“You will not—”
She silenced her husband with a wave of her hand and a few droplets of water. “I have spent my entire life helping my people face the darkness within themselves. That is how I have used my ethereal gift. I can help you, Veyka.”
She’d said as much before, but I hadn’t really understood. Now, I was desperate. I jerked my chin in a nod.
Her eyes softened around the edges, the lines of determination less prominent but by no means gone. She leaned in so only I could hear. “I have learned to stay grounded in myself, dealing with so many others’ emotions. You can do it too, Veyka.” She squeezed my arm a little tighter, the pale blue of her grip lightening. “I know you can.”
She knew, because she was inside of me now. She could see the light and the darkness. Surely she could see that I was losing, the monster a wrong word from wresting away control and devouring the remaining shards of my soul.
“We will have to fight our way across the valley,” I said.
“Not alone. I will accompany you.” Evander’s tone brooked no argument, and I was not going to give one. Mya may be confident, but I wasn’t. She would need protection. Not just from the succubus horde, but very likely from me.
“And me,” Lyrena said. Her golden sword had been in her hand since Avalon. Goldstone armor, golden hair, golden rings, a flash of a golden tooth. My faithful golden knight. I could not refuse her.
Arran captured the attention of the group before it could dissolve again.
“This is the war,” he said, looking around at each face in turn. “There will be no more skirmishes or battles. The last battle of the Great War was fought in the Effren Valley seven thousand years ago. This is where it all ends. This is the final battle.”
He reached for my hand, holding it even as the shackles rubbed against our skin. “Tonight is for final preparations. In the morning, we must be ready.”
75
ARRAN
I ducked out of the command tent, leaving Veyka reluctantly. She was bent over the map with Mya, Evander, and Lyrena, plotting a course for the next day. I had to see to the terrestrial forces, speak with my father about integrating his northerners. Lyrena would stay with her until I returned, I knew without asking.
But it still felt like torture.
“Your Majesty,” a deep voice called, footsteps digging deep into the cold-hardened ground to keep up. There may not be snow on the ground in the elemental kingdom, but it was far from hospitable.
My mind supplied the answer before my eyes—Mordred.
The young male ate up the distance between us easily, moving on long legs that I recognized as the mirror of my own. He was not quite as tall as me, but nearly. Mya had reassured us of his loyalty, but it did not change what I saw when I looked at him.
Morgause.
“A word, Majesty?” he said, coming alongside of me, breaths even despite the exertion. He was strong.
My first instinct was to turn him away. His mother may have secured him a spot at the Round Table, but that meant nothing for the relations between the two of us. If he had an objection to the plans we’d made, he should have laid it out in the command tent with everyone else.
Veyka was not there, but I heard her voice in my head.I do not begrudge you your son.Even then, with everything else happening, she had recognized the importance of that connection.
I’d only known him for a few days. We’d never spoken privately. But he was my son. I could spare him a few minutes, couldn’t I?
“As I walk,” I said, not breaking step.
“You assigned me to the fight with the northerners.”
Ah. I should have anticipated this argument.“I cannot afford to babysit you. The Lord of Eilean Gayl is a worthy leader. You will learn much from him.”
“Respectfully, Majesty, I do not need minding.”
No, he didn’t. But that was not the true reason I’d assigned him to fight with my father.
“I am leading an army. I cannot afford distractions.”
He stumbled a step.
