“And they still welcomed the refugees from Baylaur,” Gwen inserted, coming to stand beside the woman.
“We are most grateful,” Veyka said with a regal tip of her head. She’d donned a circlet I had never seen her wear before. Made of unadorned, pounded gold, it circled her forehead and disappeared into her moon-white hair at her temples. It provided a sharp contrast to the ornate diamonds and sapphires that studded the shells of her ears.
“For it to be felt here as well…” Cyara trailed off, massaging her wrists as she continued to stare out. “That cannot be insignificant.”
“Maybe. But we have enough trouble of our own. We cannot afford to go chasing any more,” Veyka quipped.
Cyara exchanged a glance with Percival, who stood silent at her side.
My beast rumbled instinctively at the history of threat.Why is Percival here?
I could feel Veyka’s frustration through the bond, a slightly muted companion to my own.Cyara insisted.
To what end?
Veyka did not answer that thought. Her arm nudged mine. The group had gone silent. Unlike the royal council meetings Veyka had once presided over in the goldstone palace, there was no ceremony to war.
But I had fought and led many. I’d never wasted time on platitudes. War was a time for facts.
“We do not know when or where the succubus will strike next.” The warriors among the group straightened. The planners tilted their heads. I had their full attention. “We do not know how they organize themselves, if they do at all. We do know that the only way to kill them or prevent possession is with amorite.”
“Are they sentient?” my father asked.
“No. They are mindless monsters,” Elora growled. The already frigid temperature dropped several degrees, but no ice appeared at her fingertips.
I mentally reached out for my mate. We’d discussed this—every word I was about to say—at length. But particularly whether to share the succubus’ attraction to her. I worried that if word spread, there were those who might try to blame her. She’d argued no one could do that any more effectively than she’d already done herself. And knowledge was one of the few advantages we had.
I shifted my attention to Elora. “They are not entirely without intent. They are drawn to Veyka.”
There was nothing I could do to deflect the attention as every being on that hilltop turned their eyes on my mate. Their queen, but more. A female who’d walked hand in hand with torment, yet could still love. A warrior who’d trained herself, when no one else was willing to. A prophecy come to life.
Veyka rolled her shoulders and winked. “Lucky me, eh?”
It was difficult to read the faces of our companions. The elementals kept their faces neutral—even Cyara, Veyka’s handmaiden and closest confidant. Gwen’s was blank as well; though I suspected that had more to do with her own inner turmoil than anything else. Sylva, the human woman, wore an expression of outright pity. Barkke hooted softly through his beard-covered lips.
“Whether it is because they can sense the strength of her power or the nature of her ability to move between realms, they assess her as a threat and will try to get to her over others.” I knew they must have a thousand questions, but we did not have time for them.
“It could be an interesting tool to utilize in battle,” Osheen said with a heavy sigh. Beside him, Cyara’s turquoise eyes had blown wide. The winged handmaiden looked up at her new fellow Knight as if he’d sprung a second head.
Veyka’s laugh sliced through the air, sharp and acerbic. “We can discuss whether or not to use me as bait later,” she said. The smile she gave me was absolutely feline, completely at odds with the gravity of our discussion. “Go on, Brutal Prince.”
“We have two main objectives—ready the armies we have and secure allies,” I said. Veyka slid her hand up my spine. She was trying to distract herself.
On any other day, she would have succeeded in distracting me as well. But the success of our efforts directly impacted whether my mate would live to see another summer. Even she could not distract me.
“Gwen has already agreed to remain here in the human realm. With the assistance of Sylva and the Eldermist Council of Elders, they will rally what human fighting forces they can. Elora, take a selection of your remaining soldiers and remain here as well. You’ll use the village as a base to go through the rift and search for the remains of the Elemental Army in the mountains.” No surprise flickered in Gwen or the elderly human woman’s eyes as I spoke; they’d already had time to take counsel and knew what to expect.
Lying in bed that morning, still warm from lovemaking and basking in the glow of a successful rescue, Veyka and I had planned and plotted. Argued, fucked, and finally agreed.
Elora nodded her assent, but not without question. “It would be faster with the Queen’s help,” she said, dividing her gaze between Veyka and me.
“Undoubtedly,” Veyka said with a broad wink. “But unfortunately, I will have the pleasure of meeting my subjects in Wolf Bay.”
No gasps of surprise at that edict, either. Wolf Bay had been the target of our conversations since we’d secured the amorite. Which, thankfully, was still coming in regular shipments from Castle Chariot.
“Ancestors help them when you get there,” Barkke said with a grin, his emerald eyes twinkling with mirth.
Veyka licked her lips. “You’re coming too.”
