“It is,” Ailan said. “I will do everything I can to stop Darius. However, if he does make it inside the tear, the triggers will warn Garot, and you must get to the dragon caves at once. Darius may be fast enough to evade the swing of a sword, and he may heal quickly from most wounds. But there’s only so much dragon fire he can withstand, even with his fae healing. Ferrah and the other dragons will defend you. Uziel will face Darius with me. If I can collar my brother, Uziel can burn him. I’ll burn with him if I must. If that’s what it takes to keep him from worldwalking away.”
Cora’s stomach turned at that. At the resignation darkening Ailan’s tone. She seemed very un-Nalia-like in that moment, and every inch the Elvyn warrior.
Mareleau’s throat bobbed. “What about my husband and mother? If the wardweavers seal the tear before—” She snapped her mouth shut and shifted her gaze to Cora. “Oh, right. You can still worldwalk through the Veil, so long as you have Valorre.”
“It may take some time,” Cora said, “but I can return everyone to their proper places once the tear has been sealed.”
“So…this isn’t goodbye between us yet?”
Cora gave her a sad smile. “Not yet.”
“Does that mean you agree?” Ailan asked. She certainly wasn’t keen on sentiment.
Cora had been determined not to budge on her terms, but Ailan’s proposed condition was fair. The humans and Elvyn would work together to ambush Darius. If Cora succeeded in pushing themoraback, and the wardweavers sealed the tear while Darius was fighting Ailan, at the very least Mareleau and Noah would be safe. Forever. Darius would never be able to cross the Veil.
All she had to do was trust Ailan to end him.
Her muscles tensed at the thought of leaving the ambush in the hands of others while she played her role at Centerpointe Rock. But this battle wasn’t hers. It was Ailan’s to finish.
And Lela was Cora’s to protect.
She blew out a shaky breath. “I agree.”
51
With a slash of ink on paper and the press of his royal seal, Larylis was no longer King of Vera. His latest correspondence from Teryn had demanded his abdication, and Larylis hadn’t balked. He obeyed his brother’s wishes, rolled up his formal decree of abdication, and handed it to Berol.
With his palms planted on the bulwark of his ship, he lifted his gaze to follow her flight path high overhead, the warm hues of the setting sun gilding her feathers. Not a pang of regret plagued him as he watched his last ties to the throne disappear from sight.
Why should he regret relinquishing his crown? He’d never wanted it anyway. He’d only ever wantedher.
His wife’s recent letter, also delivered by Berol, had explained everything, so he’d been prepared. How badly he wished he could see Mareleau now. To soothe her fears and beg her to revoke her apologies.
I’m so sorry to ask this of you, her letter had said,after everything you’ve fought for. I’m sorry you have to give it all up now.
He released a sigh. How did she not understand? Rising from bastard to king was nothing compared to earning her love. If abdicating was what it took to be with his wife and child, so be it. There was no sacrifice he wouldn’t make for them.
A crown and kingdom were small in comparison.
With Berol no longer in sight, he lowered his gaze to the sunlit cove straight ahead. Upon one of those bluffs lay the entrance to El’Ara. As much as Larylis wanted to be there, to guard the exact location of the tear, this was as close as he dared get by sea. After nightfall, he and his men would disembark and take up posts surrounding the bluff.
Watching.
Waiting.
Preparing.
Protecting.
There was still much to plan for. Much to organize with Teryn and Cora. There were still so many uncertainties and risks. But for the first time since Larylis’ world had been shaken by prophecy, dragons, and threats of war, he was certain of his role, even as his title had been stripped away. He knew with all his heart that he was in the right place at the right time.
Soon an ambush would begin.
And Larylis would stake his life on protecting the two people he loved most.
* * *
Lexington Quil,Crown Prince of Tomas was a genuine, certified revolutionary.
