Saoirse grimaced. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even if we packed everyone together, I don’t think there’senough room.” They already had people lining the streets, and a mountain of refugees had poured in over the last two days.
Eimear stood, a wide smile plastered across her face. “Sounds like it’s finally time to expand our boarders.” She met Saoirse’s gaze, that same shade of green reflected back at her. “I think it’s time to grow a few more redwoods, don’t you?”
Chapter Sixty-Two
Talon
Talon wiped the sweat from his eyes before hauling another log over his shoulder. His muscles screamed in protest, but he welcomed every blissful second of agony.
Because he had those seconds.
They had the time.
They had a future.
Two months ago, they’d walked onto the battlefield not expecting to return. Now they were building an empire.
Arianna’s empire.
With the help of those from Pádraigín, all glamours had been broken, the humans, half-breeds, and Fae freed from Vairik’s influence. Eimear had told Sive and The Weavers where to find the original ancient texts. The tomes were monumental. It had taken days of digging through Ruadhán's ruins to locate them. A chosen team had already begun the grueling task of copying their true history onto pamphlets and distributing them amongst the people.
Many were still in shock to learn that everything they’d ever been taught was a lie. Sive held classes daily, teaching officials and citizens alike. No one was excluded, though the questions were never-ending.
After the bodies of their dead had been buried and the Dark Fae burned, they’d purged the libraries of false histories and destroyed every text Vairik had rewritten throughout the centuries. Fae memory was long and there were those resistant to the truth, but at least the next generation wouldn’t be subjected to Vairik’s version of events.
Lies. So many, many lies.
Good riddance.
Talon let the log fall from his shoulders and clatter against a dozen others he’d already relocated.
Nàdair had become a place of refuge. Many who’d been displaced due to Vairik’s followers or the Dark Fae had flocked here. Others had claimed to hear a calling from their queen and longed to dwell within the same city. Talon had felt it too, the day she’d risen, healed them, and claimed victory.
He would never get over the sight of her and Rion standing on the battlefield, a king and queen taking their rightful places amongst their people.
There were already tapestries being sewn in their honor.
It had taken a month, but the warriors of Brónach had grown two additional rings of redwood trees that circled the entirety of the city. It expanded the territory tenfold, allowing everyone to reside behind the towering giants in peace. It also provided Arianna and Rion a secure location to reside within the innermost ring.
After some deliberation, the council had finally agreed to allow glamours to hide Arianna and Rion’s permanent residence from the masses. There were still far too many clamoring for a glimpse of their Queen. It was a daily struggle that infuriated Raevina, though Talon didn’t mind her fury so much anymore.
Talon paused, wiped his brow, and glanced toward the setting sun. Its warmth bathed the rolling hills in oranges and reds, spreading out to caress the farmland and dense trees in the distance. Their world was consumed by safety and comfort. Promises for an even brighter tomorrow.
For all aside from one.
Talon’s expression faltered. Two months, and Ellie still hadn’t recovered.
He had found her directly after his reunion with Rion and Arianna, her torso and arms soaked with Vairik’s blood. Gavin had been seated beside her, a quiet unyielding force.
Talon had gaped at the young male’s missing arm. It was only thanks to Arianna’s magic that he'd survived at all.
Talon remembered trying to speak to Ellie, his voice hushed and gentle. Ellie had remained silent. She hadn’t even protested when he’d scooped her into his arms and walked her all the way to Nàdair’s palace infirmary. She had stayed all of a few hours before wandering toward the outskirts of the city.
Gavin had followed, of course, then had promptly panicked when Ellie locked herself in a prison of her own creation. Gavin had run straight to Talon. Naturally, Talon had feared the worst. He had sprinted through the streets, heart lodged in his throat at the thought of losing someone due to their drowning grief.
He’d berated himself, told himself he should have stayed with her longer. There were so many shadows haunting her young mind.
She’d built herself a small cabin of ice. A tiny fortress that braced right against the redwood trees. Gavin had assured Talon she was still alive inside. The male could feel her down their bond. Talon had knocked and pleaded with her for hours before she’d finally allowed him inside.
