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A red metallic cocktail waited for me at the closest end of the table, and Ruslan guided me there, where we stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to command the Iron Realm’s forces. Over a month had passed since I’d awoken, and I still wasn’t quite strong enough to forego the Demon blood cocktails. At least I wasn’t struggling to walk any longer. Now, I was able to spar with Liliana and the others, and I had taken Zuriel’s advice about working more with Ruslan, using our mate bond to our advantage. He’d seemed relieved when I suggested it to him, in fact.
He glanced down at me as if he sensed I was thinking about him. I offered him a soft smile, then grabbed the drink. I twisted the lid and sipped while Ruslan called everyone to order.
“With only a few weeks until we need to make an appearance for the Day Realm princess’s announcement, I want a status report on all facets of the army. While we are in Zheka, I plan on rallying further soldiers in order to prepare for our assault on the Night Realm. It is time we put the Night Fae in their place once and for all.”
The males thumped their chests or the table, sounding their belief in our cause.
“Rares, have you managed to findanythingto help against Kazimir’s binding magic? Ruslan asked, and I turned my attention to the Mage. This point alone had plagued Ruslan’s sleepless nights, the guilt of what had happened to me gnawing at him. No matter how many times I tried to reassure him, he couldn’t let it go. Because of that, he wanted, almost more than anything, to lock the dark magic away to protect us all.
“Not yet. I will keep working,” Rares promised, a tremble in his hands as he braced himself for the inevitable wrath.
To my surprise, Ruslan merely nodded, though his shoulders tensed and a succession of pops filled the silence as he cracked his knuckles. “Drazen,” he said through gritted teeth, and his cousin took his cue to enter the discussion. As the males spoke, I flicked my gaze to Liliana, sitting on a bench in the shadows behind the Félvér. She soaked in every word, a slight pinch between her brows as she concentrated.
I should probably do the same.
Refocusing, I spotted carved stone pieces moving about the map of Északi as one of the commanders I didn’t know relayed information about new tunnels beneath the Agrenak Mountains. “These will allow us direct entry into the Night Realm, thoughthey are more narrow than previous ones due to the time constraint.”
“That’s fine, so long as we can converge quickly outside of them,” Ruslan said, rapping his fingers against the table.
“With four exit points, it should speed up the process, yes,” he replied, straightening.
Anton and Slavian provided further updates regarding the Félvér shifter units and their progress in learning to fight in their fully shifted forms. “It would be helpful if Rares could find a way to extend the life of the potion. Randomly shifting mid-fight and swinging your dick around on the battlefield instead of a sword isn’t going to do anything but get you killed,” Slavian commented.
Anton snorted. “Speak for yourself. My dick would intimidate anyone who laid eyes on it, no matter the circumstances.”
Slavian, Drazen, and Ruslan rolled their eyes while Liliana and I sniggered.
“Let’s be realistic,” Drazen said, shooting a look at Anton.
He merely shrugged. “I am. I know you don’t roll that way, Drazen, but I’ve caught you looking at Steel before. You have to admit little Anton is a force to be reckoned with.”
A laugh burst from Liliana before she slapped a hand over her mouth to silence it.
Ruslan sighed and cracked his neck. “If we can get serious again, we still have much to discuss.”
“Fine,” Anton huffed, raising his hands in surrender.
Gozzak looked at Xorrek, a question etched into his red eyes. “I wonder if our magic would work with these too?”
“What’s your magic?” I asked. I possessed an extensive knowledge of Angel magic, both from the books Ruslan had given me and my lessons with Zuriel. But I realized I’d neverlooked much into Demon magic despite how many of the blood drinks I’d consumed.
“We both have blood magic, Future Empress,” Xorrek stated. “That is how we were able to help you get strong again.”
My mouth popped open. “I didn’t realize it was from magic. I thought Rares did some weird shit to make it work.”
The Demons’ lips twisted into wry grins. “Not every Demon has blood magic, but it is one of the more common gifts we possess. Its power varies by the wielder, but in my case, my blood has an enhanced ability to heal. During the Great War, I took a sword to the chest that would have killed any other Demon, and yet the moment I pulled it out of my chest, my veins clotted and muscles knit. I returned to the fray a few minutes later,” Xorrek replied, like what he’d experienced was an everyday occurrence.
A newfound appreciation for the two bloomed in my chest. “Thank you for lending me your magic then.”
“Anything for the cousin of Zuriel,” Gozzak said, and the Angel dipped his head in acknowledgement.
Rares tapped a finger on his chin, considering their suggestion. “I have a few ideas and enough blood at the moment that I shouldn’t need another offering from you to test it.”
“See it done,” Ruslan said. “Now, is there anything else?”
A female I wasn’t familiar with raised a few questions about her unit and another about the housing situation. Absently, I dipped into my well of magic and stoked the white fire there. A thought of hatred popped into my mind, and the crystal flared with a wave of pitch black. The heady power rushed through my veins, and I allowed myself to sink into the dark embrace.
“Izidora,” Ruslan said with a little force, and I blinked, reverie snapping. He offered me a twisted smile. “Are you ready to go?”
