36. Avery

Chapter thirty-six

Avery

We had been soaring over the Vayr Sea on Nox’s back for two days—we were all starving, sunburnt, and had barely spoken to one another. The tension in the air was thick, and it was entirely my fault.

Despite my attempts to explain my intentions to the men, Lia recommended not talking about the specifics of what had occurred. It was best to avoid any further confrontation until it was no longer likely that someone would be shoved off the cramped saddle.

Following that, Lia and Gage barely spoke to me. Zaela was back to ignoring my existence, and I was too terrified to face Veli after the madness of everything had settled.

When land finally came into view, a sigh of relief left everyone. Nox flew over the terrain for miles until Alaia’s farmlands were visible, and I had never been more thankful.

Citizens gawked at us as we landed on the outskirts of their headquarter city, and the moment my feet touched the ground, my wobbly legs buckled from not being able to use them for days .

Three horses and their riders approached us, and as they came into view, I realized it was General Vern, Finn, and Landon.

“You’re back!” my brother yelled as he dismounted his horse and pulled me into a hug.

“Hi,” I answered softly.

He grabbed my shoulders and pushed away from me while he held me there—his eyes roamed over me curiously and then met my own. “Are you okay? I figured you would be kissing the ground beneath your feet by now,” he joked. “How was your week out at sea?!”

I turned and looked back at Gage as he followed Lia and Jace over to speak with the general. “I would prefer not to talk about it right now, Finn.”

“That bad?” Landon chimed in, and my gaze whipped to him.

Taking in the sight of them, I nearly did a double take. They were both filthy , and Landon was wearing a full suit of armor.

“What the hell happened while we were gone?” I asked with a chuckle that I never thought would come out of me again.

“Training,” they answered in unison.

“General Vern put us to work the second your ship sailed away.” Finnian laughed. “One of us is clearly much more trusted with a blade than the other.” He gestured to Landon and his new attire.

“You’ll get there someday, Finn.” Landon smiled at my brother, and it warmed my heart, yet an ache followed .

I turned back and observed Gage, whose eyes left the general and wandered to me at the same moment. I quickly looked away, unable to bear the weight of his stare.

“So, are you going to tell us anything that happened? Or do we have to wait for Lia?” Finn asked.

“Well, for starters, I was definitely wrong about Zaela having feelings for Gage.”

“And how was that proven? Last I saw, you were ready to claw her eyes out every time she glanced at the man.”

“It’s not my place to say, but I think you will find that she and Veli have been getting close since we last saw you.”

Their eyes flared with surprise, exchanging a quick glance before returning their attention to me.

“Those two banding together sounds terrifying,” Finn said.

“It’s just as scary as you’re thinking.” I winked but forgot to muster up the fake smile to make it believable.

“If Zaela doesn’t have feelings for Gage, then why do you look so solemn?”

I turned back to where the rest of them stood, where Veli had now joined them as Nox remained between us. As if they felt my stare, they all turned to face us, and their eyes lingered on me for so long that I thought I would faint.

“I believe you’re about to find out,” I answered in a whisper.

They all approached, the general paying no mind to me as he stormed right past us to mount his horse. “These two have been training with the men since you’ve left. You can decide where they shall continue their efforts. I will await your orders, Commander,” he said to Jace right before his horse took off into a gallop to head into the city.

Lia walked up to us first and threw each of her arms around Finn and Landon’s shoulders. “Missed you both! How was it here holding down the valley?”

“Well, one of them seems to have passed the general’s tests,” Zaela joked as she crossed her arms.

“We’ll find something for you. Don’t you worry, Finn,” Lia said as she reached up and gripped his cheeks in her hand, squeezing them together. He shook out of her grasp with a huff of annoyance.

“Are you going to tell us what happened? This one is being strangely vague,” he said as he gestured to me.

Lia pressed her lips firmly together as the rest of them joined us. “Yes,” she answered. “But not here.”

Once back at the Cadoria Estate, Lynelle prepared a welcome home meal—freshly baked bread, roasted chicken, and vegetables from Alaia’s farmlands blanketed the table. As the scent of the food reached my nostrils, my stomach growled in agony, aching from days of hunger while flying over the sea. However, the thought of us all needing to form a new plan due to my actions made my stomach churn, leaving me too queasy to eat.

As the food made its way around, Finnian insisted on filling my plate, his concerned gaze fixed on me. Everyone ate in an uncomfortable silence that had been lingering since our flight home.

“We all have much to discuss,” Lia broke the quiet as she took her last bite of food.

“What happened?” Landon asked.

My sister’s gaze flashed to me and then back to him. “It has become evident to me that I underestimated the true nature of those we sought, and I should have listened to Veli’s warnings.” She flashed the sorceress an apologetic look.

“So those witches won’t be working with us?” Finn realized.

“They will not be,” she answered. “The High Witch of the coven has also managed to reclaim the book of dark magic.”

“What?!” he gasped. “How?”

My stare moved around the table, and no one would look at me.

“It was my fault,” I stated. “I stole the book from where Veli had hidden it and brought it with me. They were able to rip it from our grasp without even touching it.” My head bowed in shame.

“Avery,” Finn whispered as his stare seemed to see right through me. He turned back to Lia. “Where does this leave us in the war?”

