"My childhood friend."
The idea of a High Fae traveling alongside Drak struck me as absurd, to say the least. Still, the confidence in Fiona’s voice eased my concerns. I doubted Drak would harm her friend; on the contrary, if I knew him at all, he would do everything possible to provoke her simply because she was High Fae.
Well, that wasn't my problem.
"Come. We have a lot to do." Fiona pulled me by the hand toward my cabin. I gestured for Kroshak and several of my captains to follow.
Inside the cabin, Fiona wasted no time recounting everything they had discovered during their brief stay in Ceilte.
"Lord Fenric orchestrated the attack," she announced. "He used Alasdair’s absence to stage a coup. He made us believe the Lord was behind the attack alongside the Autumn Court, but the truth is—he’s missing."
"He kidnapped the Lord of Ceilte?" Uthak asked, incredulous.
"We don’t know if it was a kidnapping, but he arranged matters so that Alasdair would vanish. Then he seized control of the castle and, before anyone could grow suspicious, he marched here."
"And what’s the situation now?" I asked, resting a hand on her thigh.
"Leone contacted one of our spies in the Autumn and Winter Courts." A flash of pure rage ignited in her eyes. "Alasdair went to Grìosach searching for my brother and walked straight into an ambush. He's being held prisoner there."
She sighed and lowered her gaze to her hand resting atop mine. Something held her back; hesitation lingered in her expression, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I gave her thigh a light squeeze, and when she looked up, I offered a small nod, urging her to continue.
"Leone is going to march on Grìosach," she began, licking her lips. "I… damn it." Her voice faltered briefly. "I feel terrible even asking this. I know this isn't your war—that you have no obligation to help us—but…"
"We’ll help," I said without hesitation.
Even though the High Fae of Ceilte had been our enemies for millennia, Fiona and Leone were different. And above all, I knew my female would never allow her brother to face the enemy alone. I allowed myself, then, one moment of selfishness.
And, truth be told, my warriors would never pass up the chance to sink their claws into a prim and proper High Fae.
"You are mistaken, akra’yn," Kroshak intervened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "This war is ours, too. It has always been our destiny to fight for freedom and for what we believe is right. The Okshai people never abandon one of their own—and you are one of us now. Curse or no curse."
Fiona's eyes filled with tears, but she forced them back with a discreet sniff.
"Maka’ri. You are the best thing that ever happened to me." She looked at each of us with warmth, even those she didn't yet know well.
My heart swelled with pride and affection for this fearless female, and I silently thanked the Great Mother for the blessing of having her by my side.
Uruha huffed, though even the grumpy old female’s gaze softened when it landed on Fiona.
"Brusak ashkre," she scolded, peering at Fiona over her nose—the same look she used to give me whenever I got into trouble as a child. "Now you just need to be less sappy and more ork."
Fiona didn’t take offense. She laughed instead and, with her eyes still shining with emotion, squeezed my hand.
Everything was going to be alright.
Chapter 29
As soon as we were alone after the meeting, Malek swept me into his arms, forcing me to wrap my legs around his broad waist. His strength still amazed me; after all, I was over teen feet tall now, yet he lifted me as though I weighted nothing.
His warm lips found mine in a heated, needy kiss. His desire ignited mine, and I responded with the same urgency, feeling the longing that had built over the last few days.
"You left me," he growled against my mouth, fierce.
"I know."
Malek carried me toward the bed, holding me tight against his muscular frame. He laid me gently upon the furs and hovered over me, never once breaking the connection between our lips.
Those last few days away from him only confirmed what I already knew: I loved him. It wasn't a sudden infatuation, but a connection forged by fate, revived by time, and sealed by a blood bargain. Now that I had him beside me, I never wanted to leave again.
