20. Elianna

Chapter twenty

Elianna

Alaia was everything I imagined and more. I couldn’t believe how much the mortals had built in just over fifty years, entire cities and towns, farmlands, and ports alike. It was magnificent. My eyes lingered on Jace as he guided us across the land and through the streets of Anerys.

General Vern had sent out a message to alert all soldiers that there would be an influx of citizens that were both mortal and fae once we arrived. While the stares were bothersome, I knew they wouldn’t last. The people had every right to be wary of us, and of me. They had three Valderres in their city, for gods-sake. If they weren’t cautious, I would’ve questioned them .

With soldiers as their escorts, families with children were led to temporary homes, ensuring their comfort as they awaited news about their future living arrangements. In the evening, Commander Cadoria was expected to make an announcement about his long-awaited return to Alaia and the secret weapon he had brought with him.

As Leon moved to help the soldiers, we followed Lynelle to her home—Zaela and Jace’s old home—on the outskirts of the city .

I wasn't sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn't a massive estate, with sprawling land that extended far beyond the structure in every direction.

My brow raised slightly and Zaela caught it from where she walked at my side. “My father commanded the armies, Lia. We weren’t raised in a hut.”

I chuckled softly. “I just wasn’t sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t an estate that could fit all of us.”

She walked ahead slightly and then turned around, walking backward as she faced me. “Well, I managed to squeeze us all into my townhouse, didn’t I? My mother has empty nest syndrome for a reason,” she said with a wink, as she turned to face forward once more and caught up with her mother at the front.

Nyra trotted at my side, and I reached down to scratch her ears as we moved up the gray cobblestone walkway and through the wrought-iron gates that marked the entrance.

The Cadoria Estate stretched over acres of rolling hills, surrounded by towering ancient oak trees, creating a natural barrier. The manor itself was stunning, adorned with vines of ivy that climbed the walls, reminding me of the wisteria vines at Castle Isla.

Lynelle opened the front door and guided us into the open foyer, where a staircase rested in its center, with a dining room on its left, and a living space on its right.

“Your home is lovely, Lynelle,” I said.

“Thank you, Lia. Now there are plenty of bedrooms upstairs, although I’m sure Zaela will retreat to her old room.” She turned to Jace. “You, of course, can move wherever you wish to, nephew. Your mother’s home remains untouched.” She gave him a soft, sympathetic smile.

He nodded and gripped my hand, pulling me toward the dining room. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time, Aunt Lynelle. We will make our way there as soon as possible.”

“Of course, I will go make you all a nice, hot meal.” She swiftly made her way down the hall.

The silence was deafening as we all funneled around the room to sit at the dining room table. The tension continued to grow as we settled, and I stared down at my hands as they rested atop the aged wood. Nerves took over me as I picked at the edges of my thumbs, desperately searching for words that I owed them—a plan.

A plan that we all needed in this moment that would carry us through to the end of this century-long war.

I nicked the edge of my thumb too hard, and blood pooled where my nail met its bed. I let out an involuntary hiss.

Jace’s hand was instantly placed atop my own as he sat beside me, lacing his fingers with mine. My eyes remained on our now interlocking hands, but I felt everyone else’s stares as they bore into me.

I slowly lifted my gaze to the seven pairs of eyes that searched my own for answers.

I blew out a breath. “Did you think we would make it this far a month ago?”

The room instantly felt lighter as the corners of their lips graced their faces with knowing smiles.

“We now need to strategize our next move and devise a plan to dethrone the queen,” I said. “We have no way of knowing where Kellan and Callius are, or if they have already made it back to Isla. To ensure readiness, we must anticipate the worst—and right now, it is that they have made it back to Castle Isla, and the queen is aware that her son is dead.”

Zaela gave a curt nod. “First, we must start with getting an estimated count of warriors on our side.”

“I have an idea of what to expect, but Leon will be able to confirm a more accurate number of how many have been training and cleared on this side of the peaks since our last visit,” Jace said. “We should have the numbers.”

“And I have a wyvern.” I gave him a wink.

“We need the logistics of where the war will come to a close. Where and how far do we plan to make our soldiers travel? The majority of us are mortal, after all. Our men would be worn out faster by a journey across the continent than by a battle alone, leaving us weak and disheveled upon arrival. We must be smart about this,” Zaela interjected.

