25. Elianna

Chapter twenty-five

Elianna

My eyes fluttered open as the song of birds filtered through the crisp morning air. The air that escaped my lips with each breath was accompanied by a slight fog from the chilled wind. I lifted my head from Jace’s chest and snorted, realizing we had fallen asleep in the middle of the small woodland area set back from his family’s estate.

I poked his chest. “Oh, Commander,” I half sang to him. “It’s time to wake up, handsome.”

He answered with a groan, his hands lifting to rub his eyes as sleep lazily left him. “What happened?”

“I was chased through the woods and seduced against a tree by a primal predator and then fell asleep atop his chest beneath the moonlight. And well…here we are,” I joked.

His eyes shot open, and he was staring right at me. He chuckled as he scratched his beard. “Oh, shit.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

He rose to his feet and offered his hand to lift me up. I stood beneath his towering stature, clutching the front of my torn shirt to me as my gaze wandered to where my ripped pants remained .

I huffed out a breath that was a half laugh. “Shall we go face the music?”

“If by music you mean an annoying amount of teasing and mockery, then, of course. We have a lot to plan for when we leave for The Elora Isles.”

After everything that happened yesterday, I had somehow forgotten what Veli had unveiled and how our arrival in Anerys would be short-lived. After we had only just arrived, we now had to embark on a quest across the sea.

I picked up what remained of my pants and tugged them on. Jace laughed as he wrapped his cloak around me, and we set off towards the house.

We strolled through the back entrance of the estate to find Lynelle in the kitchen, cooking endless piles of bacon, eggs, and fresh bread.

“Thank the gods, I’m starving,” I announced.

“Is that Lia I hear?!” Avery called from the other room, and I chuckled as I moved to stalk in the direction of her voice.

“Now, now, breakfast is almost ready,” Lynelle said as she turned to us. She stopped in her tracks as her eyes wandered over the two of us and the state we were in. “Mother of the gods, was the house locked?! You appear as if you slept in the grass last night.”

My cheeks burned with heat as I halted in the room's archway.

Gage appeared in front of me then, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he shot Jace a knowing look. “Good morning, lovebirds,” he cooed. “I know you absolutely behaved yourselves in your mother’s old house. Right, brother?”

“Behaving was not achieved, and we also were not in his mother’s house,” I admitted as I grabbed his hand that rested on my shoulder and twirled beneath it. His booming laugh sounded through the kitchen as Lynelle waved us all away.

We found the rest of our rebel court in the living area as they waited for breakfast.

“Good morning everyone!” I chirped.

Avery suppressed a laugh. “Lia, you have leaves in your hair.”

“Ah, yes, it’s all the new fashion,” I said as I sat beside her on the settee, moving to rub my dirt and leaf-crusted hair onto her. She tried to shoo me away, but I wrapped my arms around her in a hug that she eventually reciprocated.

Lynelle appeared in the room then with piles of plates in her hands that the boys jumped up to assist her with, placing them all atop the tea table. We moved to help ourselves to the early morning feast.

As we were finishing up in near silence, the front door opened, and Leon appeared in the foyer a moment later.

He gave Jace a curt nod. “That was quite the speech last night, Commander. I’m equally shocked as I am proud. I only wish your mother could see you now.”

Instant sorrow threatened to suffocate me, and my eyes flared in response as they shot to the general. “She is,” I said to him, and his gaze moved to me as he tilted his head in confusion. “She’s proud of him from where she watches in the vale. ”

Leon gave me a tight-lipped smile, and something that resembled pride beamed in his eyes. “Of course she is. I apologize, Miss Lia.”

I returned his smile and moved my attention back to my plate.

Jace cleared his throat. “We need a ship. Is there one ready to sail in our most eastern harbor?”

“Indeed, there is. I can summon a crew, of course. Where are you setting sail off to so soon?” he asked as he helped himself to a cup of tea.

“The Elora Isles,” my mate answered, causing the general to choke on his first sip.

“I’m sorry?” he asked through a few subtle coughs as he tried to clear his throat.

“You heard me correctly,” Jace stated.

“The men won’t be too keen on sailing there, even if they are just legends of myth.”

“They are not legends, nor are they myths,” Veli spoke from where she sat upon the windowsill. She hopped off and took a few steps toward him. “Your sailors will not set foot on the land. So long as they listen to my demands, they will remain unharmed.” She paused for a moment. “Hopefully.”

Leon looked at her through furrowed brows.

“The men will just assist us in sailing the ship the far distance. They will remain aboard the ship, and we will take a pinnace to get to the land itself,” Jace offered.

Leon nodded. “I will set this up immediately and send a falcon. How many of you are attending the journey? And may I ask…why you’re going there? ”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know the details, but we’re hoping to find potential allies. It will just be myself, Lia, our co-seconds, and the sorceress,” Jace answered, and Avery shot up from her seat.

Anger crawled across her features. “Oh, I don’t think so! This was my idea. I’m coming.” She crossed her arms.

“Avery, it may not be safe,” I whispered.

“As if I give a damn,” she spat. “You’re not the only one who traveled across the realm, Lia. I’m coming with you whether you want me to or not.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Well, it’s settled then.”

“You can't be serious…” Zaela huffed.

“Let her come, Zae. She’ll be fine,” Gage chimed in as he smiled at my sister.

“What of us?” Finn asked as he sat on the opposite settee with Landon, who still had a mouth full of food as he observed us all.

“The fewer males, the better,” Veli growled.

“I can put them to use around here,” Leon answered. “We could always use an extra set of hands, whether that be with training or building.”

“Excellent. Is that okay with you both?” I asked, eyes pleading for them to cooperate.

They nodded in unison, and then Landon added, “Now that I’m healed, I would like to train with the soldiers, anyway.”

I answered him with a soft, approving smile.

“Anything else I should be aware of?” the general asked.

“Ah, yes. Nox will be coming with us. ”

“Is it really necessary to bring Nox? We will be on a ship.” Zaela sighed.

“Ah, yes. Speaking of which, we will need the biggest ship you have.” I offered an apologetic smile to the general. “His wings may need to rest at times.”

His face paled. “Well, I will cross the wyvern and its possible feeding issue off my list of issues to deal with for the time being. I’ll have our largest ship ready by the end of the day.”

“Thank you, Leon.”

He showed himself out of the room and into the kitchen, where Lynelle had retreated to earlier.

Jace raised a brow at me. “Really?” His tone was teasing.

“I would rather be prepared for anything, and you can’t expect him to fly for weeks straight!”

He shook his head but failed at hiding his amused smile.

“We must be careful,” Veli called. “When we arrive at the isles, it would be wise not to have my sisters see that there is a wyvern among us. Only the gods know what would go through their minds if they laid eyes on him.”

I audibly swallowed.

“Just remember…” she continued. “You asked for this.”