He cleared his throat. “You’re right. I am the demon king, but my loyalty is to this realm. It has always been to this realm, these people, this court. The power that runs through my veins cannot change that. And I would gladly give up every bit of it if it means keeping all of you safe.”
Taveon glanced at Bree, and she nodded. They’d discussed her idea on the way here, and while it made her gut feel like a mess of writhing snakes, the decision was his. It would likely hurt him. It could take so much from him. But he hadn’t even hesitated when he’d agreed to do whatever it took to save his people.
Even if he never sat on a throne again, Taveon was a king.
He pulled in a breath. “While you draw the demons toward the Faerie Ring, Bree will siphon my power into the stones. It should be enough to end this.”
The crowd began whispering. Bree looked toward the dais where Norah stared at her with pinched brows. She understood what Taveon would give up in order to do this. If Bree was right, he would lose his demon magic. His enhanced strength would leave him, as well as his immortality. The next time someone tried to stab him, he would not recover.
If the dark fae did not recognize that sacrifice for what it was...well, then there was no convincing them to put the anger aside and fight together.
Norah clapped her hands to settle down the crowd. “Quiet. We don’t have much time. The demons are out there on that field. We need to draw them toward the Faerie Ring before they resume their attack on this castle. That is an order.”
Bree held her breath, hoping. Norah had given the court an order, but that did not mean they would listen to it. They could rebel. The throne room could erupt into fights. They could storm back out of the hall and stand atop the battlements while they waited for death.
Every hope they had of winning should be shattered in a single moment. All it would take was one shout, one fist pound in the air, one rebellious fae who wanted to burn it all down.
One of the fae near the front reached into his scabbard and drew his sword. He held it up in the moonlight pouring in through the windows. “Together, we will fight. We cannot let these demons take the fae realms.”
A moment ticked by. Tension pounded Bree’s skull. And then the throne room exploded into cheers. Fae held up their swords and shouted at the ceiling, faces lit with determined rage.
Bree smiled up at Taveon, but the expression was short-lived. His face held a tense smile, but his eyes were as dark as night. Through the bond, she could feel the truth of him. He thought he might die.
“I won’t let that happen,” she whispered fiercely to him.
“Oh, Bree,” he said sadly. “I don’t think you’ll have any other choice.”
32
BREE
The three armies of the fae clogged the secret tunnel that led out of the castle. At the front, along with Norah, Eurig, Taveon, and Rafe, Bree nibbled on her bottom lip. They’d beaten the Master back here with their agitated flight through the sky, but it wouldn’t be long before he showed. As it was, the army still camped in the field. Torchlight flickered across an obsidian sky. They weren't paying attention to this tunnel. Yet. But one look in this direction, and that would be it.
Of course, that was what Bree wanted to happen. They needed the demons to spot them. Just not before most of the army had exited the tunnel. Otherwise, their forces would get split. Half of their men would end up trapped inside the castle while the other half waited beside the Faerie Ring.
“Come on,” she whispered, her skin leaping off her bones. “We can’t wait any longer. If the Master gets back, they’ll resume their attack.”
Taveon nodded and ran a hand down his face. “Are you ready?”
“No.”
He sighed and turned to Norah. “Are you ready?”
“Not particularly,” she said grimly. Bree heard her unspoken words all too clear. Norah had brought her forces into Underworld, and she felt responsible for them. If this went wrong, if they died before Taveon and Bree were able to fix the realms, the fae would lose their lives.
“Come on.” Taveon took Bree’s hand. “We’ll go first.”
Steadying her nerves, she stepped out onto the field, Taveon beside her. The demons were far enough away that they didn’t notice—yet—so they inched around the side of the castle in the opposite direction of the camping army. The others quickly followed behind, the shuffled footsteps of the fae ringing loud in the silence of the night.
They crept through the darkness, winding a path around the northern side of the castle and through a valley hidden in the hills. The trek was longer than she liked. It felt like a wolf was nipping at her heels, closing in fast. Any minute now, he’d chomp into her leg, down to the bone. And the fae would be cut down within seconds.
At long last, they reached the other side of the castle and stole across the northern fields toward the Faerie Ring. So far, the demons still hadn’t spotted them, but it would only be a matter of time. There were no hills or castle wall shadows to hide them now.
They kept running. Her hands pumped by her sides, and the wind tugged at her hair and clothes. With a quick glance over her shoulder, she confirmed the rest of the fae were following. There were hundreds of them running now. Hundreds of fighters risking their lives, rushing through the shadows like wraiths.
And then it came. The single shout from the enemy camp.
Fearful tears burned her eyes as she tried to force her legs to move faster. Sucking in deep gulps of cool air, she focused on the beast inside of her, shifting her hands and feet into powerful paws that punched the ground. From beside her, Taveon’s wings burst from his back as he took to the skies. They rushed forward, leaving the fae warriors to face the darkness coming for them all.
