Queen of Blood and Vengeance (Secrets of the Faerie Crown #4)

58. Arran

58

ARRAN

Veyka had chosen a unique blend of elemental and terrestrial styles for our rendezvous with the Aquarians. It was still winter, so she could not discard her leather entirely. She wore embroidered leather and wool sleeves that covered most of her arms and tight-fitted leggings that disappeared into her boots. But the gown she wore was made of layers and layers of iridescent gray fabric the glinted in the sparse winter sunlight we’d been granted. An improvement over the driving rain of the day before, at least.

But it was that transparent gown that gave her away. There were pockets concealed in all that drapery, but once the communication crystal started to glow, there was no hiding it.

“You still have them,” Mya breathed in awe as Veyka pulled the palm-length white crystal out of her pocket.

“Ours was broken,” Mya said, leaning in to examine the crystal. “Thousands of years ago, the rulers of each kingdom possessed one. They used them to communicate across continents and even—”

“Across realms,” Veyka finished. “Remarkable.”

It was remarkable. Objectively. But remarkable had faded to normal and often downright dreadful, given the current circumstances. There was only one reason that either of our Knights would use the crystal—something very good or something very bad.

“Speak,” Veyka said, her eyes fixed. Lyrena stepped closer. I held my ground at Veyka’s side.

Several heartbeats of silence passed, but the crystal did not flicker or fade. Finally, a voice emerged.

“Your Majesties,” Gwen’s voice stuttered out of the crystal. “Arran? Veyka?”

“Guinevere!” Veyka gasped, halfway to a laugh or a sigh of relief. “Gwen, I am here. We are here. You may speak freely.”

That was debatable. But the look I tossed my mate was lost by her concentration on the crystal. Her eyes wrinkled in excitement, her lips tilting in the first real smile I’d seen her wear in days. She missed her friends.

I’d been so focused on keeping her hope alive, on retrieving the terrestrial army, that I did not think about what this separation meant to her. She’d regained Guinevere, only to see her go again. She’d never been parted from Cyara, not since she emerged from the water gardens after her father, Uther’s death.

Veyka was measuring the remains of her life in breaths, and the majority of those were separated from the ones she loved most. Fuck, my heart ached for her. And for myself. When that crystal had begun to glow, all thoughts but one drained from my head—the grail.

But it was not Cyara whose voice spilled from the crystal

“Elora has found the elemental army,” Gwen said.

Veyka’s eyes flew to mine, a mixture of relief and guilt clouding the blue irises. She carried the guilt for what had happened in Baylaur close to her heart. I had not told her that I nursed my own share as well. If I had not lost my memories, or if I had chosen to believe in Veyka again sooner, we might have made it back to Baylaur in time to prevent disaster.

But her soul was already fracturing under the strain of responsibility. I could carry my guilt on my own, rather than burden her with it. At least for now. I stepped closer to her, leaning over the crystal.

I listened as Gwen detailed their condition and number, explaining that they were now camped in the valley on the other side of the mountains from Eldermist. A short march to the rift that would take them into Annwyn, were Veyka unable to open a portal rift for them.

Veyka waited as I clarified a few points, but I knew which question came next.

“What about the humans?” Veyka asked.

The crystal caught Gwen’s heavy sigh. “One detachment of humans joined ranks with the army on its march here. The others…”

“Tell us,” I said, my mind already racing ahead. There was not enough time to integrate human and fae forces to fight together. But we could still be strategic with how we deployed the forces of our steadily growing army.

A growing army. An army that could face the succubus—and maybe prevail. Or at least stall them long enough for Cyara to return with the grail.

Gwen hummed from the other side of the crystal’s connection, the sound infiltrating my thoughts. “They’ve called a council of sorts in two days’ time to decide.”

“To decide what?” Veyka asked in disbelief, her blue eyes wide.

“Whether to aid us in the fight against the succubus.”

Veyka blinked. When her lids lifted, her eyes burned with ire. “We are at the Crossing now. We answered a summons to come to the human realm and aid them . Terrestrials, elementals, and Aquarians. And they are still trying to decide whether or not to join us?”

“Aquarians?” Gwen’s voice dropped.

“Later,” I cut in before Veyka could lose her temper entirely. Communication crystals left something to be desired where nuance was concerned. The Gwen that had left us in Eldermist was a different creature than the one who’d traveled with me to Baylaur. She could not handle the weight of Veyka’s emotions. I needed Gwen in control—to convince the humans to join our army. To save my mate.

I kept my voice crisp and authoritative. Commander to lieutenant. “Gwen, you will convince them. In two days, I expect an updated report. Troop strength, disposition, rations, and marching speed.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Two days.”