Page 46 of The Light Falls
“I need you to hear me without losing your shit,” I tell Rivan. “When Meri became queen, I saw an opportunity for you to break free from your agreement. But I knew you wouldn’t do it unless you had some motivation, so I sent a hellhound to look for the Phoenix.”
“You did what?” he roars, standing to glare down at me. “Why?”
Kaius moves toward the door, but I stop him. “There’s a seal on the room. Nobody can hear anything.”
Relieved, he comes back and sits across from me.
I return my gaze to Rivan. “I also asked Lucifer if he could lend us Callyx to help. He did.” Hopeful eyes turn in my direction, but he remains silent. Almost as if he’s afraid to ask. “They found your father.”
He drops to the chair. “He’s alive? Anyone else? My mother?”
Damn, I really need a drink for this conversation. “I’m not sure about her, but I can ask. Brixton walked into the war room with the hellhound. He thought he was a spy.”
Rivan shakes his head in disbelief. “Wait. What are you saying?” His eyes beg me to take it all back, but I can’t. “After everything that happened last time, he’s going to war? He’s aligned with Fisk and the Water Fae?”
“Yes. He is,” I answer. “I saw a platoon of elite Phoenix myself. Fire drakes, too.” My eyes meet Meri’s and silently convey a message. She stands and circles Rivan’s finger with hers. “The Phoenix have been replenishing their numbers this whole time. According to Tarquin, the hellhound, there are thousands living on the dark Fae side.”
Rivan sways on his feet. “I don’t believe you.” He points a finger at me. “There must be another explanation. Nyssa told me the phoenix were decimated, and the remaining few left Fae lands.” His hands go up to grip his head. “I need to get out of here.”
Striding to the door, he slams it open and storms out.
One of the guards peeks his head in and looks for Meri. When he sees her and Kaius, he dips his chin and closes the door.
“Is this because I was crowned queen?” Meri asks in a shaky voice.
Sharing a glance with Kaius, I shake my head. “No. This has been in the works for years. They were simply waiting for the best opportunity to strike. Nyssa was the one thing holding them back. Once she was gone, they must have immediately moved to put the plan into place.”
Meri drops her head in her hands. “When you said I’d have to fight for my crown, I didn’t think you meant literally.” Raising, she looks to me for answers. “What if I gave them rights and land? Do you think that would satisfy them? Or at least open it up for negotiations?”
I can’t help but smile at her willingness to give them the respect they deserve. “We’re going to try everything but war. Under Nyssa’s rule, conditions got worse for them. They are entitled to a lot more than they’re getting from the Fae.” I stroke the hair back from her cheek. “We’ll pull in whoever we have to for advice. You have more support than you realize.”
“Don’t you have training?” Kaius inserts.
Meri looks at me for the answer.
I nod in agreement. “We know Camon’s a spy, but there are others. Since we don’t know who they are, you need to keep to your regular schedule. Go to training. We’ll stay here. I picked up a lot of troop- and supply information I want to share with Kaius.”
Meri moves to the closet and comes out a minute later wearing a troubled expression and workout gear that makes me almost swallow my tongue. This is what she wears for training? Tiny shorts and a cut-off top?
I clear the jealousy clogging my throat. “Keep this between us for now. We’ll figure out when to bring in Solandis and the others.”
She nods and heads toward the door.
I groan. That trainer better be a damn eunuch.
Kaius grabs a notepad and pencil. “Let’s lay it out.”
Sealing the room again, I lean forward and take the pencil out of his hand. “You have a problem. Apparently, you—Kaius—was Fisk’s grandson and one of the leaders in the rebellion. And twin to Brina, Camon’s mate. Fisk knows he’s dead and you’re an imposter. That puts a huge target on your back.”
He scowls. “How the hell does he know?”
I explain what I overheard Fisk tell Camon. “Apparently, this is the form Kaius died in, but it’s not his original one.”
He nervously runs a hand over his head. “What’s his original?”
“I don’t know his entire lineage, but his grandfather is top of the fucking food chain,” I reveal with a grim smile. “Fisk is a full-blood cirein-croin and one scary old man.”
Vargas blanches. “Shit. How do I explain all this to Solandis? She’s going to kill me.” He stares down at his fingers. “What do you think my original form looks like?”
