Plans within plans within plans. My mother envisions a world ruled by the god she worships and the children she’s broken. All while that god intends to use her as collateral.
Her grip becomes more urgent, fingers clawing down my face. Her expression breaks into a pained grimace. “When will you do it, son? When will you take up your father’s mantle? His power flows through you. You have but to step into the pool—”
I grab her wrists and direct her hands away from my face, lest she scratches an eye. “I would not be so selfish as to take a drop of his power while the crystals need to be remade. Let us first work on refortifying. If the princes tried to break Aurelia out once, they will try again.”
Sira gives her version of a laugh. “It doesn’t matter. I could fling the doors wide open and invite them in. Aurelia won’t leave.”
Again, I steady every motion, every tic of my face.Won’tleave. Notcan’t.Won’t.
“How are you so certain?”
“Because she is a fool who loves her children,” Sira says sadly, then looks to me. “The one thing we unfortunately have in common.”
An ache I’d long abandoned re-emerges in my chest. Her love may be poisonous, but it does not mean I don’t crave it all the same.
“The most tragic part of this whole ordeal is that I must retaliate,” Sira says, peering down at the army below us. “I don’t even know which damned prince it was who broke in, so I don’t know what realm to obliterate. But figuring as your sister’s been having such slow progress here, and I’ve heard word that Daytonales is stirring up trouble, why, it seemed like the perfect city to make an example of.”
“Tragic because the people won’t swear fealty to you?” I ask tentatively.
Mother rolls her eyes. “Tragic because I was saving this army to bring Frostfang to its knees. Never mind though. I’m sure they’ll make quick work of the peasants here. Then we can march on Winter. We can take Autumn on the way!” She claps her hands. “Perhaps this isn’t such a loss after all.”
My composure begins to ebb out of me. “Or perhaps, there’s another way. Give Wrenley some more time. She’s close to getting the Blessing of Summer. If she takes the rule, then you will have the support of the people by law. Spring has stayed in line because they believe Kairyn to be the rightful ruler—”
“Silence!” Even the clouds ripple with the power and command in her voice. “You children are always making plans and schemes. I’m tired of it. You can have adoring subjects in another realm, Caspian. These fae, I would make an example of.”
“What of Wrenley?” I ask.
“I’ll figure out something to deal with that disappointment.” She stares at me hard. “You’re bothering me now. Not one subject has come to swear fealty to me, and it is almost dawn. Make yourself useful and go kill something.”
I summon my thorns to lift me from my mother’s clouds and give her a deep bow before departing. “My pleasure.”
Then, I descend back to Hadria, panic rising in my chest.
For the first time in my life, I don’t have a plan.
CHAPTER 109
Dayton
“Easy, girl, easy!” I say, patting the white mane of the winged horse. “Domitia, was it? You’re a good girl, Dom. This way.”
The giant wings of the horse beat as we descend to Rosalina. My mate stands knee-deep in ocean water, positioned in a small cove outside of the city. “Ready, love?” I ask.
Rosalina turns, dark hair blowing in the breeze. She wears a gleaming bronze breastplate over a long white tunic. A scarlet cloak billows behind her, a bow strung over her back. Stars, my mate looks beautiful dressed like one of the Huntresses of Aura.
“We’re all ready,” she says.
“Let’s fly.” I hold out my hand and hoist her up behind me. “Come on, Dom.”
Domitia beats her powerful wings, and we rise high into the sky. I keep us hidden in cloud cover as we breach the city walls and hover above Hadria.
“Did you decide where we’re doing this?” she asks.
“Somewhere high and close to the sea. No better place than Soltide Keep.”
Dom swoops lower, leaving trails of wispy white clouds in her wake. The streets of Hadria are barren besides creatures of the Below stomping over the cobblestone. My citizens believe they must submit to the Queen of the Below or die. We’re going to save them from that. All of them.
Dom circles over the spiral towers of Soltide Keep. The glittering white sandstone walls gleam with sea glass and shells, festooned by towers of pastel pink and teal. We land on thehighest tower and slide off the Pegasus. The view is nothing short of resplendent.
