Page 79 of Songs of Retribution

I chuckled. He would be the one to look a battle in the face and smile at it. "As ready as we'll ever be, I think."

Orman clapped my shoulder then walked into the elves, directing them down the hill and into the lineup to face whatever hell King Carrington had prepared for us.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

LENNOX

The world seemedto explode with the joy and energy of all the beings gathered there, centered on a single idea and surging with hope. It swelled through my chest, making me believe we had a fighting chance. Standing here surrounded by my sister, my Atalla, Sai, and his team—the first genuine friends I'd had in my life—I thought I could float on the energy of it.

But my focus lingered on Elisa, where she sat beside Neia, tucking into her. Sai bent down to shake Neia's hand, and Luz and Orman walked over and spoke with them.

We were all here again.

And we were going to win.

It burned through me like flames ready to pour out with my magic. My powers were still limited from touching the Amentium, and I swallowed as I thought about Father ordering his troops to shoot that horrifying substance at our soldiers. My arms trembled, and Shaan grazed his knuckles over mine.

I lifted my face to find him studying me with so much belief in his expression. He’d always seen me as worthy, long before I ever had. He was so good, and I would fight for our world, yes, but I would also fight for us. For beings like him and me to live as we were, with magic and with each other.

"I love you," he whispered.

I splayed my fingers gently over his cheeks, brought his mouth to mine, and kissed him like we didn't stand before thousands of troops and every political leader I desperately needed to make alliances with. I kissed him like my soul could reach his, and for the first time in my life, I truly didn't care what others thought.

We'd face hell in a short time, and I'd meant every word of the speech I'd given. If I was the last man standing I'd stay, fight, and die. Nothing mattered anymore aside from the truth. Shaan was the greatest truth I'd ever known.

When I pulled away, he smiled at me and curled his fingers over mine, brushing his thumb along my hand. There was a promise in the gesture. If we survived this—when we survived this—there would be no more lies, no more hiding. It would be us together, come what may.

He broke apart from me long enough to approach his mother, bowing to touch her feet then leaning into her embrace when she hugged him. I used the opportunity to speak with Eldrick. He stared out at the mountains’ undulations and the sweeping valley as though he wanted to drink in what might be his last view of the world. "I never thought I'd live to see the Seelie court break."

"Break?" I asked.

He turned towards me. "The kingdom’s heirs have separated from their father. I'd call that a break."

A breath whooshed out of me. I'd not considered the prophecy in some time, distracted as I was with the impending war, but Eldrick was right. The prophecy had come true. The Seelie court had broken. I remembered the Naga cracking a walnut and offering it to me.Some things are better broken.He hadn't promised I'd survive it, though. Perhaps Lira would, perhaps the hopes and dreams we fought for would. My musings reminded me of what I wished to ask Eldrick. "If I don't survive this, but Lira does…"

He frowned but put a hand over his heart. "I will serve Princess Lira as resolutely as I’ve served you. She won't face the Seelie court alone, Your Highness."

Emotions choked my words back, but I swallowed it down. "Thank you, Sir Eldrick. I'll never forget your loyalty and the sacrifices you've made on the Seelie’s behalf."

"I can say the same to you, Your Highness." There were no more words I could craft, so I bowed and returned to my place in line.

When Shaan joined my side again, he clasped my hand, and we watched the horizon that our soldiers looked out to, waiting for the Seelie army’s first sign.

Lira stepped up beside me, her gaze focused in the distance as well. "Promise me something, Lennox."

"I will." I knew I would, no matter what she asked. She was the first friend I'd ever had, the sister I'd spent my life longing for. Now that we faced this potential end, there was nothing I wouldn't give her.

"Promise me you'll make it out alive."

I took a deep breath. "I'll promise to do my best."

Lira's lower lip trembled, but she furled it in between her teeth. Sai seemed to notice her distress from where he stood talking with the Alegre and Froh Kings and walked over to us. He tucked an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him before speaking to me again. "You'll call me with magic, once… once everything is done?"

Once we'd killed our father, she meant. "Yes, but you'll know."

There was no way she would inherit the powers without being aware of it. At that moment, as if our father could hear our conversation or divine our thoughts, the Seelie army appeared on the horizon. A nervous hum rushed through our soldiers, horses and kelpies neighing and shuffling their hooves in the earth.

I looked back at Ishir who held the kelpie for Shaan and me and nodded to him. He brought the creature to us and shook my hand before turning to Shaan. There was a beat of silence until Shaan pulled him into a hug and they embraced for several minutes before breaking apart. Tears shimmered on Shaan's cheeks, but he clapped Ishir's hands again and swung up onto the kelpie.

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