“Easton’s right, though I probably would have said it a little nicer,” I said, looking over at my soulmate.
“Slavik doesn’t need nice.”
“I could use a little nice,” Slavik countered, grinning at me.
“Don’t look at her,” Easton snapped, and I held back a groan, rolling my eyes. Oh, good. Just as Rhodes and Easton had become friends and stopped sniping at each other, Slavik was here to make it all bad again. I hoped it was just stress and not that Easton actually thought I had any interest in Slavik. Honestly, that hadn’t even crossed my mind, even if the pirate king did have a whiff of danger about him that was intriguing. And he was quite attractive, but I would never tell Easton that.
“You need to stop fighting,” I interrupted.
“No, I think we need to get a few things off our chests,” Slavik said, ignoring me.
“Fine, but make it quick. We have a realm to fix and to save. So, once you’re done fighting to see who’s bigger, we can make some decisions.”
At that, I threw my hands up into the air and stomped away. Easton just grinned at me.
“I like her,” Slavik said.
“She’s mine.
“I’m my own person first,” I called out.
“Yeah, I like her,” Slavik said. Suddenly, all levity vanished from his face. “Your mother might’ve let me live, but she didn’t do anything for the Danes.”
“We both tried. We didn’t know The Gray and Lore were trying to kill us. I didn’t know The Gray had a foothold in our kingdoms for as long as he did. Nor did I know the true depths of Lore’s wickedness.”
“Maybe you should have known. How the hell were you supposed to keep all of us safe? Your people that you supposedly care about. You didn’t even know who was killing them.”
“We thought the realm was shattering because of the Fall itself. We had no idea that it was being helped along by the knight of the realm.”
“Now you know.”
“And we’re trying to honor the lives that were lost. We’re attempting to make up for the time that we squandered.”
“Maybe. Or perhaps that’s just what you want us to think.” The pirate king shrugged. “I don’t know anymore.”
“Know this. You have always been on the outskirts of the law, even before the Danes. You’ve never been perfect. But neither have I,” Easton continued. “And you saved many of our people over the years, Slavik. But you didn’t see the rot within our world. Your second in command killed hundreds. Just like Lore did. We were both blind to the machinations of those who were supposed to protect our people when we were trying to save the realm. So, get off your high horse and help us. We need help.”
“Please,” I added, and Eason shot me a look.
Slavik’s face was a mask of uncertainty and calculation. He had to help us. We needed many more. Because while those already against The Gray were strong, I was afraid we wouldn’t be strong enough. We had found dozens of strong Wielders along the way, including the Unkindness of Fire. But we needed more. So many more. I knew that our other scouts were also finding people. Soon, there would be no rock left unturned.
But we needed Slavik. We needed everyone he was connected to.
Because we still didn’t know what The Gray had in store for us, or when he would come. Or how we might go to him. Because we needed to make a stand. Soon.
“It’s not just me, you know,” Slavik said. “It will never be just me.”
“That’s sort of the point,” I said, shrugging. “I keep calling you the Underkings, but that’s not really the title, is it?”
“It wasn’t before, but it sure as hell will be now,” Slavik said, grinning.
I watched as Easton rolled his eyes, his mouth tugging into a smile.
“Well then, it seems I should talk with those other Underkings to figure out exactly what our plans will be.”
“Please stop calling yourselves that,” Easton said, a growl in his voice.
I snorted, trying not to laugh. When the love of my life glared at me, I just shrugged. “Excuse me. But you also called him that.”
“He did, really? A king of the Underkings? I truly like that.”
“Slavik,” I chided.
“Okay, okay. I will continue using that term because I can’t help it. It is pretty amazing. However, you’re right. We need to take a stand against The Gray out in the open. Although I don’t know as much about him as I’d like.”
“We’ll tell you all we can. But who can you get to fight on our side?”
“There are a few who, like me, have been hiding the weakest of us. Those that can’t help themselves.”
“And those who have always broken the law,” Easton added.
“It’s true. I mean, why is a rule even there if we can’t break it?”
“However,” I put in, “I will have the final say. I might not be a queen, and I will never be, but I am the Spirit Priestess. I’m the one the fates say will take down The Gray. So, you will listen to me and those I put in command with me. We need your help, but if you become a hindrance, then I don’t want you here.”
Easton just grinned at me. Oddly enough, so did Slavik.
“You have my sword, my lady,” Slavik said, bowing deeply.
“That sword had better be your actual sword, or I will hurt you,” Easton snapped. I threw my head back and laughed, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.
Perhaps it was the absurdity of it all, but I couldn’t help the amusement that burst free.
“We need to defeat The Gray,” Slavik said softly. “Rebuilding what’s left of the realm isn’t going to be my job. That will be of the true kings and queens or whoever’s left in the end. But I fear The Gray has already unleashed far more than we know.”
“The monsters?” I asked.
“They’re everywhere. The realm is breaking, shattering and seeping into the other realms around us. It’s not just the human realm we could destroy in the end.”
“So, all of the dormant monsters are coming back?” I swallowed hard.
“And some from the other realms are coming here.”
“Speaking of, why are you out here?” Easton asked suddenly, his hands outstretched, ready to Wield.
“I was hunting. And I still am. And given that the trees are now silent? I have a feeling we are now the ones being hunted.”
And on that prophetic announcement, a scream echoed from the trees around us.
Chapter Sixteen
Easton
I resisted the urge to push Lyric behind me since I knew she wouldn’t appreciate the protection. Slavik was at her other side in an instant and gave me a look over her head. I lifted my chin and knew that though Lyric could take care of herself, she wouldn’t have to. The pirate king and I would keep her safe.
And if she heard those thoughts, she’d probably hit me with her Wielding herself.
A few other Earth Wielders came up behind us, while Slavik barked out orders to his team.
Our crew came up on our other side.
“They were hunting something, and it’s coming at us now,” I informed our group.