Page 90 of Calling of the Crown

I let my eyes scan the sea of faces. “I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to go back into hiding. But I also know that doing so would leave so much behind. We’d be leaving Ambrolia and the world I know it can be. A world where everyone is loved, welcome, and thriving.”

I thought about all the instances in my own experience that proved Land and Water Fae were more than our differences.

I thought about the time Akira sat across from me as I told him the truth about who I was. The Raven Fae had walked around the table and hugged me, telling me that my being Water Fae changed nothing. I was still his friend, and he loved me.

I thought about an even more precious confession—the moment Rune returned to the room after he’d discovered who I was. He’d told me I was still me, the girl he loved, and when I tried telling him that Water Fae took everything from him, his words still played loud and clear in my mind.

“Human or not. Water Fae or not. It doesn’t matter. You are still Bria, the girl I am desperately in love with. So you’re wrong when you say Water Fae took everything from me because you’re Water Fae. You’ve given me everything. You are my everything.”

I thought about the time my friends and I came together on Myra’s back lawn and agreed to attain peace. We’d banded together, excited for a world where the two groups could exist.

I thought about that recent night when Rune surprised me with an evening of painting while surrounded by my friends. My many wonderful, loving Land and Water Fae friends.

With a hard swallow, I continued, “We’ve already seen Land and Water Fae join forces, and that could be everyone’s future. Harmony. Life without fear. Friendship. Peace unlike any before. It’s possible. It already is. It’s the world I live in, and I can tell you that it’s worth the remaining trial. A world where all Fae can exist with each other in complete camaraderie is worth fighting for. That is the world we can create if we band together and fight.

“So I ask you, dear Fae of Morardia, what shall you decide? What world do you want to live in? What world do you want your children and families to exist in? The human realm where you have to hide and live a life of pretend, or do you want to fight to make Ambrolia our home once more? A home like the one I know it can be.”

“A home,” Rune said, leaving his throne to stand directly beside me. “That you won’t have to fight for alone.” Rune nodded at Ardley, who stood in the back by the door.

I glanced at Rune in silent question, because while none of the generals knew my move about giving Water Fae a choice, I knew nothing about what Rune and Ardley clearly had cooked up. Rune merely smiled at me in response, so I faced forward as Ardley opened the double doors.

Yasmine, Aiden, and Talia walked into the room with their heads held high, and following them were hundreds of Fae, each in their Fae form, and I realized with an amazed gasp that they were all Land Fae. Men and women resembling animals—foxes, wolves, lions, reptiles, birds. Others that looked more human, as typical for the Elemental Class. All walked in with determination painting their faces. The trio of women led the large group of Land Fae into the back half of the room, and Ardley left the doors to stand beside Yasmine, Aidan, and Talia.

Before I could even begin to process what I was seeing, Rune said, “This war is no longer Land Fae versus Water Fae. It’s now those who want to rebuild in the name of peace against those who seek vengeance by blood. You will not be alone in this fight. The Land Fae you now see are joining our fight, ready to defend and protect the future Bria has been speaking about. We fight for love, for new life, for freedom, for Fae. All Fae. Will you join us?”

Emotion clogged my throat as I took in the newly arrived Fae. Just like that, our numbers had doubled and our arsenal had grown. All of these Fae were here, and according to Rune, they wanted the same thing we did. They wanted to start over. They wanted to live in harmony here in Ambrolia. All of these strangers believed in the vision we had and were willing to sacrifice their loyalty to Elias and their lives in an effort to see that dream come to fruition.

Now it was up to the Water Fae to make their decision.

I scanned the Water Fae army, waiting with bated breath to see what they’d choose.

Suddenly, a hand rose and a voice rang out from the Water Fae crowd. “For Ambrolia!”

Another hand appeared in the air. “For Ambrolia!”

Hands began to shoot into the sky from both the Land and Water Fae gathered, until every person pumped a fist into the air and chanted, “For Ambrolia!”

I took a deep, shaky breath as awe, thanks, and hope hit me all at once. I had to blink a handful of times to keep the joyous tears at bay, and Rune intertwined his fingers with mine as we both stared out across our people.

Finally, I called, “This fight will be the hardest one yet. But I know we can do it. For Ambrolia!”

Chapter Forty

I SETTLED ONTO THE COUCH in one of our sitting rooms, and Rune pulled me into his side. After yet another long and trying day, we’d gathered with all of our friends to unwind. Everyone, including the twins whom we missed dearly, were spread throughout the room, and Khalani, being the ever amazing and thoughtful creature she was, had prepared drinks and snacks.

I pressed into Rune as the twins climbed into our lap, but I focused on the three girls across the room, who were busy pouring themselves drinks. “Thank you guys for finding and gathering all those Land Fae to join us.” I elbowed Rune and added, “I can’t believe you knew about that and kept it a secret.”

It turned out that was the task he’d sent the trio of women and Ardley on—recruiting Land Fae to join us.

He chuckled and rubbed at the place I’d jabbed him. “It was a surprise.”

“We just wanted to do our part in helping to end the war,” Aidan said as she gathered her tea and came to settle on the rug near Jesiah and Akira’s feet. The two men sat across from Rune and me on the mirroring sofa.

“We knew there were other Fae out there who wanted this,” Yasmine explained, perching on the arm of the couch above Aidan. She made sure her fox tail draped over the edge and not into Jesiah’s lap. “It was just a matter of gathering them and convincing them that committing treason would be worth it.”

Bassel, who sat beside Akira, laughed. “I’m sure that went well.”

“Actually, it was pretty easy in some cases,” Ardley revealed. He leaned against the wall on the other side of Khalani and Jayanna. “Way more than I expected, at least. Some could care less about what other Land Fae, including Elias, thought. Others took a bit of convincing.”

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