“You could both come,” Zander offered. “I can still have my men fight to give the castle a chance.”
I shook my head. “Stryker would never leave his people. And I won’t leave him.”
Dawn pursed her lips. “We’re not going. We can at least try to fight.”
“Ten thousand, Dawn. That’s a lot of soldiers. You need to go. I’ll give you the Shadow Heart and you can figure out a way to get word to Isolde so that she knows not to kill Adrien or Zane.”
Dawn shook her head, but Zander pleaded with her. “You have our child in your belly. Would you really risk its life for something that’s futile?”
Dawn, strong unflappable Dawn, began to softly weep then. It was a horrible choice, to feel like she was leaving me and all of these people to die, but I knew she had to think of her future and that of her unborn child.
“Go. Our people still need you,” I told her, thinking of Faerie.
How much time had passed? I’d lost track while Stryker had been ill. Had it been a month already? If it had, I’d already lost my ability to return home. Not that I cared; I’d never have been able to do what it took to create a portal back to my world. To carve Stryker or any of his brothers’ hearts from their body with my faestone dagger. That hadn’t been an option for weeks now. I was staying here so best not to dwell on that any longer.
“Okay,” Dawn whimpered. “Okay.” This time she was resigned.
It was decided Dawn and Zander would flee to the north and send another round of ravens to their brothers for help. Dawn would try to find a way to speak to Isolde so that we could save Adrien or Zane from being harmed by her.
I went to my room and got the Shadow Heart, giving it to her.Zander helped her get into a carriage and I pulled him aside. “Can I evacuate the people?”
He shook his head. “Mass movement like that would tip off the rebels and if they attacked you out in the open, it would be a blood bath. Their quarrel is not with the people. They will likely let them live. They need slaves and tax payers.” A grim assessment with a sliver of light.
“Thank you.” I reached out and grasped his forearms. “For everything.”
He nodded. “I would stay if it were up to me, but Dawn would never allow it,” he said.
I smiled, thinking of their love for each other and not wanting to be parted. “As she shouldn’t. You belong together.”
He frowned. “Last chance to come with. I can bring Stryker and my healers will tend to him around the clock.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know your brother as well as you do, but I know he would never leave his people without a leader.”
Zander smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re right. He would go down with the ship.”
And that’s what I would do. Stryker and I would do it together.
Dawn peeked her head eagerly out of the carriage and I stepped over to her.
“It doesn’t feel right to leave,” she said.
I nodded. “It never will. But you must.” I gave her a hug and she held me for longer than would be considered normal.
“Tell me you won’t hate me for this, tell me you forgive me for being selfish,” she whispered in my ear.
I laughed. “Oh Dawn, there is nothing to forgive. This isn’t selfish,you have to think of your unborn child and the people of Faerie.”
She nodded, determined.
Zander slipped into the carriage and then they left before nightfall. They were going to leave before the castle doors were locked and reinforced. Dawn said they would take a path that was lesser known and avoid the giant army, bypassing them completely.
Once I lost sight of their carriage I sighed in relief. Knowing that she had the Shadow Heart and would try to somehow speak with the Winter princess brought me relief. I’d done all I could for my people, and now it was again up to the Summer champion to help them.
I informed the household staff that a ten-thousand-troop army was coming to attack the city and then relieved them to go home and be with their families. I told them not to fear, that the men taking over the city were not likely to hurt them but that it would be unsafe to flee as they could be found on the road.
I then called in the heads of Stryker’s army. All through the night we formulated our defensive plans and then sent them out to get the troops in position. It was going to be morning soon and the men finally left so I made some tea. I wouldn’t be sleeping at all, not even a wink. After drinking a cup, I poured a second and slipped into Stryker’s room. The healers and physicians had been dismissed to be with their families as well, so it was just us. I set the tea down on the windowsill near the bed and slipped into the covers next to him, resting my head onto his shoulder. The soft thumping of his heart against my cheek brought me comfort.
“I dreamed up my future husband when I was seven years old,”I told him, praying he could hear me. “He’d have blond hair, be super nice, and know how to make chocolate cake.” I laughed at the seven-year-old’s version of my Prince Charming. “But instead I got you.”