My jaw locked. “I don’t want the queen’s army anywhere near this side of the Sylis Forest ever again. We get as close to Isla as possible.”

“Well, if we’re moving on foot, we will need to take it slow to avoid exhaustion,” Gage chimed in.

“We are running out of time. And the slower we go, the more of a chance they have at closing in on us once again. We can’t afford to take it slow,” I countered.

“Lia, you have never fought alongside an army of men aside from the Battle of Ellecaster. Humans are different from fae,” Zaela stated.

“She knows that, Zae,” Jace growled .

“Well, she isn’t acting like it,” she retorted without removing her stare from me. “Our men are now your men. Don’t doom them because of impatience.”

I was silent for a few moments, taking in her words. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. How many ships do you have here?”

“I would say at least a hundred, ready to go at any given moment, perhaps more,” she answered.

“So, traveling by sea is out of the question for the entirety of the army, leaving us once again to travel all the way by foot.” Shaking my head in frustration, I desperately tried to come up with a new plan. “I’m not sure what else we can do. If they close in on us, we risk the innocents. If we march south, we exhaust our troops. We’re fucked either way.”

Finn, Landon, and Veli’s eyes moved back and forth between each of us as we spoke of trying to find the best course of action—and survival—for our soldiers.

Avery’s stare remained fixated on me from where she sat directly across the table. Her eyes were calculative, as if she was listening to every word spoken in the room, combing through each of them with a fine pick as she searched for an answer to one of our endless unknowns.

“I have an idea,” she stated, her eyes remaining on me.

A wicked smile leisurely tilted my lips. “Go on, dear sister.”

Her scheming stare moved to the sorceress on her right. “Magic.”

Veli let out a hiss as her face contorted into a vicious snarl. “Foolish, girl. ”

“No,” I interrupted her before she could insult Avery further. “You have kept your secrets long enough, Veli.” My eyes made their way back to my sister. “Go on.”

Avery sucked in her bottom lip as if questioning if she should truly reveal her thoughts. Her honey-hued stare lifted back to mine. “On our journey here, Veli spoke of traveling by portal.”

A scoff left the witch, but I leaned forward over the table and lifted my finger in Veli’s direction to halt her.

Avery continued, “She is able to teleport her own body effortlessly. She said it’s called wisping , but she spoke of a way to move a potential army.” She glanced over at Veli and mouthed the words, I’m sorry .

“No, you’re not. And you know nothing of what you speak,” Veli hissed, her violet stare illuminating the darkened room.

“There must be some form of truth to it, Veli. Could you truly move an army across the continent?” I asked.

The silence from my mate and the others added to the intensity as the three of us continued to exchange words.

“I could not do that, no,” she answered simply.

“But with others, she could,” Avery intervened, causing my brow to lift as I watched them each intently. “What we need is more witches.”

“Absolutely fucking not,” Veli barked, her lips curling back.

“It’s the only way!” my sister screeched just as intensely.

I spoke then. “I would love nothing more than to ignite Idina’s war in wyvern’s flame and watch it burn to ash at her feet. If what my sister states is true, then it is imperative that you reveal your knowledge of traveling by portal.”

Jace leaned back in his chair from beside me, his piercing eyes locked on the sorceress as he stated, “You will obey her orders.”

Veli huffed through her nostrils. “A single witch cannot open a portal wide enough, nor for a long enough period, for an entire army to travel through. It is a process that demands the contributions of multiple witches—their focus, energy, and power.” She crossed her arms over her chest and met my stare with one equally intense, the gold in her eyes flaring.

“And you stated all those weeks ago that the Elora Coven is no longer. Is that true?”

“The coven…ceased to exist as one many centuries ago. For a rogue witch sought to destroy the very thing that was destroying themselves.” Veli tapped a single taloned nail on the table before her. “Grief, loathing, and an insatiable hunger for power ripped the coven apart.”

“And all this occurred where?” I asked.

“The Elora Isles,” she answered. “Three small marsh guarded islands northeast of the continent, but the witches who once occupied it have dispersed across the realm in hiding. The Elora Isles always call to us—beckoning a persistent whisper in our ears, urging us to find our way home.”

“But you never returned.”

