Page 100 of The Crowned Queen

Araya stared at him. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.” Loren smiled down at her. “We might both struggle with our pasts, but there is no future where I do not stand beside you, ael’sura.” He took her hand. “Especially not when that future involves you walking straight into danger.”

Araya felt the change before she saw it.

The strange presence from her dreams lingered just beyond her reach, watching her with a quiet curiosity that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. It didn’t speak this time, but its scrutiny pressed against her consciousness like an iron weight.

Loren’s shadows felt it too. They clung close to his legs, unwilling to tangle themselves with the wild power that permeated the air here. Even the small one wrapped around Araya’s wrist loosened its grip, creeping up her arm to disappear into the collar of her shirt. It settled loosely at her throat like a necklace, its cool weight resting over the rapid flutter of her pulse.

“Everyone stay close,” Finn said softly, his hand dropping to the hilt of his sword.

No one spoke after that. Even the birds had fallen silent, the vast forest settling into an uneasy stillness. The trees were older here, the road winding through massive trunks spaced further and further apart. Until finally, they parted altogether.

“Oh,” Caela breathed.

Even in ruins, Tirnavel was beautiful. The fae palace had been built into and around the colossal trees, shafts of golden light making the white marble seem to glow.

But the destruction was unmistakable.

Loren stared at it without speaking. Taking in the shattered doors, the white marble blackened and cracked by stolen magic. Soaring windows yawned open to the elements, entire sections of walls collapsed and consumed by creeping vines and wild growth.

“Everyone spread out,” Finn said. “Caela, you and Kai work your way around the western side. Brynn and Naeva will cover the eastern approach with me. I want a full perimeter set with sentry runes before dark. We don’t want the Arcanum to sneak up on us.”

“If they even make it this far,” Brynn said brightly. “The forest might take care of them for us.”

Araya flinched, cold dread slithering down her spine. Loren’s grip on her hand tightened—or maybe her fingers had closed around his, both of them clinging to each other.

“No one thought Jaxon would make it through the Shadowed Veil, either,” she said, the words coming out sharper than she intended.

Brynn’s smile faltered. “I didn’t mean—” she trailed off, swallowing hard. “I’m sorry.”

“We should be prepared for anything,” Finn said after a moment. “Serafina, can you take Araya and Loren and find a place for us to set up camp?”

Serafina nodded. “Of course.”

With the others already spreading out across the overgrown grounds, Araya and Loren followed her toward the shattered doors. Araya shivered, her gaze tracing the cracks running through the marble. It was exactly as it had been in her dreams—down to the glass crunching beneath her boots. Wild magic beat against her skin like a war drum, urging her to keep walking, straight through the hall into the tangled overgrowth that stood between her and the Eldergreen⁠—

“This was the main receiving hall.”

Araya jumped, the sound of Loren’s distant voice snapping her out of her head. He didn’t seem to notice, dropping her hand to gesture at the twin staircases that curved along each side of the hall.

“It’s probably the best place to make our stand,” he continued. “Anyone who wants to reach the grove has to come straight through here — we can pick them off from the balconies above.” He took a half step forward, his gaze lingering on the place where marble gave way to dark earth. “I’ll stand here and meet anyone who makes it through.”

Araya shivered, sweat standing out on her skin despite the coolness of the air. “And where will I be?”

“In the grove.” Loren looked up, meeting her surprised gaze. “It’s what you were going to suggest, isn’t it?” He smiled sadly, an emotion she couldn’t quite name shining in his green eyes. “Shaw wants you—and the power in that grove—more than anything else in the world. If we put you together, he’ll rush straight for you.”

“And hopefully he’ll be distracted enough to make a foolish mistake,” Serafina cut in. “Where were you thinking for camp? The second floor?”

Loren nodded. “There’s a large solar my mother favored for smaller gatherings. Should be plenty of space for all of us.”

“That should work.” Serafina studied the nearest staircase. “I’ll start getting things organized up there.”

“How can we help?” Araya asked.

“I’ve got it.” Serafina glanced back to where Loren had wandered toward the overgrown garden, his shadows swirling around his feet as he stared into the tangled vines. “I think Finn was more worried about giving Loren the chance to react to all of this without an audience. Don’t worry, I’ll scream if something attacks me.”

Araya scowled. “That’s not funny,” she called after Serafina, but the healer was already halfway up the staircase.