Dyna shut her eyes. He said he would go if she commanded it. More lies.
A winged shape moved across her balcony, and Dyna braced, but it was only Sowmya. The Lieutenant slipped through the doors, her golden armor dripping wet.
Dyna sighed. “You’re still here?”
“I am charged with protecting you, my lady.” The lieutenant closed the balcony doors behind her. She paused by the curtains framing the south windows that faced the front of the estate. Her gaze flickered to Dyna, then to the floor.
She narrowed her eyes. “Speak your mind.”
Sowmya hesitated before saying, “It’s been raining all evening, my lady. This is unbecoming of a king.”
“He decided to be out there, so leave him,” Dyna said sharply. “You will not interfere.”
Sowmya’s mouth bracketed with disapproval, but she bowed her head at the command. It angered her. She was no one to bow to now.
“Why are you still here? Why didn’t the Valkyrie leave? Why didn’theleave?” Dyna demanded. “Didn’t you hear us?” She shut her eyes, feeling embarrassment and shame. The whole of Sellav must have heard her shouting. “I am not his queen anymore...”
“His Majesty cannot leave while you are not safe.” Sowmya said. “I asked you to impede him, despite knowing it would put you in dangeragain. Now that the Realms know you are alive, so do his enemies. War is not coming, my lady. It has already arrived, whether you wish to be a part of it or not.”
There was something in her tone that made Dyna stand. She walked to the window, keeping behind the curtains.
Cassiel was still on his knees, his gaze trained on her window. It was too dark inside for him to see her. Nonetheless, he sensed exactly where she was.
“You may not fight for him,” Sowmya said, “but he will always fight for you.”
Dyna followed her gaze to the shadowed forms moving through the dark trees that lined the main path. At first, she thought they were other Celestials, but they didn’t have wings. Lightning flashed, exposing figures dressed in black armor. Their skin was gray, eyes reflecting yellow like reptiles in the night.
She gasped. “Are those elves?”
“Not elves,” Raiden said quietly from her doorway. “Not anymore.”
“What are they?” Dyna asked.
“May I join you?”
She nodded.
Entering her room, Raiden came to stand beside her and crossed his arms as they watched the shadows come closer. “Shades, we call them. They have walked through the veil of the Shadow God to embrace black magic, turning themselves into creatures of the night. They are fast and vicious assassins who lend their dark skills to those who would pay very highly for it.”
A horrible chill swept down Dyna’s back as she recalled what Rawn had told her.There are elves who move through the shadows. They sever lives for the right price, and there is a substantial one for mine.
“But why are they here?” she asked him. “Do they come because of your father, or because of the bounties on our heads?”
“No, my lady. They have come foryou,” Sowmya answered, and Dyna’s breath caught. Cassiel had yet to move from his position. She had the urge to yell at him to run, but he stood, and his shoulders shifted with a deep breath. He already knew they were there. “My people do not have jurisdiction to enter Greenwood territory in any official authority without risking reprisal against the Realms.”
It seemed Lord Raziel found a way around that. Akiel must have immediately notified him of her survival.
“You have enemies in high places,” Raiden said.
Dyna swallowed, her pulse beginning to climb. “Forgive me, I never meant for this to happen. I have put Princess Aerina in danger.” She moved to leave the room, but Raiden caught her arm.
“I hope you don’t mean to go out there.”
“I have to make sure they won’t get inside,” she said.
“There is no need.”
A glowing gold light sparked outside the windows. It formed a line in front of the gates, and rapidly spread as it circled the entire estate. From it, a golden wall rose up until they were encompassed within an enormous, enchanted dome.
