I’m impressed by the way that none of the city’s women flinch in the face of the dragon’s ferocity, but their pensive expressions tell me they’re thinking about what he said.
They won’t be able to ignore the way the sky is boiling, and the lightning hasn’t stopped flickering.
It was Genova herself who said that the crops were starting to fail. The darkness must be seeping in from every direction.
“If you ask us to leave, of course, we’ll go,” Catalina says with a shrug of her shoulders.
She won’t.
Her whispered discussion with her comrades made that clear to me. She needs more bodies in her army, and these women have proven how hard they’ll fight to protect what they love. Any commander would want them in their army.
But Catalina hasn’t finished. She jabs her finger first at the clouds churning in the sky behind her and then at the wasteland. “But those creatures won’t. There’s no stopping them now. The people in the east tried and failed.”
I narrow my eyes at the way she used the term ‘people’ instead of ‘fae’.
This city has been walled off from the rest of the world for a long time. Thirty years under Malak’s rule followed by ten years under mine. The first news we had of a war in the north between the human Queen and the Fae Queen was when Thaden arrived.
He gave that information to me and Asha. I didn’t try to stop it from getting out, but I’m not sure how informed Mother Solas or Rachel may be about the war they’ll step into if they go with the dragon riders.
I draw breath to speak, and then I pause.
I can’t influence their decision one way or another. It isn’t my place. If they want my thoughts, they’ll ask for them. It’s up to them to make decisions for themselves now.
“You will do us the respect of giving us time to decide,” Rachel says to Catalina.
Catalina nods. “Of course. But don’t delay. If you want your people to survive, you must all come with us by the time the sun reaches its zenith. We can’t linger here any longer than that.Our own people need our protection. We’re risking their lives the longer we stay.”
With that, she focuses on me. “However, there is one matter we must determine immediately.”
Rachel stiffens. “What is that?”
“Regardless of what you decide for your people, the Vandawolf will come with us. He attacked a dragon.” She gives me a cold smile. “He must face the consequences.”
Chapter 27
Petra raises her crossbow again. “Like fuck he will.”
Despite being the first to step between me and the riders, she hasn’t looked at me until now.
The turn of her head reveals what I couldn’t see before.
A savage cut extends all the way down the left side of her face, from her temple to her jaw. It’s been stitched up, but it was undoubtedly made by a blade.
My anger rises to see it. I want to ask her what happened, but again, I still my tongue.
She has control of this situation, and I respect that.
“The Vandawolf stays with us,” she says.
“No,” Catalina snaps. “And before you object again, know this: I will fight you for him.”
Petra gives Catalina her full attention again. “Try it. You’ll enjoy a fiery death.”
Catalina’s lips rise into a smile. “Oh, sweet girl, you seem to be missing a spark.”
Catalina has a point. None of the city’s women appear to be carrying any kind of flint. Nothing to light their coal—if, indeed, that’s what’s in the pouches.
Petra gives a chilling smile as she very slowly extends her left leg, turning it slightly so that the side of her knee-high boot is visible.
