Ten of them. Dressed in leather armor that blended with shadow, weapons drawn but not raised. They moved like Daemon's team, trained, lethal, and efficient.
A woman stepped forward from their center.
Tall. Lean. Dark hair braided tight against her skull, and eyes that reflected torchlight like a wolf's. She studied our group with the cold assessment of someone who'd killed more people than she could remember.
Her gaze fixed on Daemon, pegging him as the leader.
"Identify yourselves."
"We escaped Vaelthorne," Daemon said carefully. "Aeron's forces invaded. We barely, "
"Vaelthorne." Kaelen's expression didn't change, but something shifted in her voice. "What has become of it? It should have been hidden."
"Was hidden." Bitterness leaked through Daemon's words. "They tracked us. It's gone."
Her eyes scanned each one of our faces until it landed on mine. Recognition flickered across the Fae leader’s features.
“You,” she flicked her chin in my direction. “What’s your name?”
CHAPTER 20
SERIS
The warriors shifted. Not aggressive, but alert. Waiting for their leader's command.
I couldn’t find the strength to answer her question. I couldn’t find the air in my lungs to carry my name.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Daemon responded in my stead.
“Seris.”
Kaelen studied me for a brief moment before she asked more questions.
"How did you bypass the wards?" Kaelen's question cut through the silence. "These caves are sealed against magic. Nothing enters without permission."
"We didn't enter." Daemon's voice remained steady. "Lyralei sent us here. Just before, " He stopped. Started again. "She used the last of her strength to evacuate survivors from Vaelthorne. This is where we landed."
Kaelen's expression hardened. "You're asking me to believe the Keeper sent you directly into our sanctuary? Without warning? Without protocol?"
"I'm telling you what happened."
"Not good enough." Kaelen's hand moved to her weapon. "We've lost too many to lies and false flags. I need proof."
My mouth opened before my brain caught up. "She didn't have time for protocol. The king's soldiers were slaughtering everyone."
The air changed as the Fae tensed. I could feel their anger as the damp air became increasingly heavy.
"Lyralei stood in the center of the village while arrows fell like rain." The words spilled out of Daemon, each one carving deeper. "She opened portals for everyone she could save. Children first. Then the elderly. Then anyone close enough to reach. We were the last group." My voice cracked. "I watched her fall as she held the portal open."
Silence pressed down like stone.
Kaelen studied me with those wolf-sharp eyes. "What's your full name? Seris what? What is your mother’s name?"
I understood what she needed. What would unlock this door, or seal it shut forever.
"Seris Aeryn. Daughter of Lyanna."
Recognition didn't flash, it detonated. Kaelen's entire demeanor transformed. The cold assessment melted into something raw and complicated.
