“—this predicament was not brought about by Ophelia Alabath.” He canted his head as he continued, “She was handed an impossible task by higher powers who are twisting the lives of their subjects as if we are nothing to them. Ophelia is the only chance everyone on Ambrisk has of surviving.”
“I am no warrior, but neither am I a threat to your humans.” Sincerity deepened those words, a tone I’d never heard from the male before. “And I have come here to aid in the unique way that I may because this is a problem for all of us. It was caused by Aoiflyn and Thallia as much as Echnid. By Moirenna and Lynxenon, Artale and Gerenth.”
“Aoiflyn may be the fae goddess,” I said in defense of Lancaster, though Goddesses knew why I felt the need to, “but she and her people sacrificed as much as everyone else. We may not worship her for those fae abilities, but we do honor her heritage—the fertility and bounty she blesses Ambrisk with. It is an unlikely alliance, and I understand it is difficult to allow Lancaster to remain here, but the nature of all alliances in the world are reforming.”
Lislee and Willox seemed to consider for a moment. They were not entirely swayed, but they shifted. Closer and closer, they shifted.
Willox exhaled a rough breath. “You said some of the Revered’s councilmen were there when this happened? What about Commander Vincienzo? Where does she stand in this?”
My heart stuttered.
“The commander died fighting to defend Ophelia Alabath,” I choked out. Willox’s eyes turned glassy as he blinked at me in shock.
“The commander died,” he echoed hollowly.
My nod in confirmation was the most soul-crushing motion I’d ever committed. “Some of her last words were telling Ophelia to free the God because she thought it was in the warriors’ best interest, and she did not want the Alabath line to remain plagued by this curse forever, nor did she want Ambrisk’s magic to suffer.”
And that—that was what was needed to sway Willox to ally with a known enemy. The intentions of his commander and the final wishes her brave spirit imparted on us all.
“How did she die?” the lieutenant asked, probably thinking of the soldiers he’d have to notify. Gods, Lyria had just led them to victory in awar. She seemed indestructible, but her death was felt across Gallantia.
I dared a peek at Lancaster, and before I could respond, he admitted, “My queen killed her. And Lyria’s brother got revenge for that blow.”
Lislee gasped, leaning forward. “The Queen of the Fae is dead?”
Lancaster and I both nodded.
“And you are still here freely?” Willox asked him. Another terse nod from the fae. “Why?”
His jaw tensed, and I was about to intervene, but Lancaster said, “Because I have lived a very long time at the whims of others. Now it is my choice to be here. To atone for things I have been forced to do.”
He is still learning what this new world means, Mora had claimed of her brother. For the first time in centuries—in nearly his entire life—he was not solely the Hunter. How would that affect him? Who would he become beyond who he was forced to be?
As if reading the direction of my thoughts, Lancaster nodded softly to me. I began, “There was an ancient line of humans called Bounties who were born with an instinct to hunt and kill fae. It was the original reason the fae became predators to our kind.” I met Lislee’s wide eyes. “Before her death, Ritalia revealed that I am the last of a direct line to the Queen of the Bounties.” I took a deep breath before adding, “Lancaster was bred to hunt us. Only at Ritalia’s command. Now that she is gone, he has free reign over the impulse, but he can still detect us among mortals and warriors.”
“What is it exactly that you want of our camp?” Willox asked, tone dutiful but wary.
“Are you asking us to go to war against a god?” Lislee added.
Those words clamped around my heart. “I truly hope it does not come to that, but we need strong defenders. We need humans who have learned to fight, and we need—” Another glance at Lancaster, and his nod of encouragement had my own chin lifting, a steel brace of confidence stacking my spine. “We need Lancaster to see if there are any other Bounties among your ranks who may excel with fighting stronger opponents.”
They exchanged a glance, a silent form of communication sealing between them.
“We’ll need to discuss this today,” Lislee decided. “There’s a cottage on the lot behind our homes that is unoccupied that you can stay in until tomorrow. Single room—sorry about that.” She didn’t appear very sorry.
I hid my wince, looking up at Lancaster. Every muscle in his body pulled taut.
“And we’ll place a guard rotation at your door,” Willox added with a not-so-subtle glare at Lancaster, now only seeing him asthe Hunter. Annoyance speared through me.
“Trust me,” Lancaster said, inclining his head toward me, “she is the only guard I require.”
The cottage wasin fact single occupancy. With one bed perched beneath the window in the back corner and not so much as a sofa or settee. The front half was barely a kitchen with a dining nook, and a door along the back wall led to a bathing chamber.
“They certainly don’t go for opulence here,” Lancaster grumbled, glaring at the bed.
I sighed, crossing my arms. “Can’t you simply create another one?”
Dramatic as all Spirits, Lancaster slowly looked around the room. “And where exactly would you like me to put it, Santorina?”
