“Are you spying now?” Rhodes asked, anger in his tone.
“I don’t need to spy when she screams and shouts at us. Lanya went after her, if that helps,” Slavik added, his tones hushed. “Delphine at her side.”
“The ladies will help her heal as much as possible.”
“Wyn and I…we’re not like that,” Rhodes said suddenly, his voice sounding distant.
I looked at the other man and shrugged. “It would be fine for you to find comfort where you can. Wyn’s a good person. And I guess you are, too.”
Rhodes’ lips twitched at that.
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. However, I don’t think now is the right time to wonder what could come of that comment.”
Slavik snorted and took a sip of his drink. “If not now, then when? You need to find a good woman or a man and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Because you don’t know what’s going to come with the sunrise.”
“I hate that I’m starting to like you,” I said after a minute, and Slavik just beamed.
“It’s not time,” Rhodes said and shook his head. “Might not ever be. I’m not good at figuring out what my path should be, after all.” Rhodes gave me a look, and I shrugged.
“You were meant to be her protector, just like I was. I thought she was yours, as well.”
“I take it you’re talking about the dear Spirit Priestess.” I looked over at Slavik and shrugged. “I thought she was with the Air and Water Wielder, as well. They were a cute couple.”
Rhodes just shook his head as I glared. “I’d watch your tongue,” Rhodes added. “Our king here seems to be a bit growly.”
“Ah, yes, don’t want to mess with the king’s moods. One minute you’re laughing with him, the next it’s ‘off with your heads.’”
“You know, I just said I was starting to like you. I was wrong. I can’t stand you,” I said, grinding my teeth together.
“You love me. And you love all of the people I brought to your side.”
I gave Rhodes a look, and he just shrugged.
“I’m pretty sure half of the people you brought with you are all wanted for some reason or another. Murderers and thieves.”
“Murderers, according to Lore. And that is why you haven’t found them yet.”
“Perhaps,” I said.
“And the thieves? Well, that one’s probably true. As king, you can use your power to get rid of us, or you can wait until you use us and then figure out exactly what to do. Decide if you’re going to pardon those who helped protect the land or seek justice.”
“I don’t know what to think of you, Slavik.”
“Nobody ever does,” the pirate said with a shrug. “But that’s fine with me. I like the air of mystery. Makes the ladies swoon.”
“If that’s what you tell yourself at night,” Rhodes said with a laugh.
“I bet I can make Wyn—”
“I wouldn’t,” Rhodes said tightly.
Interesting.
“What about that Emory? She seems like a firecracker.”
“Emory is a siphon and has not made the best choices in the past,” I began.
“Neither have I. Nor have any of us. But she fought to protect the kingdom and seems to be turning over a new leaf.”
“You’re right,” I said. “She has turned over a new leaf. But we still don’t know what her powers can do. We saw what they did to Zia.” I added, thinking of my aunt. She had looked so shaken before The Gray killed her. I had watched others lose their powers, but none like Zia had. It was if she had lost a part of herself along the way, and I didn’t think I would wish that on my worst enemy. Or perhaps I would, considering that was The Gray.
“Anyway,” Rhodes added, “I think Emory is spoken for.”
I met Rhodes’ gaze. “Lyric and I assumed so,” I said carefully.
“Ah, by the Seer? I approve. She’s very protective for a human,” Slavik added.
“She’s not human any longer,” I said. “But she doesn’t have the power and strength of a Maison either. She’s training.”
“See? You’re adding more and more to your ranks. Beyond just what the perfect Wielders used to be.” I looked over at Slavik.
“You’re right. We made mistakes in the past. We’re probably going to make mistakes in the future. But I hope they are new ones that we can remedy, not a repeat of the old.”
“That is what a good king should do,” Slavik said.
“I cannot believe you guys did that,” I growled.
“Are you going to fight?” Rhodes asked.
“Not now, but when this is over? You and I are going to have a long talk.”
I glared at Rhodes, who lifted his chin. Hopefully, he understood the message. I would be king for now because we needed a war king, but once this was over? If what I thought was coming came to pass, I knew I’d want nothing to do with the throne.
I didn’t think I would be in any shape to be king, nor would I even be a whole person anymore.
“The idea that you guys can talk about a time after the war gives me a little hope. Marginal at best, though.”
I turned to Slavik. “It’s not easy figuring out what’s going to happen after this. I want to pretend that we can decide what’s coming next, but we can’t. And we all know that not everyone will make it out of this alive.”
We were silent for a moment, just drinking, not needing to fill the void.
If you had asked me what my life would look like just a year ago, it definitely wouldn’t have been sitting next to the light prince and the pirate king, drinking mead and staring at the stars while my soulmate slept in my bed, still warm from our lovemaking an hour before. But here we were. And this was the future we had to fight for.
“What’s that?” Slavik asked, setting down his drink. Suddenly sober, I leaned forward and swallowed hard.
“That is a Fire Wielder who doesn’t know what he’s doing,” I said, standing up.
“Are we sober enough for this?” Rhodes asked, rolling his shoulders back.
“I hope we are because I don’t think anyone else is going to help us.”
We were at the far edge of the estate grounds, one where we didn’t have as many sentries because the only way to get to this part from the outside of the estate itself was from The Gray’s lands. And The Gray wouldn’t send an entire army to a small piece of land, so it would only be him or one person at a time. I looked over at the sentries on duty near us. They were still talking amongst themselves.
“We’ve got this,” I said.
One bowed before going back to his post, Wielding at the ready. They would come with us if needed, but for now, I wanted to see exactly who was out there.
The three of us made our way to where the Fire Wielder shot out bursts of flame one after another as if not knowing how to close their hands and steady their palms.
“A former Dane?” Slavik asked, his words slow.
“Perhaps,” I said, dread roiling in my stomach.
My jaw tightened as we looked at the man standing in the field, Fire shooting out of his palms and feet, singeing the earth around him.