"They're dead!" I turn to Tavian, my wrath pouring out of me as I misplace it onto him. "You said she was alive. You gave me hope."
He pulls me into his arms and though my flames singe his skin, he doesn't let go. I breathe in his scent, cling to his chest, and let the fire in me die as sobs tear through me. I hadn't realized how much I needed that hope until now. Until it was ripped away from me.
When I have myself under control I pull back to look at him. "I thought you would know if she were dead?"
"I would. I can't explain it, but this does not make sense. We need more information. All hope is not lost," he says, wiping a tear off my cheek.
"Dum spire spero," I whisper. "While I breathe, I hope. Ari always said that. She always had hope. Always believed things could improve."
"Do not yet speak of her in the past tense. We will discover the truth."
Something shifts in the air. I pull back from Tavian, and see that we are surrounded by men in red, their armor shining in the sun. Their weapons pointed at us.
Levi stands at their head. "Well, well. When I heard Kayla Windhelm had finally returned, I couldn’t believe it. Had to see for myself. But here you are. Alive and well. Took your time answering my summons, didn’t you?"
I clench my jaw, filling with rage. "You murdered Fenris and Ari."
"Now, now. It wasn’t murder, but justice. Arianna was the Midnight Star. She was the reason for the Druids’ return. And Fen was Fae all along. His wolf was the Spirit of the Earth."
I flinch. "That’s not possible."
Levi smiles. "Oh, but it is. Our mother turned him when he was a babe, you see. I knew he was Fae from the beginning, but only recently did I discover he was Druid." He tilts his head at me. "Why the long face? With the Midnight Star gone, the Druids will soon return to slumber, and then we shall have peace once more."
I spit at his feet. "There can be no peace under your rule."
Levi rolls his eyes, then looks at Tavian. "And who might you be?"
"A traveler," he says. "I saved Kayla in the Outlands."
"And I assured him he would be well compensated," I add.
Levi nods. "You have my thanks. Kayla is a valued blacksmith." He motions to his men. "Now, I’m sure you will follow us quietly. It would be such a shame to upset the townsfolk."
I draw my sword. "We leave. Now."
Levi chuckles. "If you try, my men will beat you. They will cut into your friend and do far worse to you. I’ll make sure my entire garrison gets a turn. Who knows, maybe I will even partake at the end."
I glance at Tavian. "We can’t surrender."
He looks around, at the traders running their stores, at the wives drying their clothes, at children playing with stones. "I’m sorry," he says. "But I cannot fight here. I cannot harm these innocent people."
I remember last time he shifted, how he attacked without cause and reason. I remember how he almost killed me.
And I drop my sword.
Levi smirks and opens his hand, revealing a vial of purple liquid. "Now, would you be so kind as to drink this? It will help make things more manageable?
I grab the vile and swallow my share, then pass it to Tavian. His emerald eyes are the last things I see before my strength fades, and I fall into nothing.
Chapter 15
VENGEANCE
"They are strong, Ari. Powerful. We are the Fallen. The first of our kind to come to this world. The original cursed. You wouldn't stand a chance against them. Against any of us."
—Fenris Vane
I say goodbye to Es and Pete, and then we march north. Varis does not follow. "This is a fight between vampires. It does not concern the Fae." I try to argue with him. To convince him that defeating Levi is good for all, but he does not listen. In truth, we’ve barely talked since I unleashed the Darkness and burned down the grove. And we barely talk now. "Goodbye Arianna. May we see each other again." Then he leaves, flying off on Zyra into the sunrise.
It takes a day to reach the outskirts of Stonehill, and we set camp in the forest, making no fires in fear of attracting attention. Our army is not great. Only a few hundred. So we will wait for tomorrow, when the rebellion begins.
Fen and I share a tent, but we do not repeat lasts night's romantic interlude, nor do we speak of it. I think, perhaps, we both worry that to do so would be to break the happiness we have found. And so, we simply enjoy each other’s company, joking and laughing, falling asleep side by side.
The next day, I am jolted awake. "Grab your gear," says Fen. "The rebellion started early."
I don my armor and grab Spero, then find my horse. Dean, Asher, Fen and I lead the front lines as we emerge from the forest and onto a hill overlooking the city. The sun has just begun to rise, casting everything in dark orange and leaving long shadows.
We wait.
We wait for the gate to open.
And when it does, we charge forward, shouting battle cries and screaming to the heavens. Our soldiers cut down everyone in their path. Blood and mud slashes through the air. Men and women scream in pain, clutching wounds and dismembered limbs. Buildings are set on fire. Horses lose their riders and flee in panic, trampling people to death. It is chaos. Everywhere. And I can only hope the innocent are safe, for I cannot tell. It all looks like madness and death.
Amidst the turmoil, Fen leads me and his brothers to the side of the castle, to a secret passage behind a waterfall few but him know of. He taps on a rock embedded in a stone wall, and a doorway opens. Quickly, we rush inside, and Fen closes the passage behind us. Dim torches light our way, as we run through cramped tunnels and over small stairs. When we reach a dead end, Fen taps another rock in the wall, and the way before us opens. I cast an illusion on us all, muffling our steps, and we creep into the castle.