“I could make a portal on top of the wall and we can look for ourselves,” Ava suggested.
“While that’s a good idea, you must save your magic for Igneothenia.”
Minutes later, Percy, Jorrar’s black and white marbled owl, a giant black eagle belonging to one of their soldiers, and a brown and white hawk flew over the wall.
“I’ll let you know what Percy says,” Jorrar said as he stopped his horse next to the group.
They waited in silence, nervous energy in the air. After a while, the animals returned, Percy landing on Jorrar’s shoulder.
“Nothing. He said there’s nothing there.”
“I say we melt it and get out of here,” boomed Aelerion.
Though the animals hadn’t seen anything, Casimir didn’t trust it would remain that way for long. “Maeryn?” he asked.
She nodded and gave orders to her soldiers, forming a line of lava wielding fae in front. The rest of the company backed away and Casimir dismounted, helping Ava down beside him.
“Slow and steady!” Maeryn yelled. “If we melt it too quickly it will come crashing down upon us!”
“She’s something else, isn’t she?” Raine said as he walked up.
Casimir raised a brow. “She’s an excellent leader.”
“And sexy as fuck,” whispered Raine.
The fae aimed their lava along the wall with caution, starting at the top and working their way down. They rotated through the soldiers, giving each other breaks. Earth fae joined, carving out a ditch in the ground to direct the water flow away from the army.
An hour later—the ice now about six feet high—they released the last of their magic to melt what remained, steam billowing into the sky.
Quinn joined, watching the obstacle disappear.
Casimir tensed, peering through the haze as his hand moved to the pommel of his sword. “Let’s see what surprise is likely waiting for us now.”
The last bits of ice melted, the thick cloud blocking their view. But through the fog, a lone figure stood, as if waiting the entire time.
The vapors dissipated, revealing a woman with white hair and blue eyes.
12
Ava sucked in a breath, reaching for the bow across her back, prepared to fight Deidamia. But as the steam cleared further, she realized it wasn’t her.
“Who is that?”
“Valeria,” Casimir said.
The icy wind yanked a strand of hair loose from Ava’s braid—the bite of the cold like a sinister warning—as the ice queen approached, her sharp eyes scanning their army.
Aelerion stepped forward. “Let us through, Valeria. We have no current quarrel with you. We are on our way back to our home.”
The queen sized him up with a piercing glare. She was painfully pale, skin almost as white as her snowy hair. Her icy blue eyes—familiar eyes—held no fondness as she inspected the king.
Valeria stepped forward. “You are in my territory, Aelerion. I suggest you turn around immediately.”
“We do not heed the demands of those who willingly align themselves with the enemy,” Thalia spat. “If you do not stand aside, we will have no choice but to use force.”
Ava’s heart raced as she slowly slid an arrow from her quiver, keeping a tight grip on her bow. Something wasn’t right. A glance at her friends, now tense and prepared to unsheathe their weapons or ready their magic at a moment’s notice, suggested they sensed it too.
“You’re on your way to take back your kingdom, are you not? Do you have any idea what you’re facing? Who you’re fighting against?”
