“What is it?” Ure whispered, sniffing the air. “Can you sense something?”
“The opposite,” Kade replied, still balancing the tomb on his shoulder. “There are less scents than there should be. Like the land ahead holds…nothing.”
I squinted at the expanse of bare dirt and grasses ahead of us. The unoccupied land stretched on, winding through the mountains, but there was a humming noise in the air, and an unpleasant metallic taste coated my tongue. I frowned, though I already knew what it was.Magic.
Locke moved in front of Raine, Asher and me, and led us forward. I noted the distinct sensation as if I were moving through a sheet of rain, except instead of water droplets pattering delightfully onto my uncomfortably warm skin, tingles washed over my body making my senses go on high alert. We had to be passing through the illusion Nic and the others had spoken about, which meant things were about to get very interesting.
The air shimmered as we pierced the illusion, and I found myself staring at a hundred armed fae soldiers. They stood in defensive poses in front of seemingly endless rows of small tents like they had been waiting for us.Sweet Toros, there has to be thousands of tents here.We all knew King Chalir would bring a sizeable force, but this was more than I think any of us had imagined. I moved in front of Raine, all too ready to use my body to shield her if it came to it.
“Easy,” Locke said to our group, lifting his hands in a placating gesture.
My throat bobbed as I eyed the soldiers in their gleaming silver armor. Could I sing fast enough to entrance them before they used their own power?
In the middle of the semicircle of soldiers stood a familiar male with sky-blue material beneath his armor and a large image of a dazra etched onto his breastplate. I instantly recognized the arrogant male’s pale gray eyes and his distinct jawline exposed by his helmet.Captain Pezar.
The captain stepped forward, the only fae before us without a weapon in his hands. His gaze went to the tomb and Warrick, and when he recognized my brothers, Raine and me in turn, a smile crawled onto his face. “The escaped assassins. Why does it seem so fitting that you five are among the first monsters to greet us now that we’re in your realm?” He spoke like we’d just made his day. Which didn’t surprise me considering recapturing the monsters who’d escaped execution would likely make him look favorable to his king.
Speaking of…I peered around, trying to glimpse King Chalir and spotted a tent in the middle of the camp that was ten times the size of the other tents.Ah yes, of course.
“You mean his returned guests,” I countered the captain’s statement with a gracious smile. “The incident with our dear friend, Prince Azaren, was merely a misunderstanding. And everything after came down to simple self-preservation. I’m sure you can understand.”
“Oh right, the prince’sfriends,” Captain Pezar said, emphasizing the word ‘friends,’ then his smile fell, and he spat on the ground. “I knew what you were the moment I set eyes on you, and the fact that the prince trusted you simply showed just how ill-equipped he is to rule.”
Raine bristled behind me, and I had to wonder how Prince Azaren had turned out to be a kind-hearted royal when he’d had to deal with the likes of Captain Pezar. The male would make anyone sour.
“And don’t you even think of trying to entrance us with whatever perverted magic you used during the execution,” Captain Pezar went on, oblivious to my scrutiny. “You’ll be down before you’ve even sung your second note.”
I smiled broadly, but I didn’t point out to him that one note was all I needed. One note would be enough to bring on the confusion, but admittedly I would need more than that to fully entrance them.
“We’re not here as a threat,” Locke said coldly. “Go tell your king we’re here on a mission of peace. We come bearing gifts with the hope that we can mend the rift between our kind.”
Captain Pezar stared for a long moment, and then he tipped his head back and howled with laughter. His body shook, and the soldiers around him seemed uneasy.
Locke’s temple pulsed, and for a moment, I worried my vampire brother might simply snap the fae’s neck, but the captain’s laughter eventually died down.
Captain Pezar sneered. “You don’t honestly expect me to believe you’re here for peace after all that has happened between your kind and ours. Especially in light of recent events.”
“It has been a long time since the fae fought against us,” I pointed out. “There have been…developments, since then. King Chalir might think he knows what he’s up against, but for the sake of the thousands of lives that will be lost if it comes to battle, I implore you to advise your king that we wish to speak. Much thought has gone into this encounter in the hopes we can avoid the bloodshed.”
“Lives will be lost,” Captain Pezar agreed. “But the fae will be the victors. Our numbers are great.”
“If you do not announce us, the blame will go to you when the battle turns,” Locke added, his voice so cold even I felt the chill of his words.
Captain Pezar pressed his lips together and shifted uncomfortably under the gaze of the vampire.
Jade took that opportune moment to lick her lips as she stared at the soldiers closest to her, and I had to stop myself from smiling when the soldiers blanched, their grips on their spears loosening ever so slightly.
“Despite what you think, we admire the fae,” Raine said, my lovely dragon predictably stepping to the side, so I was no longer shielding her. In truth, I worried less about her well-being now that she was a monster just like we were, but that wouldn’t stop me from doing everything I could to protect her. “Give us this chance to try and avoid a war that will wound both our kind.”
Captain Pezar’s gaze lingered on her, and it was clear he was displeased about having to make such a choice. As much as I disliked the fae, I could sympathize with his predicament. If he didn’t announce our intentions to his king, he risked being responsible for pertinent information not being received, but if he did and we attacked the king, he’d be the one responsible for jeopardizing the king’s safety. I smiled as I enjoyed the captain’s discomfort. Finally, Captain Pezar dipped his head in agreement, and turned to the soldier closest to him. “Tell the king of our unusual visitors.”
The soldier nodded frantically and scurried off, racing between the tents, and kicking up dust with his boots. We all stood awkwardly as we waited. It was a long while before there was a commotion further in the camp. It was hard to see much beyond the wall of soldiers still in front of us, but then I heard the shout, “Make way for the king!”
The soldiers and Captain Pezar opened the semicircle, moving to the side as King Chalir strode forward flanked by another twenty soldiers who I deduced were likely the king’s personal guard. The guards moved in unison, their armor clinking as they took up their positions behind their king.
King Chalir’s white hair hung loose below his jeweled crown, and he was strapped in fine armor fitting for a monarch. He glared at us with disdain, like we were merely the dirt beneath his feet. It was a far cry from the welcome we’d first received from him in the fae realm.
His hate-filled gaze took in the tomb and then Warrick’s unconscious form, before he turned his attention back to us. Irritation crossed his features, and I couldn’t help but feel the tiniest bit of satisfaction. Undoubtedly, the king had been hoping his army’s presence in our world would remain undetected until the fae attacked and took us by surprise. Luckily for us, they thought wrong.
