“Twenty-four years ago, a witch of the Coranthe line was born. A female who could wield a witchwood blade and end the Dark King for good.” Kaden’s gaze cut through the crowd, landing on me. “That witch is in our midst. Today, we fly to Dorthus to kill Semphrys, and I hope that you will fly with me.”
Kaden turned to face the soldiers. “Fly with me to the Dark Kingdom, armed with rowan arrows. Fly with me to end Semphrys and stop the plague consuming our lands. Pledge your fealty to me, and I will usurp the False King — the male responsible for the death and suffering of so many fae. I stand for a truly united Anvalyn, where both Drathen and Euroshean fae may flourish as one nation. But we must fly today to save our lands from the scourge of evil that seeks to destroy it.”
The room hummed with energy as the prince finished his speech, and my heart soared. This was it — Kaden’sfirst appeal to his people. The moment where he either gathered the army he needed to fight Alfrigg or faltered.
My stomach tightened as I scanned the hall, willing the soldiers around me to stand and pledge their fealty to Kaden.
Nobody moved.
An uncomfortable silence fanned over the tables, and I met Sorsha’s heartbroken gaze.
Finally, the first male who’d spoken out against Kaden stood again, his large frame imposing as he addressed the prince. “You stand here asking us to rise up against our king. To fly into Dorthus to face abominations that cannot be killed, only injured, with rowan-wood arrows?”
“Yes,” said Kaden. “But not for me. For Anvalyn.”
The male shook his head. “You may be the son of Elowynn, but you are not my prince.”
There was a rumble of agreement from the nearby soldiers, and my heart sank.
“Alfrigg may be a tyrant and a fool, but you are no better. For centuries, you have been slowly destroying Anvalyn, feeding the monster who lurks at our door.” He shook his head. “I will not die for you.”
Several soldiers murmured their agreement, and my stomach dropped to my knees.
“I will not trade one false king for another.” The male strode down the length of the table, pausing just behind the princess.
I glanced at Adriel as the male drew his sword, expecting the royal guard to leap to his feet — to put himself between them. But Adriel looked on with an almost bored expression, so I edged closer and gripped my own dagger, readying for a fight.
But then the male dropped to one knee, gripping his sword by the blade. Bowing his head, he raised it up, offering it to the princess. “But I will fight for her. Die if that is what myqueenrequires.”
More excited murmurs rose from the crowd, and Sorsha’s eyes widened. She was still chewing part of one of the hard brown biscuits and looked utterly dumbfounded.
“I will fly to Dorthus with Princess Sorsha — a flower ripped from her rightful place at the Quartz Palace and shut away for centuries, honed into a fierce warrior with whom I’d gladly fight. Princess Sorsha, daughter of Elowynn, soon to be Queen of Steel and Sky.”
Sorsha’s shocked inhale echoed through the hall. Benches scraped as more soldiers dropped to their knees, raising their blades in a show of fealty. Murmurs of “Daughter of Elowynn” and “Flower of Anvalyn” rumbled off the stone walls, and my heart resumed its thunderous beat.
“I will accompany you to Dorthus,” the soldier boomed. “I will loose my arrows against any demon who stands in your way. Then I will fly with you to Anvalyn to claim your rightful place on the throne.”
Hollers and cheers greeted that statement, and though Sorsha managed to maintain her composure, her face had gone deathly pale.
She glanced at Kaden, then at the room full of soldiers kneeling before her. I reached over to grip her hand, and when she turned to me, her expression was one of terror.
“Lyra,” she whispered, only loud enough for me to hear. “What if I cannot summon my wings?”
“You can,” I growled. “And you will.”
“But Kaden —” she stammered, her voice choked with tears. “All he’s ever wanted is to be king, and I —”
Sorsha broke off, and I finally looked to the front of the hall, where Kaden still stood with his wings spread wide. The soldiers seemed to have forgotten all about the demon prince who’d made such a rousing speech. They were all looking to the princess.
My heart ached for my mate as I searched his face, but my grief and sympathy were quickly doused by confusion and a creeping sense of awe.
Kaden did not look the part of the defeated prince who’d been spurned by his own people. Like everyone else, he was staring across the hall at his sister, his mouth twisted in a sly grin.
Chapter
Thirty-One
LYRA
