”
“I only want to talk,” he says, a false smile plastered over his lipless mouth. He holds out his hands in a sign of surrender, the orange flame shrinking back into his palm until it’s nothing.
“What doeshewant?” My eyes flash to the councilman.
“He’s here to force your hand should you fail to comply, but I promise we will give you every opportunity to act on your own.”
“Then let’s talk.”
“Tell your mate to either leave or stand down.”
Aspen and I exchange a glance. His muscles ripple with agitation, but he gives me a subtle nod.