“That is precisely what we need to find out,” Zaela cut in. “We no longer have the hope that magic will aid our victory, and we have an army full of mortals that are significantly easier to kill. We need to be smart.”

“We have magic,” Veli huffed. “But it is that of a single witch. It’s still something. Do not count me out entirely. ”

A wicked smile crept up Zaela’s face at Veli’s challenging remark, and she placed her hand atop the witch’s. I glanced over at Finn, who also took note of their interaction, and he looked at me with a knowing smirk and shrugged.

“I will take the blame for what happened at The Elora Isles,” Lia said.

“No. It was my fault.” My voice was as firm as I could muster—I wouldn’t let her be held responsible for what I had done.

“You shouldn’t have come with us,” she said sternly, and I flinched. “You weren’t ready, and I know that you never had any intention of what happened, but what’s done is done. I led us there. The fault is mine.”

“Lia,” I pleaded softly, but she held up her hand to stop me.

“I’ve been thinking too much like a captain and not enough like a queen. Commanding and ruling are not one and the same, and I had been a fool to think it would be. I don’t just have to worry about soldiers under my command but the innocents who rest in their homes as we fight to protect them. My way of thinking has proven futile, and I’m inclined to believe that I need an adviser if I am to further lead this rebellion to victory.”

Jace snorted next to her, and her eyes slowly wandered to him. “Is something funny?” she asked, a hint of amusement in her tone.

“You realize you would need to listen to an advisor, right, my Lia?” He winked.

She cackled softly. “As much as it pains me, yes. ”

Gage stood from the table. “My dearest queen, you may hold your breath for the question you are about to ask. For I accept.” He gave her a deep bow, and I suppressed my giggle at his attempt to lighten the mood.

“Gage, sit down,” Zaela demanded, but her words ended in a laugh.

“Why would it be you?” Finnian teased, and it surprised me.

“Well, who else would it be?!” He sat down, grinning.

Lia was at the opposite end of the table, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed as she observed everyone and their fake bickering. She looked at her mate and winked.

“Are the lot of you done?” she asked with a smirk.

Everyone went silent.

“I had a lot of time to think and process everything that has happened in the last few weeks on our flight back to the valley. Even though I remain throneless, I have made the decision to bring back the position of The King’s Lord. Only moving forward, it will be referred to as The Queen’s Aide.”

We all exchanged confused glances but remained quiet as she observed us.

“I have made many mistakes. Too many. Some of these almost resulted in losing those I care about.” She glanced at Jace. “My reign will not be based on singular, impulsive decisions. You are all the court of my crown, and matters will be decided together. However, there is one of you who has significantly more experience regarding the inner workings of the realm, and I would be honored if she were to give me a second chance at taking her advice. ”

Jace crossed his arms as he smiled at the sorceress who sat three seats down from him, and I found my lips doing the same.

Their fuchsia and green eyes were suddenly locked in a fierce gaze, and Veli's nails tapped impatiently on the table, creating a rhythmic clicking sound as they stared each other down.

“I have offered advice to you many times, Elianna, and you did not heed my warnings.”

“I know,” Lia admitted again. “This is my sincere apology before our court. You know the realm and its people and have served for centuries as a healer. My father trusted you— I trust you.”

“Why is it you have suddenly deemed that you need an aide?”

“Every great ruler had one,” I answered.

“Your father did not. The King’s Lord has not been a filled position in over a century,” she stated.

The corners of Lia’s lips tilted upward. “He had one, just not in title, but he always considered him his aide.”

My heart sank as I thought about Lukas and all he had done for our father.

Veli averted her stare from my sister. “And what would this position in your little court of rebels entail, Elianna?”

Lia smiled at her. “Telling me when I’m being foolish, which I know is your favorite.”

Veli’s eyes softened. “And you will stop acting like a youngling and listen?”

“I will do my very best. ”

Jace chuckled, placing his hand atop Lia’s as it rested on the table. “She makes no promises, but your advice moving forward will not be disregarded.”

“He’s always had a better way with words,” Lia said, gesturing to him with her thumb as he sat at her side. “So what say you, Veli? Will you give this throneless heir one more chance to prove she can rule? For a better realm.”

Veli huffed out a breath. “A better realm.” Her eerie gaze lifted back to my sister, still swirling with fuchsia from the use of shadows at the isles. “I enjoyed your father’s company, and he wore his benevolence on his sleeve, but that cost him his reign.”

“We are in agreement there,” Lia answered. “That and his concern for my wellbeing.”

“You, Elianna…” She paused for a moment. “You are headstrong…impulsive and erratic.” Lia's gaze stayed locked on the witch, unblinking, as we all anxiously waited to see how Veli would respond to her proposal.

“However, you are also loyal to any end. More protective and fierce than any ruler I have seen sit upon that throne. The realm as we know it will cease to exist regardless of the outcome of this war. I have been a one-witch rebellion, and we have all witnessed its consequence.”

Veli stood from the table as she lifted her glass of wine, and every single pair of eyes in the room lifted with her. “If I am to be remembered as one thing, let it be this—not a traitor or rebel. I accept your offer of The Queen’s Aide, Elianna.”

We all stood in unison, raising our glasses in a toast alongside Veli .

“To our queen,” Jace announced.

“To a better realm,” I echoed.

Lia’s eyes wandered over each of us. “To my court,” she declared, resulting in us all emptying our glasses in tandem.