Page 249 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

I lifted a brow. “Almost?”

He shivered and suddenly gaped as if he’d caught himself saying too much.

I tipped my head back and smiled. “The thing fears something. Something grave I gather. I thank you, soldier.” At the snap of my finger, a shard of ice pierced his chest. I stood, levelling a stare on my favourite prisoner. “It will bring you a few tailed friends to keep you company.”

Mal had pointed a scowl at an empty spot on the ground. “Why did they want the Esmeray diaries if this thing is of heavens?”

“I don’t know, but nothing surprises me anymore.”

“So Demir is still alive.”

“Not sure, Mal. The green beasts do look alike.” I pointed my chin to the dead Isjordian. “Could have easily mistaken it for one of the others.”

He swung an arm around my shoulders. “We’re a good team.”

I scoffed. “I thank you for the moral support.”

He bowed his head a little. “My pleasure, sister-in—”

“I’m still married to him, Mal.”

“I thought—”

“The paper is still in my drawer. In one piece.”

He didn’t say anything. But I think he knew. He knew why I hadn’t torn that paper yet.

We walked back to the meeting room. A Medi healer was already tending to Cai’s wound while Alaric kneeled beside him, and from the way his mouth moved rapidly, I’d imagine he was nagging at him for getting injured.

“Someone hand me a map of Valda,” I said, taking a seat.

Cai perked up, pushing the Medi healer away to frown at me. “Valda? Why Valda?”

“According to the soldier, the Olympian sceptre piece is there,” Mal explained, plopping beside me.

“I’m getting it,” I said, and everyone suddenly shot up and crowded me. “If they cannot feel a trace of it then they will stop trampling over my lands.”

Alaric shook his head. Different from the rest, there was a strange worry on his face. “You cannot go to Valda Acme.”

Odd. Valda Acme was part of our most ancient traditions. To make the climb to the highest point in Olympia and pay respect to Nubil and his greatness at the gates was a ritual not a single Olympian, old or young, had ever abandoned. Cai had made the climb twice. Nia, too. As queen, I should have made that journey the moment I wore the obsidian crown. Before today, I’d rather die with a potato sack on and let the Midworld have their laugh than bow before gods.

“Eventually, I would have made that trip, Alaric. It is our tradition. Remember? The same ones you love respecting so much.”

The thrum of his heartbeat picked up and the air around me stirred. “You don’t understand, Snow.”

That made me frown. “Either make me understand or enough with the nagging.”

Thora shot up from her seat. “Kilian could come with you.” She blinked in everyone’s reaction and slowly sank in her chair. “Or not.”

Alaric nodded nervously. “Yes. Take the boy with you.”

“Visha,” I said, ignoring them all. “Do you have my map?”

“What map?” Eren asked, coming inside the meeting room. When he took note of Cai, he rushed to his side and kneeled before him, a hand on his cheek. “What happened to you?”

“Do I still look handsome?”

My brother blinked at him. “Yes.”