Page 153 of Crown of Slumber

I could have taunted her. Said something fierce about how I had won and she would never take what belonged to me.

But instead, I looked on with pity. This woman, this witch, had been so consumed by her thirst for power, that she hadn’t loved anyone other than herself. And for that, I was sad. I was sad for her loneliness, for all the lives she had already destroyed, and for how the world would not mourn her passing.

Her eyes eventually glazed over, and she took one last wet, ragged breath before going completely still.

When I was certain she was dead, my strength gave out, and I sank to my knees in the dirt, my head spinning. I didn’t know how to get back to the mortal realm, but I had nothing left to give. I fell backward, my head meeting the hard ground as oblivion took me.

I had thoughtthe greatest threat to the Summer Court had been my own kingdom. Foolishly, I had believed that with Mother’s death, the Summer Court would be safe.

Stars help me, but I was so very wrong.

As soon as Gorrick told me the news, I was flying down the hall until I reached Mal. He was leaning against the wall with his wings curled up. When I reached him, he stumbled forward and licked my face in an uncharacteristic show of affection.

It almost made me smile. But the circumstances were too dire for me to appreciate it.

“Your home is in danger,” I told him. “Aurelia needs us. Can you fly me over there? Are you well enough?”

Mal’s nostrils flared, and he uttered a low growl before inclining his head in confirmation.

We emerged into the courtyard, and several courtiers and servants cried out in alarm at the sight of the great dragon. Like before, I had to call off the guards before they surrounded him. Mal’s back arched, his wings flaring in warning.

It didn’t take long for Gorrick to join us. He had my armor and weapons, as requested. He glanced at Mal with a dubious expression.

“Sire, I must advise against this,” he said. “You are our sovereign, and you have no heirs. If something should happen to you?—”

“I’m the only one who can get to the border fast enough,” I said, donning my armor as I spoke. Gorrick obediently came behind me to fasten the breastplate. “Mal will trust no one else to ridehim. And I know once I arrive, I can convince the Autumn Court to back down.”

“How?” Gorrick asked, his voice full of doubt. “How will you convince them?”

When my armor was in place, I turned to face Gorrick and offered him a grim smile. “With my charm. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll use my magic.”

Gorrick’s face paled. “Are you certain it will work?”

“No. But I have to try.”

I turned toward Mal, but Gorrick grabbed my arm, stopping me. “Are you sure this is worth it? The princess is not here. Your bargain to her is fulfilled. You don’t owe her anything.”

I stared at him, nostrils flared, gritting my teeth so hard it made my head throb. In a low voice, I said, “Yes, I do.” I faced Mal, who was crouched low to the ground, ready for me to mount. I climbed atop his back, satisfied to note that the sharp scales did not bother me when I was wearing so much steel. “Send our forces to the border. Ride all night if you have to. I don’t know how long I can hold them off.”

Gorrick nodded, his expression tight with dismay. But he bowed to me and said, “Yes, Your Highness. Please be safe.”

“I will.”

Mal didn’t wait for my command before taking off, galloping down the steps and through the trees. When we reached the open plains, he spread his wings and shot forward, lifting us above the ground and into the air. My stomach dipped as we arced through the sky, floating above the treetops and among the clouds. I struggled to hold on, keeping my arms wrapped around his neck. My armor and swords made me so damn heavy that I was sure I would slide right off him.

But Mal was an expert flyer and knew how to keep his rider mounted. When he sensed me slipping, he leaned the other direction until I settled back into place. The wind whipped at me, stinging my eyes even through the visor of my helmet. I found myself laughing as the open sky lay before us. Mal arced and curved, gliding with perfect precision. His wings pumped furiously, pushing us forward with more speed than I had ever known.

It’s no wonder Aurelia loves this so much,I thought,my chest aching for her. I hoped and prayed to all the gods I could think of that she was safe and that she had unlocked her magic.

If anyone could do it, she could.

And in the meantime, I had to protect her kingdom for her. She would have done the same for me if our roles were reversed.

Once we passed the mist that separated the Star and Autumn Courts, the sun filtered through the clouds around me, making my eyes burn for an entirely different reason.

Gods, I hated the sun.

But as the burn intensified, the air began to shift. Power thrummed, tickling my ears, and beneath me, Mal went tense.

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