I don’t regret even half these years of silence. Anonymity was key to her safety, and no one knowing the truth meant that no one could slip up and put her in danger, not even Idallia herself. But what’s my reason now? Still? She’s mature, skilled, ready, and wants to know.
The sharp twist in my chest knows the answer. I don’t want to lose her.
Stopping, I turn away and clear my throat to get everyone’s attention. The team moves toward me, waiting for orders. The warbirds fly into the trees and listen from above.
“Maia and Arran, you and your wing guards will hide out in the bell tower over the market square. You’ll have a good view of central Porthwood and can see anything that moves in the main part of the city.” I pair them together because they’re so in tune with each other that they fight better as a duo than they do with anyone else on the team.
“Wade and Danica,” I continue. “You and your warbirds will take the south entrance of the city, but don’t go into the tower with the local soldiers. Find a spot not too far outside the city walls and hide out, watching for movement.” They’re also a natural pairing, not because of any repressed feelings, but because they’re as thick as thieves and always have been. Danica’s dark-brown skin and black hair will blend into the night even better away from the city torches, though Wade will just have to hope no one spots his lighter hair and features.
I turn to the two who are left and feel an odd thump of satisfaction when Idallia looks as though her stomach just dropped straight through her and hit the ground. She glances nervously at Kellan, but she doesn’t need to worry. There’s no way under the stars I’d pair her with him, especially with the way he’s been acting.
“Kellan, you take the mid-city lookout point on the east wall facing Bloodwold with your wing guards and the local soldiers positioned there.” Kellan looks disappointed but nods. He glances furtively at Idallia.
If anything, she looks just as distressed as before. “You’re with me on the upper outskirts of the city,” I tell her. “I want us stationed in the woods in case anyone tries to circle down from the north, and I also want to keep an eye on Rimblaze.” This is his first mission and chance of real combat in this lifetime. I need him where I can see him.
Biting her lip, Idallia nods once and turns away. The surroundings suddenly seem dull without her golden eyes watching me.
I take in the team, wondering if I’m keeping Idallia away from Kellan, or keeping her with me.
Shoving the uncomfortable thought aside, I say, “We won’t have much to do during the days, so this’ll be a good occasion for some one-on-one training. Keep sharp and keep in shape. Kellan, you can spar with the local soldiers. They’ll be honored.”
Kellan’s eyes narrow. He looks back and forth between Idallia and me, but what does he expect? I paired her with me, so she’ll train with me.
“Sounds good.” Maia tucks some hair back into her bun. It’s rare she has a lock out of place, a testament to how fast we flew here.
“We have hours until sundown.” Idallia turns back to me, her brows lifting in question. “What should we do until then?”
“Eat.” Wade grabs his stomach, and it rumbles loudly to punctuate. He grins.
Idallia’s spontaneous laughter heats me all over. “I could use some food,” she agrees, grinning back at him.
I nod, a dragon-deep rasp slipping into my voice. “A meal, then rest.” As intensely aware of Idallia as ever, I’m only cautiously optimistic at this point about my ability to eat, sleep, and train normally over the upcoming days. “We’ll be awake all night keeping watch, so some daytime sleep should be a priority for everyone. I know of an inn with a tavern and rooms above the restaurant.”
“What about the warbirds?” Idallia asks, her gaze flitting to the branches the phoenixes occupy.
“They can stay here in the garrison courtyard and clear the place of rodents for their lunches. We’ll come back for them at sunset.”
Everyone seems satisfied with the plan, if not with the pairings, and we leave the garrison and make our way toward the inn. Walking through the streets of Porthwood takes twice as long as it should as crowds gather. I doubt I’d go unnoticed, and I definitely don’t with the entire Elite Wing. We draw gazes that range from curious to proud to fearful. They don’t fear us, but our presence here suggests lurking danger and possible violence. Hopefully, it also speaks of my commitment to my people, to protect and avenge.
Porthwood is a city mostly of dragon shifters, humans, and weres. There are vampires too—ones who live by rules I can live with. The fae are scarce here, though with the gold mines of Tyburn and Millburn nearby, some gildenfae regularly travel in and out, buying supplies or selling jewelry and other decorative items they’ve crafted out of gold.
More and more gildenfae choosing to migrate to Torridaig instead of digging up and increasing Tanturriff’s wealth didn’t help my efforts to make a fae alliance at the Ellonrift Council. But now, we’ve just had our first death among the starborn rulers since the Fanghaven massacre. The previous Fae Queen is gone, and her daughter might need my protection more than she wants her kingdom’s untapped gold.
If I can get Marissa Turin to align with me at the next Council, there’s sure to be a tied vote on something that’ll heat the room to violence and force Cealastra out of her isolation. Even if the Star of Ellonrift doesn’t side with me, maybe it’ll at least rouse an eclipse from her and renew magic across the continent.
Embersol’s last rebirth sneaks into my thoughts again, those sparks circling endlessly without condensing into living form. I’ll never not feel a pit of dread open inside me at the memory of Idallia during that time, her fear, her desperate tears, Fyrestar and Rimblaze with her every second of the ordeal. And I remember thinking no one in my entire existence has ever loved me the way she loves those birds. Or the way they love her.
Doubt twists my insides, fully ruining my appetite as the inn comes into view. Maybe I should’ve left Rimblaze at home?
We step into the tavern, leaving the curious stares of passersby behind and gaining new ones from the people inside. The slate board mostly advertises dishes a dragon shifter would want, but it’s the meatless meals I specifically came here for.
Idallia’s eyes brighten at the choices, and she immediately orders her meal along with a mug of ale. Salad greens and cheesy potatoes. As I expected.
My earlier worries lessen, and I order braised bear. Not werebear. We’re carnivores, not cannibals. Plus, there’s the werepoison to worry about.
Finding a table, we wait for our food in companionable silence, mugs of ale already in hand. Unsurprisingly, it’s Kellan who speaks first, a hint of challenge in his tone.
“If we’re spread out, we’re not fighting as a team.” He slowly sips from his mug. “The last time we were separated, it didn’t go well.”
