“You vile male!” Queen Maewe screeches, drawing my attention to her.
A dark storm cloud forms above her head, crackling with energy.Ah hell!
Ruel doesn’t look one bit worried about what Queen Maewe is about to unleash. He crosses his arms and watches her with a smug expression. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Shadowbeasts are approaching.
“Behind you, Rik,” Miranda warns Rikkon.
I put Vivi down and hold my sword at the ready. She widens her stance, and her energy builds around her frame. Her power is like a summer breeze to me, but it also gives me goose bumps.
“Don’t worry, son. They’re not going to harm you. The queen, I’m not so sure about,” Ruel tells Rikkon.
Queen Maewe’s eyes go round. “You are behind this!”
A different Nightingale approaches us. He’s freakishly tall—taller than Rikkon—with midnight blue skin and short turquoise-colored hair. The shadowbeasts let him walk unbothered, so I guess he’s on Ruel’s side.
“Am I?” Rikkon’s father arches an eyebrow, answering the queen’s accusation.
A soldier strides in our direction. There isn’t one speck of dust or blood on him. It seems to me he didn’t lift a finger during the battle.
“The enemy has retreated, Your Majesties,” he announces.
“Excellent,” Ruel replies.
Ronan, Saxon, Manu, Cheryl, Karl, and Solomon join our group. In the chaos, I lost track of them, but I’m relieved they aren’t hurt. The tension in the air increases exponentially, especially from Manu. She glares at Queen Maewe openly. Hell, I hope she doesn’t do something stupid.
Silence reigns supreme. I suppose we’re all waiting for Queen Maewe’s next move. I hate that our fate is once again in the hands of this bitch.
“What are your orders, my queen?” the soldier asks.
“Return to your station. It seems you weren’t needed after all.”
The soldier narrows his eyes slightly, letting me know the queen doesn’t have his absolute support. I bet there are more people in Aquila who would love to see Queen Maewe lose her head, starting with Vivi’s father.
“My father is aware of King Titus’s treachery. He’s called for a grand council meeting,” the Nightingale who joined us chimes in.
“That’s unnecessary,” Queen Maewe replies, looking bored already.
The male seems to grow taller. “Forgive me, I misspoke, Your Majesty. He’s not asking for your permission. There will be a grand council meeting whether you choose to attend or not. All the other rulers have confirmed their attendance save for the heir of Tenebris.”
From the corner of my eye, I catch Saxon mouth to Aurora, “Burn.”
“Where will the grand council meeting take place?” the queen asks.
“I suggested here, Your Majesty. But if you’re not willing to attend, then we can easily host it in Lynx.”
Queen Maewe lifts her chin. “No. We’ll have the meeting here. We’re the kingdom that Titus attacked, after all. The meeting will take place tomorrow. I don’t want to give that snake time to regroup.”
She glances at Miranda and Rikkon for a second, her eyes brimming with hate. Then she switches her attention to Vivi and me, and disgust shines in her gaze. I throw it right back at her. She snorts in derision before she vanishes from sight.
“Rik, you can put me down now,” Miranda tells Rikkon.
“I don’t mind carrying you, my love.”
“Aha! I knew you were sniffing around her skirt,” Saxon pipes up.
I shake my head. Only Saxon would open his piehole in this moment.
Aurora hits his chest with the back of her hand. “Sax, we talked about that.”