She shook her head and quickly averted her gaze from mine. “I can never return there.” Veli clicked her tongue. “ And as you are aware, I hesitantly use strong bursts of my power. For magic calls to its kin.”

I pursed my lips, examining her for a moment. “Why did you leave your coven, Veli? Why did you move to Isla and disguise yourself as a healer?”

She was silent for a few moments. “After all that I had been forced to witness at the hand of my kin, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to bring the realm a little… healing .” The words were barely above a whisper, as if she was ashamed.

My eyes drifted over to Zae as she sat next to Veli, and to my surprise, her stare softened at the witch’s confession.

“But you can call these witches to a formal meeting?” Jace interjected.

Veli snarled. “I can. But I will do no such thing.”

Avery crossed her arms and glared at her beneath furrowed brows. “Interesting to see you fear something, sorceress .”

“Watch it,” she snapped, lifting a taloned nail in her direction. “You once again forget your place, Avery.”

“Her place is directly at my side,” I said sternly. “And there it shall remain. She isn’t speaking anything that the rest of us aren’t thinking. You fear your coven, Veli. That much is clear and laid bare now.”

Veli leaned back in her chair, causing the front legs to lift from the floor. Her eyes roamed over me lazily, as if assessing me. “You arm yourself with mortals and inexperienced rulers, thinking you will win the great century-old war. I have pegged you for many things, Elianna, but a fool had never been one of them—until now. ”

The sternness of my face faltered. “I have armed myself with a wyvern .”

“You have obtained a pet ,” she spat back. “Yes, it wields flame in its breath, but to what end? As time has proven, the wyvern’s fire cannot be solely depended upon. Be smarter.”

“I’m trying !” I bellowed across the table, breath heaving.

The air in the room was thick with tension. Everyone’s gazes averted from the two of us as we stared down our noses at one another from across the table.

Veli’s stare shifted to Jace. “And you follow your mate to no end. A commander in his own right, taking the knee to his enemy queen—leading his people to slaughter as if they’re cattle.”

My lips curled into a snarl.

Jace silently placed his elbows on the table, lacing his fingers together as he leaned closer to Veli. “Please continue to speak as if you know me, witch.” Veli’s intense stare didn’t falter. “For you are correct, I will follow my mate to no end. Do you wish to know why?”

When Veli didn’t answer, he continued. “I have met no one more selfless, caring, or determined than the female that sits before you—before all of us. You see, witch, you have healed her physical wounds, but I have seen and felt what lies and aches in her beating heart—for its beats echo into my own.” He tapped his chest softly with a fist as his eyes remained on her.

My breath caught, and my eyes wandered around the room. Everyone remained silent, watching them intently. Avery's mouth popped open in surprise as she listened to Jace, and when she made eye contact with me, her soft smile conveyed her admiration.

“So, Miss Veli, you asked me if I will take the knee to my enemy queen and lead my people to slaughter—and the answer is absolutely not. However, what I will be doing is standing at my mate's side, leading our people to victory, and bringing justice to all those who have lost their lives for the false queen’s bidding. Elianna was never my enemy. If you wish to name someone a fool, then it is I for initially taking so long to see that.”

His posture relaxed slightly and my hand fell to his knee, giving it a squeeze of gratitude.

Veli remained speechless in her seat.

I leaned across the table once more, my breath huffing through my nostrils as our stares met.

“You’re stating I need to be smarter. That I arm myself with false bravado, weakened bodies, and limited flame. I am trying to do right by my people, both fae and mortal alike. So, Veli, what I ask is that you cooperate and help me. Help us. The fate of the realm depends on it.”

“You wish to risk the wrath of some of our world’s most malevolent beings to aid you in your war?” she asked.

“You are of their blood and race. If one is benevolent, perhaps more are as well,” I challenged. “We won’t win this war without allies, and if I can offer that to our troops, then I’m willing to take the risk.”

When she didn’t answer, I continued. “Be honest. With both us and yourself. Do you see us winning this war without additional powerful allies?”

The silence of the room was deafening .

“No,” she finally answered, and while everyone else looked solemn at the word, my heart rate picked up in anticipation of what else I could sense was on the tip of her tongue.

A subtle upward tilt appeared at the corner of Veli's lips, barely noticeable. “May the gods be on our side for what I am about to show you. We will certainly need them to be.”