Page 189 of Gift from the Source
That’s all the time they need to get ready for battle.
“Full scale protocol. That’s the provision you touched on with me. If the palace was ever under attack…”I say to Tillman.
“Correct. We didn’t go over it nearly as much as I should’ve. This isn’t what we thought would happen after you cleansed the Binding. And after last night with everything we recovered, my mind had gone in a totally differentdirection.”
As did mine. I went from fearful to hopeful, back to scared, to a little more confident we’d be making the first move in a short few hours last night.
Now I’m facing the opposite. I thought we had more time.
Malvolio is smart, calculating, and as much as I loathe admitting it, he doesn’t make rash decisions. Never has. He’s planned to a T for many, many years.
I thought this blow would force him to retreat and spend time attempting to build back what he lost. Instead, we hit him where it hurt. Now he’s losing it. He’s going to do everything he can to get it back.
This rage and impulsive action are a deadly combination.
“You know the basis of what’s important. The five families, well, three of them, will report to the palace immediately. The E.F. army will be preparing to protect the palace and the Ruling Nexus with everything they have. What will surprise you the most is what you’ll see once we get outside. Those calls we made started a chain reaction. Everyone has someone else they have to call. There will be small teams left behind to guard the stations and academies, but for the most part, the entirety of our army will be outside the palace, waiting for Aunt Rory’s and Uncle Theo’s orders,”he tacks on just as Aurora and her men round the corner into the Central foyer.
Gone is the sweet and warm motherly love that radiates off her. Marching toward me is a warrior. A Matriarch readying herself for battle to protect her people, her family, her throne.
Part of me desperately wants to tell her she should stay here, get to safety, and not put herself in a position to fight. But that request would fall on deaf ears. Not only that, but she’d reverse the logic. She’d tell me if anyone should get to safety, it should be me. The Awaiting Matriarch.
And I would never. This is my responsibility.
I’m so much more than that now…
Her eyes collide with mine and her fear is masked with determination. I share the same sentiment. Out of duty, we wear our brave faces, but in our hearts, the fate of our family beats wildly.
We’ll fight together. We’ll win this together.
I give her a firm nod when she approaches me and our shoulders brush as she moves to stand at my side. The confidence mixed with apprehension rolling off her washes over me. She doesn’t have to say it. I know she has the same thoughts as I do.
We don’t utter a word. We sit in our silent agreement with each other.
I don’t have to turn around to recognize the footsteps practically running down the hall. His worry slithers across my chest and panic sets in for me.
“He has to go. He can’t be here for this.”
“We’ll talk with him in a minute, princess,”Corentin says, stopping me from moving toward Gaster as he rushes into the foyer.
It’s as if he knew we had incoming. And he probably did. He was more than likely counting the seconds.
The ward around the Central foyer doors vibrates subtly and we all turn toward the entrance. The three of the five council families appear first. Their heads turn to the side hall and they look shell-shocked as Pran, Dillon, and Maxima appear alongside a guard.
“They know the truth now?”I ask.
“Yes. After I called my dad, he called them. The truth of the other two families would’ve been relayed. I’m sure the news was also delivered with a threat of what would happen if they betrayed us now,”Corentin says and as I gaze across the faces of the remaining five families, I know that statement is true.
I’ve known from the time I read their files, the Drovers weren’t betraying us. I don’t believe they even want this responsibility, but out of duty, they comply. Now their faces are set in fierce determination and hurt, but there’s also a finality in their eyes.
After this fight, they’re going to step down voluntarily.
The Tealwaters and Alewoods have pinched looks about them that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I follow the instinct and cast my gifts across them. Their auras are darkened, and their thoughts spill the truth, bringing my anger to the surface quickly.
It’s not a betrayal like the Everglows or Gales committed but a betrayal to how they’re supposed to carry themselves for the realm. They’redisgusted they’ve been called here, and they believe they’re better than this. They shouldn’t have to lower themselves to actually fighting on the front lines.
I’ll give them one chance to change that tone.
“Tealwaters. Alewoods. Anything you’d like to say?” I grit out. None speak, rather just pull their shoulders back and my eyes narrow.
