I nod, not trusting my voice. Because Cierra’s body bleeding out on the ground is enough evidence that he’ll do everything he can for me, even if it means killing someone he’s known for centuries.
What he did to her is clearly tearing him up inside, even if he can’t admit it yet.
“Say you won’t leave me.” His grip tightens until it’s almost painful. “That you’ll never leave me.”
The way he says it makes me scared that if I hesitate, he’ll unravel completely.
“I love you, Aerix.” I keep my gaze fixed on his, praying that my steadiness will ground him. “You’re my family. The three of us. Forever. And I’m never going to leave you.”
He shudders against me, like he needed to hear those words more than he needed air.
“I love you, Zoey.” His grip loosens as he presses his forehead against mine, his body still trembling, even though he’s steadying his breaths. “More than anything. Forever. And I’m going to keep you safe, no matter what I have to do or becometo make sure no one can hurt the only things in the world that matter to me—you and our child.”
His lips move toward mine, but I press a hand against his chest, stopping him.
“Zoey?” he says, a million questions filling the two syllables of my name.
“What did Cierra mean about the wards being broken?” I ask, searching his eyes for answers.
His entire body stiffens, and he walks to the open door, closing it with a resounding thud and using his magic to lock it from the inside. When he turns back to me, there’s something mechanical in his movements, like he’s accepted whatever comes next and has no regrets about it.
I step back, wind stirring around me. “Tell me what’s happening.”
He sighs and runs a hand through his dark hair, conflict raging in his eyes. “The Winter Court launched an attack. Their army breached our borders.”
My blood turns to ice. “The Winter Court? But that means?—”
“It means we stay here.” He moves closer to me again, until there are only inches between us. “The safest place to be right now is here, in this tower, locked away from the rest of the court. The winter fae don’t know this place exists, let alone how to breach it. We’ll stay here together, where the rest of the world can’t touch us, and wait it out.”
I nod, but it’s automatic, as if I’m numbly going through the motions. “And then what?”
His jaw tightens. “And then,” he says carefully, “we’ll figure it out from there. Whatever it takes. But I promise you—I swear to you—that I’ll do everything in my power to keep us safe.”
I want to believe him. But deep, instinctive dread forces me to break away from him and hurry to the spiral staircase leading to the roof, needing to see for myself.
“Zoey!” he calls after me, but I’m already running, taking the steps two at a time.
When I burst onto the rooftop, the cold hits me instantly. Dawn is spreading across the sky, and there, in the distance, cresting over the far hills, is a mass of armored figures. They’re moving swiftly, banners raised high—the Winter Court’s army.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, horror sinking into my bones.
Aerix appears behind me in an instant, his arms wrapping around me. “Zoey,” he says, turning me away from the terrifying sight. “Let them fight over thrones and banners. None of that matters anymore. Not to us. Because you—” He presses his palm against my stomach, his voice thick with conviction. “You’re carrying our future, and we’re going to stay safe in here, together.”
ZOEY
I can’t focuson what Aerix is saying. My eyes are too busy scanning the Winter Court’s seemingly endless army lines as more and more of them crest the hill, my stomach sinking further when I see who’s leading the charge.
Long, white-blonde hair, next to a dark-haired prince, with a snow leopard and cheetah flanking their sides.
Sapphire. Riven. Ghost. I don’t know the cheetah’s name, but judging by how close it stands to Sapphire, they’re clearly connected.
My breath freezes, my lungs tightening as I watch my best friend and the Winter Prince fighting side by side.
The Night Court guards charge at them, but Sapphire and Riven don’t hesitate. Their magic lashes out, water and ice merging in deadly harmony, cutting through their enemies like a scythe. They move so fast it’s nearly impossible to see them.
Aerix places his hands on my shoulders, also gazing out at Sapphire and Riven. “They’re part of your past,” he says. “You’re not that human girl anymore. You’re my consort. You’re carrying my child.” His grip on me tightens. “They’re waging war onourcourt, Zoey. Whatever friendship you had with her is over.”
My chest aches as I look out at them. Sapphire—my best friend, the one who stood by me through everything. I think back to the moment I encouraged her to approach Riven at the bar. How excited I was for her, how I wanted her to find love and happiness with someone who wasn’t Matt. I remember the Winter Court—sitting in that freezing cell, huddled together for warmth, certain we were going to die. How Sapphire held my hand when I was terrified, how we whispered plans for escape and learned as much as we could about her projection magic. The lake trial, watching her nearly drown in those black waters, my heart stopping when I thought she was gone forever. And lastly, Sapphire screaming my name as Aerix carried me away, reaching for me with desperate hands, helpless to bring me back.
