The table is silent as all eyes stare unblinkingly back at me. I expect gasps, shouts of alarm, arguments. But there’s nothing. Nothing but quiet trepidation humming across the table.
“This means we still have one more chance to steal the Parvanovae back and use it to enchant the wall,” I say, then face the Star Queen. “Estel, did you find your sister’s blueprints for the enchantment?”
The particles shift and sway over Estel’s face, obscuring it. She hesitates before finally saying, “I did.”
I frown. “And?”
The particles continue to shift until they settle on a well-composed smile. “And it can be done. If we expand the wall around Faerwyvae, I can transmute the Parvanovae to fuel the enchantment. No one but the fae will be able to cross the wall, whether entering or leaving. To any human, it will be as if a solid barrier exists.”
Hope flutters in my chest, making me want to bounce on the balls of my feet. Reeling in my excitement, I turn to the Earthen King with every ounce of grace I can muster. “Aelfon, how is the progress going with building the wall around the perimeter?”
“Now that the fae are no longer fighting amongst themselves,” he says, “I’ve been able to send builders into every court that touches the sea. They’ve made progress, but it would be impossible to finish their work in three days.”
My stomach sinks at that. “What about fae from other courts? Can we get all fae with an affinity for the earthen element to aid their efforts?”
Aelfon tilts his head one way, then the other, considering my suggestion. “That could help. I still doubt we could build an entire wall around Faerwyvae by then, but with more fae on the job, it’s possible.”
I bite back a grimace. “There’s more. We don’t just need a wall around Faerwyvae. We need it around the entire isle.”
Nyxia’s eyes go wide as she throws her hands in the air. “Why would we do that?”
“It wouldn’t be possible,” Aelfon says. “Our magic is too weak on the other side of the wall.”
“Not if we first destroy the border wall,” Aspen says. I’m grateful my mate already knows my plan, my ideas. Knows what a daunting task it will be to get everyone else on board. At least someone here is already on my side.
Flauvis leans forward, panting, eyes glinting with enthusiasm. “Yes! We will break down the wall, unleash our magic, and destroy the humans! Finally, an idea I can support.”
“No,” I snap. “We aren’t breaking down the wall to destroy the humans. We will free our magic so we can face the soldiers at Port Denyson with our full strength. But also…” I resist the urge to wring my hands, clenching my fingers into fists instead. “I’ve made a bargain with the humans.”
Gasps and growls rumble from around the table. Even Nyxia looks murderous as she stares daggers at me.
“They’ve surrendered to the fae,” I say. “The isle belongs to us now. All of it. But only if we protect it from the bomb. That means we must protect the humans too.”
Minuette lets out an angry whistle through her teeth. “You never should have bargained without coming to us first.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Would you have chosen differently? Would you have given up the opportunity to regain control over the land that first belonged to the fae?”
“No,” Nyxia says, arms crossed over her chest, “but I may have worded things differently.”
“Yes, how exactly did you word it?” Tris asks.
“And who will rule the portion of land that is now Eisleigh?” Dahlia asks, her voice like razors down my spine. “Are you claiming it yourself?”
I narrow my eyes at the Summer Queen. “No.”
“Can we make the humans our slaves?” Minuette asks.
Flauvis runs his tongue over his muzzle. “Can we kill them after we save them?”
“Excuse me,” Tris adds. “Must I remind youagainthat I do not support the extinction of humans? However, I don’t want them living too close to me, either. Not with their…smells.” She wrinkles her nose. “What will we do with them after we save them?”
Aelfon clears his throat, a sheepish look crossing his face. “I agree we shouldn’t kill them, but I do think we should take the land back from them.”
Dahlia leans forward with hunger in her eyes. “But how will we divide it?”
“Pardon,” the Solar ambassador says, “but I do not think a conversation regarding land ownership should happen until the Solar Court has an official ruler blessed by the All of All.”
“—blessed by the All of All,” mimics Flauvis. “I say only those who were part of the Alpha Alliance should have rights to the new lands. The rest of you can—”
