At the front of the battle is Nafre, my old friend and Matriarch. With white dreadlocks pulled high on her head, she doesn’t look like the woman who helped me pack for the peace summit all those months ago. Here, she’s dressed in armor, calling for more soldiers, and pushing back against the Humans with a thick sword.
“They got your letter.” Fee gasps, holding her mouth. Her fingers are black with soot. “They heeded our call.”
“You sent for them?” Kaden searches my eyes.
I sniffle. “Thea said to trust in allies I once trusted most. They were all I could think of.”
A pounding on the shield has us looking up. Taylay stands there, a sword in one hand, a bag across his hip. He’s dressed to fight in leathers and a vest, with more blades on his belt.
Kaden quickly lowers the shield and my old friend freezes, the scene behind him utter chaos. The Blackwoods Coven—a coven that never knew how to fight—are chasing the Humans off, striking them down with sure hits.
I sit in shock and disbelief.
“Witch.”
“Dark Fae.”
Holding my father, I look back to Tay. He looks older in the months we’ve been separated and his judgement and fear still cut me deeply. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it—or forgive him entirely for shunning me.
But I don’t care about that right now. Baris is growing colder, his breaths staggered. “Can you heal him?”
Tay looks down at me, pauses, before his hands light with that familiar soothing blue light. Kaden and Mal hold my father as he pulls the arrow free. The rest stand guard, protecting us from a rogue Human, but most are concentrating on the Witches.
Tay pushes against the wound and my father makes a weak noise of protest. “You’re a queen now.”
Carefully, I watch his hands, seeing the copper band on his finger. “And you’ve bonded Cully.”
He smiles softly. “I got your message.”
“And you came.”
Tay exhales quietly. The wound closes before my eyes, his magic much more powerful now than it used it be. Relief swells and I drop, body spent.He’s going to be alright.“Of course. You needed us. So, we’re here.”
“I needed you before,” I reply timidly. “And you weren’t there then.”
“I know.” The blue fades away. The wound is gone, with a fresh pink skin. “And for that, I have no way to apologize. What I did was unthinkable.” He rubs his nose, and I gesture for Layla. Reid places her on the ground and Tay begins to work. “It was just?—”
“Fear,” I supply, shrugging.
“Fear.”
Layla’s wound closes quickly but she doesn’t stir. Reid brushes the hair from her forehead, and kisses her brow.
The battle has quieted, and Nafre walks over to us, her sword painted red. It’s a sight I never thought I’d see on the Matriarch.
“Dark Queen.” She smiles, nodding in deference to me. My mouth parts. As close as we were growing up, Nafre has never deferred to me. “Dark King.”
“Matriarch,” Kaden says coldly. “I understand you came at my queen’s request, but do not think I will not slice either of your necks if you insult her again.”
Tay winces.He deserved that.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She waves her hands to the other Covens, their Matriarchs coming to our side. “We are here to be used at your disposal. We only wish for peace.”
Baris’ eyes roll behind their lids and when he sits up slowly, I jump to hug him.
ThankSetihe didn’t take him.
Kaden nods once, curling his fingers at his soldiers. “Good. Gather your people. We’ll meet at the Black Palace to discuss strategy.”
If anyone hesitates to go to the Black Palace, a place we were all told only existed in our nightmares, no one shows it. The Witches stand strong and proud, following Zeke and Samkien who direct them away. The Dark Fae seem giddy for extra hands.
Tay rubs his forehead. “And who is this now?”
Reid snorts, clapping him on the shoulder. “Witch, have you missed a lot. Let me grab my girl, and I’ll fill you in.”
With Layla in his hands, the young Fae begins telling Tay all oursordid adventures. Mal follows, letting Fee rest on his shoulder. Her legs is burnt, and she looks exhausted.
Before we leave, Kaden lifts my chin and smirks. “Ready to follow me to victory, Dark Queen?”
“Always.”
