22. Jace

Chapter twenty-two

Jace

The eight of us rode horses through the city, lit by endless lines of torches and moonlight. The awaiting crowds greeted us with equal amounts of cheers and looks of puzzlement as we galloped through them, aiming for the center of the city. So much had changed since I had last been to Anerys. The outskirts of our headquarter city had expanded substantially.

Each of us dismounted our horses once we arrived at the newly constructed stone courthouse. Leon had already arrived and was atop the rise, waiting for us to climb the steps to greet the city and its citizens. Once we turned to face the masses, a smile formed on Lia’s face.

I took a single step forward, half blocking her from view. She had already given this speech to those who had been in Ellecaster with us, but for me, it would be the first time to those who weren’t directly under my command.

These were my people, and I was about to tell them the unthinkable. Although I was certain that most of them were already aware of the rumors, it was still difficult to inform them that their commander, the man who had led their armies in the fight against the fae, had fallen in love with one. And not just any fae—the rightful queen and heir of the realm.

Would they believe me or think I had sold us out? I knew in my heart that they would accept Lia; it was impossible not to, but time wasn’t on our side. All I could hope for was that they trusted me enough to lead them to her.

My hands hung down at my sides as I looked out over the silent crowd, and just as I went to speak, I felt a warm, familiar touch as she laced her fingers with mine. I glanced over my shoulder to meet my favorite emerald gaze, instantly calming my nerves.

She gave a small nod, and my eyes shifted through the rest of her court standing behind us.

Clearing my throat, I opened my mouth to finally speak. “It has been some time since I have spoken before you all—some of your faces are familiar, while others are new. Regardless of when you joined us, you must know that I plan to lead us to victory, granting us freedom from the wicked queen that rests upon the throne in Isla.”

Murmurs erupted through the city, becoming an instant roaring in my ears.

“While I realize that my absence has been substantial as of late, I’m still your commander and expect your attention and respect. Yes, to start, there are fae among us and standing here with me before you now,” I stated with authority as my eyes shifted through the crowd beneath the moonlight.

After fifty or so feet, I couldn’t make out a single face—just endless rows of bodies and torches lining the streets before me .

“I haven’t been entirely honest with you all, and for that, I’m truly sorry.” The murmurs of the crowd instantly ceased, casting an eerie silence. “My mother was attacked and left for dead at the hands of the fae thirty years ago during an ambush on one of our villages. I am the result of her assault.”

I expected the crowd to erupt once more, but they remained silent.

“My hate for the fae had poisoned my heart and mind, turning me into a vengeful leader who, until recently, would’ve stopped at nothing to end the entirety of the fae. On a mission we had set out on to lure and trap their leaders, everything I thought I knew about myself and our war had changed.”

I took a step to the side and pivoted to face Lia. Extending my hand toward her, she placed hers in mine without hesitation as she stepped up to stand at my side.

“I met an extraordinary female, and she also stands before you today. Everyone, I would like you to meet Elianna Valderre—the rightful heir to the Velyran throne.”

We were met with wide-eyed stares and audible gasps of disbelief, but surprisingly, the eruption of anger we had prepared for never came.

“She is the daughter of the late King Jameson Valderre, someone we as a race had believed to be responsible for this war, but we are here to tell you that…that was not the case.”

I went on with the speech Lia had given in Ellecaster and how our goal was no longer to remove the fae from the realm but to remove Idina Valderre from its throne .

“Who’s to say Elianna won’t turn on us? She is a Valderre! And those two red-heads look exactly like the queen you wish to overthrow! They could all be spies!” a shout came from the darkness of the crowd, causing more vicious whispers to ensue.

My body stiffened, just as I thought we were in the clear from angry outbursts. I glanced over my shoulder in time to watch Avery flinch. Lia was used to hateful comments and having to prove who she was, but the others weren’t.

“I will vouch for both her and them with my life. For Elianna is everything to me and more…” I glanced at her as she remained poised at my side. She stared out at the masses completely unphased, appearing as the fearless warrior she was and the queen she’s yet to become. “For she is my mate. My equal in every way.”

The crowd went silent at my words. My only assumption was that they were at a loss for them.

“Us humans are not accustomed to fae traditions and lore. However, what I speak of is a phenomenon blessed upon us by the gods. It is decided by their fates, and the bond connects our souls to one another. Her very presence has forced me to come to terms with what I am, and that is a halfling. Both of fae and mortal descent. And as I stand here before you all today, you need to know that if you refuse to trust their kind due to their blood alone, then you will need to condemn me with them as well.”

A man stepped forward then, setting himself apart from the very front of the crowd. We stared down at him as he cleared his throat. “Commander, you have done everything you can to ensure we stay safe since you were a mere boy. Something as insignificant as a sire shouldn’t determine how you are judged. If Elianna has your sword, then she also has mine.”

My heart raced as he took a step back into his place in the crowd, echoes of agreement sounding from them. “Thank you, soldier,” I said, trying to shake the shock.

My gaze moved to Lia. “I know what lies in her heart. She wishes to bring peace to the realm but cannot do this alone. A target has been placed on her back, and she has been attacked, hunted, taken …”

My throat tightened with fury, and my hands trembled at my sides as I forced out the words I despised beyond measure—all she had been forced to endure.

Lia lifted my shaking fist and pressed it to her lips as she took a small step forward, her toes reaching the very edge of the step we stood on.

“What Jace is trying to say is that I have also suffered at the hand of my own kind. Males I once trusted and soldiers I once commanded myself. Your commander and I have defied the odds stacked against us so far, and we intend for that to continue. We will take the realm back. But you should all know that the current queen’s fury will know no bounds, and she will do anything to remain where she is.”

Once my anger settled, I stepped up to her side and stood before the masses once more.

“We don’t know what lies ahead, but we do know it won’t be easy,” I began. “We are seeking out more alliances and possible routes to help us win this war.”

Lia gave a curt nod to the crowd. “Fae are now among you here. They will live alongside you—shopping, working, and mingling in the streets with their younglings. Please show them kindness, for their journey here has been anything but easy. They risked being trialed for treason just by fleeing here—seeking shelter and sanctuary away from the crown. Among them are also males and females who intend to bleed alongside you in these looming battles to come.”

“Magic is alive and well throughout Velyra, and creatures we once assumed to be extremely rare, extinct, or just a story to frighten our children in the night have presented themselves to us frequently in recent days,” I said once she paused. “Not only are fae now among us but also a witch who assisted in their escape.”

“And a wyvern who assisted in my own,” Lia announced with a menacing lilt in her voice. I peeked over and observed her smirk while she witnessed the crowd's simultaneous reactions of awe and horror.

When the shock of everything settled, questions began to ring out from them, and we answered truthfully. We told them stories of our journey. Lia spoke of her father’s kindness and how that benevolence extended not only to her but to her two red-headed siblings who stood behind us in solidarity.

And when the moon was at its highest point in the sky, the crowd finally dispersed.

Our court stepped up at our sides as we watched everyone funnel through the streets and back to their homes.

“I can’t believe you told the realm,” Zaela whispered. “I know Lia briefly referred to you as her mate in Ellecaster…but this was different. This felt different. ”

“It was time,” I answered.

Gage clapped me on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you, brother.”

“As am I,” Lia cooed, resting her head on my chest.

And as the last of our people disappeared into the shadows of the streets, we said our goodbyes to Leon and made our way back home.