He nudges his head toward Catalina’s chest, his voice a low murmur. “Catalina Shield. Bright Heart. I think, perhaps, in this situation, you could give these courageous women the benefit of the doubt. You could try telling them the truth. And then maybe they, and perhaps even the Vandawolf, will understand why you need them.”
Catalina shakes her head, but it’s a slow movement until she turns back to the city’s women, who are all watching her with growing concern, their foreheads puckered and lips pursed, not in anger but with clear worry.
Even Petra has finally lowered her weapon. “Try us,” she says.
Catalina swallows visibly, chews her lip, and then says, “What I’m about to tell you must not spread to your people. We’ve managed to keep it quiet, although the truth will come out eventually.”
She closes her eyes for a long moment, making herself completely vulnerable to attack, but none of the city’s women makes a move.
Catalina opens her eyes. “Our Queen is dead.”
Mother Solas gives a cry, her free hand flying over her mouth. “How?”
“I… can’t…” Catalina exhales a shaky breath, at which the blonde-haired rider steps up beside her.
“The fae lured us to what was supposed to be a negotiation for a peace treaty,” the blonde-haired rider says. “The moment our guard was down, their Queen killed ours.”
My jaw clenches as my anger rises. When I was in the fae castle, Queen Karasi spun a tale that the human Queen refused to agree to a peace treaty. Her voice reeked of insincerity, but I didn’t guess the extent of her lie.
Tears spill down Catalina’s cheeks as she speaks up again. “The fae are fleeing the darkness in the east. Their homes are gone. Their children are dying. Isabella wanted to help them. She didn’t want a war between us. But she underestimated how far their Queen would go for power.”
“Their Queen is what is called a Solstice fae,” the blonde-haired rider explains. “She has power over sunlight, which means she can create fire—and then control the fire she created. She blasted a hole through Isabella’s beautiful heart.”
“I failed to protect my Queen,” Catalina says. “Now that Thaden Kane has betrayed us, we’ve lost Lysander Rex, and Milena is dead… the fae have started conducting targeted attacks, destroying human villages, and gaining control of our outposts. We no longer have the numbers to oppose them. I don’t know where to turn.”
The other dragon riders all abandon their posts, stepping up behind Catalina, each of them reaching in to press one of their palms to her back and shoulders as if to give her strength.
“We’re here,” the blonde-haired woman says. “You have us.”
Catalina takes a deep breath and raises her head, facing the city’s women again. “I know you have questions. You’ve been isolated here for a long time, but I wasn’t lying about the monsters. This land is poisonous now. There was an intense influx of magic, and it’s triggered an unstoppable change.
“I know I haven’t done anything to deserve your trust, but I can offer you safe passage away from here. These riders are fearless.” She inclines her head at the group standing at her back. “We can keep you safe on your journey. Wherever you decide to go.”
Mother Solas maneuvers around behind Rachel to reach Petra. “Dearest, it’s time to put away our weapons. These people won’t harm us.”
“How can you be sure?” Petra asks, distrust written in the tense lines around her eyes and mouth. Her weapon remains lowered, but she could just as quickly raise it again.
“Because Rachel is now the last of both royal human lines,” Mother Solas says. “And these dragon riders? Well, they answer to Rachel now.”
Mother Solas turns from Petra to Catalina with a stern declaration. “The northern army is now Rachel’s to command. Is it not, Catalina Shield?”
Catalina’s face floods with relief, all of the tension fading from her forehead and mouth. “It is. Yes. If she’s willing to claim it.”
At that, she takes a knee. Each of the dragon riders does the same.
Rachel’s eyes are wide, and her lips part. She glances at her grandmother, who gives her a firm nod.
“I am,” Rachel says.
“We have our Queen!” Catalina announces, at which the other riders thump their chests.
Rachel doesn’t waste a moment. “Youwillhelp us leave,” she says to Catalina. “And we will…” She turns to the other women, who all give her nods until she gets to Petra. “Petra?”
Petra points her crossbow at the ash at her feet, disengages the bolt, and rams the bolt’s point into the dirt, where it can’t harm anyone.
She raises herself upright and says quietly, “We will make a new home.”
Rachel gives Petra a smile before turning back to Catalina. “A home we will fight for as hard as we fought for this one.”
