Page 68 of When the Moon Met the Sun

To my surprise, Aurora let out a sharp laugh.

Once she caught her breath, she blurted out, “Let’s be real—you can hardly even wield a sword!”

Offended and bristled, I let loose the grip on my fire zirilium until a ball of blue flames sat in the palm of my hand. I could see the reflection of my flames in her icy blue eyes.

“While that isn’t even remotely true, I don’t need swords anymore. A lot has changed, Aurora.I’vechanged,” I said icily.

A beat of silence passed between us, so I tried to mend the gap. “I’ll make sure you can stay here. You’ll be safe. But I have to go tell the others about all of this.”

Aurora’s hand reached out and gripped my arm tightly before I could even stand up to depart. “What happened to you?” she asked, her voice quiet and slightly fearful.

I gently broke free of her grasp, standing up as I responded, “I finally found where I belong.”

***

“But whydoall of this? We had finally agreed on peace,” Byn asked, not for the first time.

The first thing I did after helping Aurora get dressed in some of my old clothes was find Byn. Fortunately, he had already gathered the Valwain, plus Laurence. He pulled us into one of the privatewing’s meeting rooms, and I just started explaining everything Aurora had told me.

“It’s my fault—I didn’t realize my father was using our marriage as part of a grander scheme. I really thought he was capable of change, but this simply proves he isn’t. Now it makes sense why he dismissed everybody from the room when he made Teagan his proposition about Byn marrying me, why next to nobody was allowed to see me off, and why there was no one on my side who attended the wedding.” Then, I shrugged and added, “Also, he’s simply power hungry. He always has been. I think it runs in his blood at this point.”

It’d been a half hour since I found Byn and the others, and we were still figuring out how to process this information. One thing that surprised me, though, was how easily Byn and the Valwain took my word to heart. They didn’t question me, or second guess me in any way.

It left that warm feeling in my chest.

Byn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I honestly didn’t think we would have to face battle again so soon.”

The energy in the room shifted as everybody remembered what the last battle had cost Byn, his sisters, and the entirety of the South.

Their king and queen.

Byn cleared his throat, his kingly mask falling back into place as he straightened up, then turned to Teagan.

“I need you and Lychen to go ahead and scout out our side of the border. Find a place for us to set up the army’s camp—somewhere in Wittuck Woods, where they won’t spot us as easily from the sky,” he said. Teagan nodded, placing a fist over her heart and holding it there.

Byn turned to Chess next, making eye contact as he addressed each member. “I need you to get all of the trokavs ready. As many as you can, from any town you can send word to in time. I have a feeling the North will beextra brutal, and we’re going to need all hands on deck.”

Following Teagan’s lead, Chess nodded, then placed his fist over his heart.

Addressing Quinn, Byn said, “Get our armies ready to fight. Armor buffed, weapons sharpened, sun stones charged up—the whole ordeal. We’ll discuss strategy when we arrive at the border.” Quinn mimicked Teagan’s and Chess’s movements.

Turning to Ezra, Byn’s look softened as he took in the male who was as close as a brother. “Ezra, I know you won’t like this, but I need you to remain here. Somebody has to keep an eye on Margo in case… in case we don’t all make it back. The South will need her.” His voice cracked just a bit as he spoke, but he recovered quickly, clearing his throat.

Ezra opened his mouth to argue, but Byn held up a hand and said firmly, “This isn’t up for debate. Besides, you’re not trained for the front lines, brother. Leave this part to us.” He offered Ezra a smile, which Ezra meekly returned.

“I’ll guard her with my life,” Ezra said finally, dipping his head, then placing his fist over his chest, just as the others had done.

Faster than I could process, Margo pushed herself into the room, obviously having been eavesdropping.

“I want to help! Byn,please!” she cried out, running to him and tugging on his hand.

Byn kneeled down to her level and took her gloved hands into his. The size difference was astonishing—she was so small for her age, yet she had such a big heart, wanting to help her family and friends in any way possible.

“Margo, you have aspecialmission, one only the best little sister on the continent can accomplish. While we’re gone, I need you to make sure The Haven, Cairnyl, and all the people in it are safe and cared for, alright?” he asked, his voice soft and gentle. “Can you do that for me?”

She sniffled and wiped at her eyes before any tears could fall. She nodded, then leaned close to his ear and whispered something.

His face lit up as he listened, then he nodded at her encouragingly. “Go ahead,” he said to her.

---