LUCCA
King Ruel brings us to his secret compound in Cliffstrong, which is miles and miles away from Mistral, Aquila’s capital and where Queen Maewe is gathering her forces. Manu and Karl have been here, but they’ve only seen the lab where King Ruel and Castiel, the prince of Lynx, have been breeding shadowbeasts for who knows how long.
His compound is, in fact, a small castle with all the luxuries a king desires. The decoration is different than Mistral’s palace, though. Instead of silver and blue tones, everything is touched by gold and light warm colors. The sun is depicted almost everywhere. Maybe this is a homage to his homeland, the Vega Kingdom.
I just notice what’s impossible to miss. The ache in my chest hasn’t lessened. I’m going out of my mind with worry for Vivi and our baby.
“Can you sense Vivi now?” Rikkon asks his father as soon as we’re all together in his throne room.
“Give me a minute, son. I need to concentrate.” He closes his eyes, and I can actually see the magic gather around his body in a shimmering veil. “Yes, I see her.” He opens his eyes, and I don’t like one bit the concern shining in his gaze. “She’s with Merissaand the human. They’re in Silver Grove, by the ancient mother tree.”
Rikkon’s jaw slackens. “If they’re there, that can only mean one thing.”
“What?” I bark.
King Ruel narrows his eyes, the muscles around his mouth getting tense. “They’ve found the Magna Vis, and they’re going to perform the ritual.”
“Why would your sister kidnap Vivi and Adrian to perform the ritual without you?” Uncle Raphael asks. “What aren’t you telling us, Ruel?”
“I have no idea, and I don’t appreciate your insinuation.”
“It doesn’t fucking matter why!” I yell. “We need to get to Vivi before Queen Maewe does.”
The double doors to the throne room open, and Castiel enters accompanied by a blond soldier and a massive black wolf with blue markings on its face.
“If you’re planning to walk the wind into Silver Grove, you’re too late,” he says without preamble.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Maewe has cast a protective ward around Silver Grove, hasn’t she?” King Ruel cuts in.
“Yes. As soon as she sensed someone had crossed into the sacred land, she sealed it. Queen Merissa only brought a handful of knights with her, hoping to enter the area undetected. Now they’ll be vastly outnumbered.”
Kind Ruel shakes his head. “No, that’s not why my sister only brought her personal guard. She’s counting on finishing the ritual before Maewe gets to them. I’m sure she also cast a protective barrier around the ancient mother tree. She’s an arrogant fool.”
My stomach clenches so hard, it makes me sick. “I don’t accept this. There’s gotta be a way to get to Vivi.”
King Ruel begins to pace. “We can walk the wind close to the wards. I’m sure I can break them with Rikkon’s help.”
“By then it might be too late,” Uncle Raphael retorts. “That’s what Maewe is counting on.”
“I agree with King Raphael,” Castiel adds. “But we’ve discovered something peculiar about the wards.” The wolf whines, and Castiel places a hand on its head. “I mean, Luna did. It’s keyed to prevent anyone trying to break through, except two people—you and Lucca.”
“Why would she do that?” Saxon asks.
“It’s a trap,” my uncle replies. “It doesn’t matter, though.” He looks at me, and I read the resolution in his gaze.
“We’re going,” I finish his train of thought.
VIVIENNE
I fall onto my knees at the base of the hill where the ancient mother tree stands tall because my legs are too weak to hold my weight. Whenever Nightingales are forced to walk the wind with someone else, it takes a toll on our bodies. Queen Merissa knew that very well, and she still ordered her lackey to bring me here instead of allowing me to walk the wind on my own.
“Vivi!” Adrian drops to his knees next to me. “Are you all right?”
My head is splitting in two, but then I have another contraction and the only thing that comes out of my mouth is a ragged scream.
“Get up. We must complete the ritual before your mother realizes what we’re doing.”
