Page 39 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
The note stopped there, so I flipped to the next one.
Henry,
As we all know by now, you and your band of heathens called the Trusted are relatively useless when it comes to this mission. So, in the spirit of teamwork, I am going to give you three clear instructions. Feel free to share this with Perdita Harligold.
First, you need to immediately set sail for Isle Shifter. I know someone there who can forge paperwork for Captain Harligold that will allow her to pose as a fae merchant ship. In five days, she must be at the Isle Healer docks. This will require a certain royal ship being sunk, but there should be no problems after that if the captain maintains her flare and stops by the apothecary in the coastal town.
Next, you will remain on Isle Shifter and look for a male by the name of Olivander Adams. He is the current second in command of the rebel group that has been stirring in Betovere. The last I heard, he lived in the northern part of the Single Lands. He sells pottery by day, so try the major market there. Lian Youxia must stay with the pirate captain, but stress to her that she should not be seen by Asher.
Finally, tell the demon prince that he should stay the course that has been presented to him. The task being asked of him is vital to our future. Do not allow him to look for Asher.
Sincerely,
The Oracle Who Is Saving Our Asses
“Is it from the Oracle?” Lian asked, trying and failing to peer over my shoulder. I simply nodded to her before gazing at Genevieve one more time.
Turning, I lifted the missive above my head, waving it towards the captain with a sultry smile. She promptly grabbed the dagger strapped to her thigh and hurled it at me. Lian stepped in front of me instantly, raising a shield of air. I peeked down at her just in time to catch her winking at the furious captain.
“Okay, lovers. No squabbling. It seems we have a plan.” My words most definitely registered with Captain Harligold, because she rolled her eyes and held out her hand for the note from Nicola. I sent it to her in a beam of light, watching as it appeared above her hand.
Delight eventually pulled up the corners of her mouth as she read, then she tucked the note under her arm and signed something to her crew. They cheered loudly, all six of her crew members copying the signs she responded with as they shouted, “Pockets full, souls empty!”
Bizarre creatures.
With that settled, I turned to Genevieve. She stared on at the pirates, clearly judging and assessing them. Lian seemed to be doing the same, her eyes squinted at the captain in particular. I, on the other hand, could do nothing but longingly look at the mortal princess.
She had not spoken to me since she screamed in my face at Pike. After the battle of Behman, she had been soaked in mudand bleeding from her bicep, but otherwise fine. Physically that was. Her shouts of fury about her dead soldiers that Ash had killed were hard to silence. Even worse was that when she finally stopped yelling at me, she ceased speaking to me altogether.
After that, Genevieve had remained with a still-healing Shah. The mortal queen had barely survived the battle in her kingdom, but once Ranbir was able to stabilize her, she had immediately begun plotting revenge. There was a fury in her that seemed palpable, and Genevieve’s anger only further stoked those flames within Shah. I had portaled the two of them back to Caless, where they both turned their backs on me and did not look back.
Now there Genevieve stood before me, like my every desire made tangible.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, unable to resist.
“You know what. I was ordered to give you this note. Plus, you told Shah and I that if we were ever contacted by this female then we were to tell you. This is me telling you, Firefly.” Her casual shrug did not match the fire within her eyes. It was as if she were attempting to be unfeeling but could not quite stifle her passion or anger.
“No, I am asking why you have comehere.Why not just send me the note? You have the pencil that is laced with my essence.” In response to my suspicious tone, the princess bristled. As if my words stoked that flame within her.
“I am here for my brother, you idiot. Not for you, if that is what you think. Your psychotic pet princess slaughtered my people, but she is also the key to saving my brother. I know that, just as Nicola Salvatore does. When the time comes, I will kick her ass. For now, my brother is my priority,” she seethed. Her speech had Lian moving closer to my side, ready to stand up for Asher.
Torn was the only way to describe how I felt. I loved Genevieve, despite my deeper desire not to. She was like a knife to my gut. I could not pull it out, for fear of bleeding to death. But gods did it fucking hurt.
Then there was Asher. She was our queen, even if she did not see that yet. Her rule—her survival—was more important than most things. Her pull was magnetic and all-encompassing.
Gravity. Asher was gravity. She was the compass pointing us the way. The wind directing our sails. Bellamy might wish her to be solely his, and she might claim to only be her own, but she was all of ours. Born to rule and lead and conquer. Hearing her slandered, it stung.
Yes, she was a beast of a creature. Asher was sarcastic, sometimes brash, and hard-headed. There were many faults that perhaps one could point out. Beyond those though, was a brave and fierce female who would sacrifice herself so that beings like Genevieve and I could live and love. For that alone, she was worth following. Worth standing up for.
“If anything, we are all Asher’s pets, my sweet curse. And I would watch my tone, if I were you. Your people were sent to fight ours and Shah’s. They were there to destroy your friend’s kingdom. Asher saved more than she slaughtered,” I leveled. Genevieve’s brow pinched and she opened her mouth to speak, but I quickly cut her off. “You want to come? Then come. But do not for a moment pretend that you do not need Asher just as much as we do.”
“Curse? How dare you!” she shouted, her finger jabbing into my chest. “And I do not need her, I am a queen!”
“You are a spoiled princess. You would not understand half of the things she went through,” Lian cut in, her words as sharp as a blade. She stepped between us, swatting Genevieve’s hand away from me. The princess’ eyes went wide, Lian’s words clearly sinking in. “When your parents torture you and thendemand you say thank you, come talk to us. Until then, shut your pretty little mouth and make yourself useful.”
With that, the mortal princess turned and stomped away. I had no idea where she would go, but I was glad for the space. She aggravated me to no end, but damn was she beautiful. Seeing her look up at me with her jaw set in determination had nearly undone me.
“Lian, Nicola says we are to go to Isle Shifter. From there, I will take Genevieve and search for a male named Olivander. Apparently he is the second-in-command of the fae rebels,” I whispered to her.
