Minaeve’s powers grew over time, granting her an immortal lifespan, but she was not strong enough to eliminate the wilt without the Heart of Valdor. She had to bide her time and wait for a shifter to unlock the barrier to the Heart once more. Once Skylar Cathal completed the final trial, Minaeve reclaimed the Heart and fled across the sea to return to her own kind.
Yes, we had the Heart of Valdor.
Yes, we had the power of the mages and hunters at our command.
But would it be enough?
“You are so much like your mother.” My father reached to cup my cheek. His eyes softened for a moment before returning to steel. “Most days, I’m thankful for your courage and kind heart. But this is a time for blood and war.”
I was not trained as a warrior queen, but a diplomatic one. Despite the ongoing struggles with the shifters, I wanted to lead our people, not with fear or power, but love and understanding.
“I still believe a meeting with the current alpha and high king of the fae is a logical first step,” I said, hoping he would hear me.
“Which is why I allowed your message to leave our lands with my signature and seal.”
I studied my father, suspicion prickling up my spine. Whatever schemes were set in motion behind his closed-door meeting with Minaeve and Istar this past week couldn’t be good. And then there were the captured High Fae warriors we’d sent north. What purpose would they serve—somehow bound to Minaeve’s will by means I still couldn’t fathom?
And why was I not informed or consulted?
My father broke the silence settling over the room, turning to Ryder Wyndfall. “What is your report, Captain?”
“Sire,” he answered, “our attack was successful. Although High Fae soldiers arrived, as Minaeve anticipated, we only lost a handful of hunters and mages in the attack, along with some of our infantry. However—” Wyndfall paused, licking his lips before continuing. “We were able to secure the former alpha.”
This was a surprising turn.
“The former alpha?” I asked.
“Yes, Princess. Gilen Warrick.”
I remembered him from our meeting with Minaeve, when we thought she was the high queen of the fae, before the trials began. Power clung to him like a second skin. He seemed untouchable, radiating a presence that others were instinctively drawn to. I recalled that I struggled to keep my composure, stealing the occasional awe-filled glance in his direction.
“He lost the challenge against the current alpha, Skylar, correct?”
Wyndfall nodded.
“How many soldiers did we lose securing him?” my father asked.
It was a fair question.
Wyndfall shifted on his feet. “None.”
“None?” my father repeated.
If I hadn’t been trained since birth to hide my emotions, my jaw would be on the floor.
“Why?” I kept my voice steady, despite all the questions racing through my mind. “Why was it so easy to secure him?”
“He claims that he is willing to provide us vital intel on the shifters and High Fae. He wishes to ally with us.”
“Again,why?”
“He says he no longer wishes to live in the shadow of a female who denied him a claiming mark. That he was humiliated, and has instead chosen to forge his own path,” Wyndfall said. “Our hunters have confirmed the absence of the pack bond. They do not sense the magic. He is alone.”
A shiver ran up my spine. The hunters always left me feeling uneasy. Their existence was born of a dark twist of magic I only tolerated.
“What intel has he given us thus far?” I asked.
“He says that Skylar will return to the mainland and retaliate. That if we accept his aid, he will help us prepare, and we can surprise them, possibly kill or capture some from their inner circle.”
