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‘You want to saddle us with a spy?’ Ectheon’s sister asked. He shot her a glare.

‘We’ll take it. I’ll have ships ready for you at Trader’s Cove in two weeks, three if the weather proves capricious. But they won’t be able to land on Tivala’s soil undetected. The only ports suitable for our galleons are occupied by Tangra.’

‘Transport the army to the smuggler’s island. I will have boats ready for them there,’ Irsha interjected, silencing the room. Shocked faces turned in his direction.

‘That we can do.’ Ectheon’s waspish grin told me he was still hedging his bets. He was helping us, but in a way that wouldn’t burn his bridges with Tangra.

‘Tain?’ I turned to the massive orc.

‘My warriors will escort you through the steppe. Trader’s Cove is still under my control. You’ll board safely,’ he answered, leaving two unknowns on the table. First, whether Talena would agree to attack Lumivitae; second, how in the damned void could we destroy those gates?

‘Tova, with Lilliana back, how fast can you decipher the schemata?’ I asked.

The dwarf shrugged. ‘Two weeks give or take,’ he said, his gaze finding Roksana as some unspoken communication passed between them. The growl rose in my throat.

‘You will show your findings to me, Master Orenson. Me, not the queen or the mage council.’

Tova nodded. The way he avoided my gaze didn’t bode well. Tova was ready to die for his family, and in this equation, I knew my place.

‘I’ll let you know Talena’s decision the moment it’s made,’ Arean said, his eyes riveted to Sana. It helped that he respected her, but the worship in his gaze made me curse the Dark Fae and their matriarchal customs.

‘Good,’ I affirmed, looking at those who would help me reshape the future of Dagome. ‘I need all of you ready in a fortnight. At the new month’s beginning, we’ll stand under the walls of Tivalaran and remove the threat from our lands once and for all.’

Gods, is history doomed to repeat itself? Years ago, I’d made a similar promise. Now Młot was dead, the Lumivitae had betrayed us, and the future of my kingdom rested on the shoulders of a dwarven engineer and the woman I loved.

‘I’ll head off. If you don’t mind my mages opening the portal in your gardens, that is,’ Arean said, and I nodded my agreement.

I addressed those who used more mundane means of transport. ‘Stay as long as you need before the journey back.’

A dry cough interrupted the shuffling of feet. An elderly duke broke the silence, pinning me with his insistent stare. Was he the author of the report I’d received just before heading into this council meeting?

In a moment of inspiration, I added, ‘If anyone needs aid in recovering from wounds or ailments, we have a healing spring in the dungeon now. You are cordially invited to avail yourselves of its revitalising properties.’

‘What?’ Surprise and embarrassment flashed across Sana’s face, and I hoped one day my woman would understand that her power was not a curse but a blessing.

‘The soldiers clearing the debris reported their cuts and bruises healed almost instantly once they touched the water,’ I replied, reaching for her hand. ‘We had to stop the stream of overeager volunteers that injured themselves clearing the rubble.’

‘Well, let’s try it.’ The Tain moved first.

The rest of the room bid quick goodbyes and followed him. Sana bit her lip, her cheeks reddening when I pressed her to my chest.

Will you let her come to me? Cinared’s voice in my head was calm, but the feelings beneath the surface were anything but. His cries in my mind as I ripped up stone after stone to rescue her had nearly driven me mad, but with each roar my strength had doubled, until the rock turned to dust beneath my fists.

Not tonight, but I give you my word. I will bring her to you in the morning, I answered, reaching for Sana’s hand and pressing it to my lips with barely contained yearning.

‘What was that for?’ she asked with a smile, shoulders relaxing as the room emptied.

‘That was for supporting me during this difficult meeting.’ At my slight nod, the last guard left the room. I walked to the door and locked it from the inside.

The outside world ceased to exist. It was just Sana, me, and a polished oak table.

‘What are you doing, Rey?’ she asked, eyes narrowing.

The frown between her eyebrows demanded to be kissed. Her skin, soft from the bath, was smooth against my lips. I picked her up, and Sana yelped, her legs instinctively wrapping around my waist.

‘Do I need to explain?’ My voice sounded husky, its guttural, needy cadence laughable in any other setting.

Sana’s eyes widened. She glanced at the door, then at me. A slow smile spread across her lips, and the breath I’d been holding finally escaped.