Dozens of them.
Daegan appears at my side as if pulled by some invisible force and grabs my hand.
One look behind us tells me we can’t escape back that way either. They’re ascending from every angle, surrounding us. Where the fuck did they all come from?
Full of terror for Daegan, my sister, Raef, and Kezra, I meet Daegan’s eyes. I know he’s tough and never cracks under pressure, but I’m still surprised to find him looking so confident. It calms me a little. Gives me a little confidence. His face has taken on a feral, vengeful look, but he doesn’t look afraid. Not one bit. I’ve never seen him afraid, I don’t think.
“Morne,” he says quietly to me, to our group, and it’s layered with meaning. The way he says that single word, it’s as if he believes in all of us, that we’ll all get out of this alive and reunite again soon. I can’t think of any other alternative. He didn’t have time for a pre-battle speech, but that one word and the look in his eyes has us holding our shoulders high again, nodding at each other. Rhydra glances at me, her eyes resolute and determined. Raef wears an eerie, almost evil-looking grin that makes me incredibly glad I’m not his enemy.
The dozens and dozens of elven soldiers are still a safe distance away, but they’ve completely encircled us. I notice one person on a horse riding ahead, heading straight for us. The figure is in no rush, and just two soldiers walk on each side of him.
Daegan and Raef draw their swords, Rhydra draws her staff, and I hold my knives. Kezra flutters close to my shoulder.
“It’s the king,” I announce glumly.
Rhydra stiffens, holds her head even higher, and pulls her shoulders back more.
My father stops a short distance ahead of us. Not too close. He squares his shoulders, glaring down at me. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, what that smug expression on his face is really saying. I am ashamed and full of disgust for ever thinking there might be some good in him.
“Elysande. You’ve come home at last.”
“I will die before I call this place home again.”
The king has the gall to look at me with disappointment. Just a little. “I don’t want it to be this way. Hand over what you’ve come here for, along with the other relics, and your friends may go free.”
“No,” Rhydra says, loud and steady.
“Also no,” Raef agrees. “You really need this big of an army to take on five of us? I’m flattered.”
My father pinches his brows together, assessing us. Surprise lights his expression for a flash. It’s more than I’ve ever seen from him, I think.
“A fairy,” he mumbles. “Interesting.”
“Yes, I am.” That’s all she says, and she says it proudly.
He shakes the surprise away. “Hand it over, or it burns.” I watch as he pulls something out of one of the saddlebags, then cold dread washes over me.
“No,” I gasp. But I won’t take a step forward. He’s a fool if he thinks I’d give up everything for this. I’m not that selfish. But I hate him for putting me in this position, for forcing me to choose.
“No?”
I meet Daegan’s eyes as he lets his hardened expression fall for just one moment, flashing me a supportive glance. It’s gone in an instant as he faces forward again.
“Okay, then.” My father hands the small item to the soldier on his left, giving him a curt nod.
Sorrow and anger fill me as Lemakis is torched before my eyes by a powerful burst of elf fire. A faint, hollow, wailing fills the air, and my insides twist, threatening to come up. I can’t rip my eyes away. I look on in horror as the flames quickly consume every leaf. Then everything stills.
The sound will stick with me forever. I’m sure of it.
Lemakis is dust in the soil of the pot, which the soldier now tosses to the ground. It doesn’t even break, just thuds and rolls away. I look at the soldier,tall and pompous and hateful, and then to my father. Fury and rage consume me as I look at him. Whatever love I used to hold for him has long been extinguished.
Lemakis was my mother’s.
My father releases a sigh of disappointment, like a parent whose child has acted out one too many times. Then he glances at Raef with a flash of annoyance. “We heard rumblings of full-grown dragons nearby. Interesting news, indeed. But nothing we haven’t squashed before.”
Daegan tenses with anger beside me. We all remain planted and don’t address the king again.
“We’ll do this the hard way, then.” He looks around the clearing at the small army surrounding us, as if to reiterate what we’re up against. “I would have intercepted you inside, but my army and I were only just returning when I heard word you were sneaking into the castle.”
