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“Do we have healers ready to go?” I asked High Lord Tibor Zadik, Endre’s father.
“They can be ready to leave today if necessary,” he replied in a cool tone that made me raise a brow.
Uncrossing my legs, I leaned forward ever so slowly, my gaze never leaving his.“Do you have an opinion you’d like to share with the group?”
Behind him, Endre’s lips flattened into a thin line. But his father replied, “I worry about the optics. The residents of Vaenor have grown used to the army’s presence, and their sudden departure might cause some concern.”
“Vaenor is the most protected city in the Night Realm due to its location. A small regiment is more than enough,” I snapped. Even then, the crashing of the ocean’s angry waves against the sheer cliffs surrounding Este Castle was audible. “The last Vaszoly king ensured that the walls around Vaenor were erected. The castle can hold the people of the city if need be. There is no need to worry about optics.”
Endre and Erik’s expressions did not change, but I was finished with their protests.
“Good, you are dismissed. Begin preparations to depart. I will supervise Desmond’s activities for the day.” Chairs scraped back as my advisors filed from the room, but I remained seated, running a hand over my face when I was finally alone. The beast raged inside me, excited and hungry for blood, and I blew out a tense breath in an attempt to calm it.
Not quite yet, but soon. So soon.
I hoped Desmond was right about Fae being able to wield the magic necessary to move through space and time. After all, Ruslan could. The ability to move an army like that would make or break our war efforts, and if there was a way to work around limitations like speed, I was going to snatch the opportunity.
Once I’d stewed thoroughly on my plans, I departed the council room and wound my way through the castle. The Night Crown that rested atop my brow was askew, but I didn’t straighten it as I walked because it gave me an air of ease that my people needed to see. When I broke into the sunshine outside the castle, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the autumn days spent riding the Northern Route from the Agrenak Mountains with Izidora by my side.
I was her fucking savior, and she’d rejected me for the male that imprisoned her. She should have acceptedourbond, and I would not rest until she knew that was the biggest mistake of her life. I’d show her exactly the price for choosing Ruslan.
Starting with burning the Crystal Realm to the ground.
25
It took an entire fucking week to gather the small force that would penetrate the Night Realm and recapture Princess Gizela. Time that clawed at my waking hours, and Izidora’s too. Her lower lip was cracked and raw from how she’d chewed it day after day, and down our bond, her fear for the tiny princess was like a dagger constantly digging between my ribs. The mate in me wanted nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and siphon away her pain, to soothe her as Kazimir, once again, forced her to relive her trauma.
As everyone gathered in the war tent, my attention drifted to her, standing firm and strong by my side. Her chestnut hair was braided back, armor secured in place, and twin swords strapped to her back. Chin high, she faced our friends and did not waver in the face of what we were about to do.
My fucking sprite.
Drazen, Zuriel, and Gozzak ducked through the flaps andfinallyjoined us. Katrina slipped in behind them and shuffled through the crowded space toward Rares, whispering something in his ear. The three had remained in the Day Realm to do what Drazen called “damage control” while Katrina recovered. Theadded benefit of having them there was that we were able to soothe Queen Viktoria and King Consort Geza through complete transparency into our plans to rescue their daughter from the clutches of the fucking insane king of the Night Realm.
Spread on the table like preparations for a bloody banquet was a carefully drawn map of Este Castle, pinned down in all four corners by large, unpolished rocks. Liliana had worked diligently with Artur to map all the ways in and out of the castle as well as all hidden passages that cut through the walls. She’d guessed at a few rooms where the little princess might be held, marking them with fat red Xs.
“Everyone knows their assignment once we arrive?” I asked, bracing my arms on the table and studying the drawing one last time.
“Liliana, Drazen, Savich, and I will take the Royal Wing,” my mate said, her arms crossed over her chest as she peered down with me.
“Gozzak, Xorrek, Kriath, and I will search the spires,” Zuriel confirmed, his icy blue eyes flashing with determination. He’d revealed yesterday that he could speak with Izidora mind-to-mind, much like we could down our bond. Communication between the three groups thus fell on my mate, and she leaped at the opportunity to ensure everyone would make it in and out safely.
“Artur, Anton, Slavian, and I will search the lower levels,” I stated, leveling a serious look at the two High Lords. Normally, they were trouble, but ever since Béke, the two had straightened out, for the most part. When they heard of Princess Gizela’s kidnapping, both had volunteered immediately. “Once we find the princess, relay the message to Izidora so we can extricate ourselves from the halls of Este Castle. We will meet in the woods outside the city.”
Rares handed out potions, Demon blood to the females and Slavian, and the disgustingly thick shifting potion to Drazen, Artur, and me. Anton, Kriath, and Savich could perform a full shift, thank fuck, into an Eagle and Bear, respectively.
“Everyone ready?” I said, the severity in my tone leaving no room for joking and teasing. We had no idea what was waiting for us at Este Castle – an army, traps, Kazimir with his binding magic. Stealth was of the utmost importance.
I would not let him hurt Izidora again.
One by one, we filed out of the tent and into the autumn night. A shiver wracked Izidora’s petite frame until the group clustered around us, close enough that it would be easier for me to move us all to the woods in the Night Realm.
Gripping Drazen by the arm, I tugged him closer and growled in his ear, “If anything happens to her, you will answer for it.”
My cousin’s blue eyes were hard and his jaw set in a firm line. “Nothing will happen to her. If anything, they should be afraid of her.”
We glanced sidelong at my mate. Her posture was tense, focused, and she nearly vibrated with fury. We could scent it too – sharp, potent, and deadly. Drazen was right; Izidora was not to be fucked with, and it made me all the prouder of how far she had come.
“Everyone grab onto me,” I ordered, holding out my arms. Nearly a dozen hands took positions across my body. Closing my eyes, I sucked in a breath, allowing the black fire in my chest to flare to life as I uttered the words to move us through space and time.
