But my rage was alive.
The outer walls of the fortress were enchanted to keep outside vines and branches from penetrating. But inside, ancient trees grew within the bailey, their tops reaching up to join the worn gray towers. Ivy coated the walls. A flora-gifted terrestrial’s playground. And I was the strongest terrestrial in millennia.
If they noticed the trees bending to my will or were too transfixed by the arrival of their king and queen, I did not care. There was no escaping the vines that crawled along the ground or the branches that reached across the battlements. I did not have to lift a hand to command my power. The terrestrial flora bowed to me. And every single one of the terrestrials would bow to my mate.
“Bow,” my beast growled.
It was not a warning, nor a request.
A thousand sets of knees crashed down onto the stone and dirt. I forced every single terrestrial watching to the ground—where they belonged, kneeling before their queen.
Veyka watched, her face still unreadable. A few of the terrestrials wobbled, grabbing at each other to keep themselves upright. Veyka laughed when one fell face-first against the flagstones. Dagger in hand, she approached the female nearest to her. She dragged a fingernail along the back of the female’s exposed neck.
“Should I slit a few throats to drive the point home?” Veyka asked, her voice bored.
“As you wish, my queen.” I made sure that every terrestrial, subjugated down to their knees, heard my words.
They were no longer the recipients of my protection, the benefactors of my generation-shattering magic. Veyka was. And it was time they all knew it.
Veyka stepped back from the female. She opened her mouth to say something else, but another sound echoed across the inner bailey. A single staircase rose along the far wall, ragged stones jutting out of the wall itself. At the top, a door groaned as it opened.
A willowy female appeared at the top of the staircase, her dark skin and darker hair framed by the stone archway behind her. She wore a deep sapphire gown, simple in the way favored by terrestrials, cut close to her body except for the slit that ran to her hip, revealing the matching dark blue leather leggings beneath—and the dagger strapped to her slender thigh.
Recognition. Knowing. Supreme confidence edged her motions as she tossed her halo of tight black curls over her shoulders. Her eyes marked Veyka, but it was me she addressed.
“Welcome home, Arran Earthborn.”
28
VEYKA
“Where are you taking us?” Lyrena asked, raising her voice to be heard from near the back of our entourage.
The female had introduced herself as Morgause. And since the requisite ‘Your Majesty’s’ were completed, she’d spent too much time looking at my mate. I’d have to be blind to miss the glowing umber ring in her brown eyes.
“To the Dyad,” Morgause answered, pausing on the next landing until Arran was at her side. Then she immediately began to move again, up the narrow stairway. It was only just wide enough for them to walk abreast. But she made no move to step ahead.
Covet him all you like. He’s mine.
Arran’s eyes were everywhere but on me, assessing threats and rightfully assuming I could take care of myself.
“The Dyad are the stewards of Cayltay,” Morgause explained. “The most powerful flora-gifted terrestrial and most powerful fauna-gifted terrestrial form the Dyad that rules the city.”
“And here I thought I’d married the most powerful flora and fauna gifted terrestrial in the kingdom.” As I spoke, my thumbtraced over the ring on my finger. Elayne’s ring. Then Arran’s. Now mine.
I hadn’t been taught about the inner workings of the terrestrial kingdom. Those lessons were saved for Arthur. But Arran and Barkke, and before them, Elayne, had given me a slapdash course in how things ran here in Cayltay.
Though they’d all left out the Dolorous Guard. What other details had they missed? And what nasty surprises awaited because they had?
Arran paused on the stairs. “I’ve never sought a place with the Dyad. I prefer actions to words. Battlefields to politicking.”
Morgause stopped a step later. She waited for him to join her. He waited for me. Let me pass him. Then took up his place a half step behind, one hand on the small of my back.
Ancestors, I fucking loved him.
Our guide’s smile was pinched. I enjoyed the sight.
“Come now, Arran. There is plenty of blood to be shed on the way to the Dyad’s thrones,” she said.
