41. Elianna

Chapter forty-one

Elianna

After a very aggressive argument between the eight of us, we all agreed it would be best to discuss this newly offered alliance and its terms in the war chamber. Shielding the twin witches’ predatory gazes within the confines of their cloaks, we escorted them to the center of our city, being sure that no wary passerby looked too carefully at them as we stalked up the stone steps of our courthouse.

Once inside, everyone took a seat at our tabled map of the realm. Our gazes roamed over one another, waiting to see who would speak first and see what these two previously wicked witches had to offer us.

“Why are all of our station markers knocked over and on the floor?” Gage asked with a laugh as he looked at Jace with a raised brow.

Jace rolled his eyes at him.

“Brother, you dirty bastard, you,” he said, and I noticed Avery’s cheeks flush as she sat at his side.

“Accidents happen, Gage,” I said with a wink.

“We are here on business, you fools,” Veli hissed, bringing all of our attentions back to the situation at hand .

Two blazing stares bore into us as they sat side by side at the opposite end of the table from Jace and me.

“Tell them what you spoke of to me. Also, how you have this knowledge and why you are risking treason against your own High Witch for us.”

And they did. They told my court everything they had spoken to me out in the fields.

Jace’s concern flared, slamming into my own, and I placed my hand on his knee beneath the cover of the table.

“There are still many reservations that I possess regarding your declared allegiance to Lia,” he stated sternly as he glared at them.

“What are your concerns, mortal?” Empri asked.

“Let’s start with why you slaughtered all my men aboard our ship, potentially leaving us stranded at your forbidden isles, and trying to capture our greatest asset.”

His eyes narrowed in on them, and as he spoke, authority radiating off of him in waves—the voice of the commander protecting his people—the voice of a king.

“Apologies for your men,” she answered, tone uncaring. “As for your wyvern, we wanted it for ourselves. There are many things you can do with both its desired flame and blood. It is an undeniable, powerful asset to have.”

“What makes you think it would have responded to your orders?” Zaela cut in, every bit of her calculating, cold mask apparent.

“There are spells to incite cooperation, blonde one.”

A chill ran up my spine as fury flooded me. My hand balled into a fist on Jace’s lap right before I lifted it and slammed it down on the table, bringing everyone’s attention to me.

“You will not touch him with your sorcery. Nox has been through enough, just as we all have. You. Will. Not. Touch . Him.” My lip curled back, exposing my canines.

“Yes, yes, Elianna Valderre. We have agreed to no casting of spells upon members of your side of this rebellion. Your wyvern is included in that,” Madalae interjected.

“Why now?” Veli interjected. “Why has it taken you centuries to state your true stance. I had never considered you cowards, yet you let me remain a one-witch rebellion all this time. An outcast and traitor.” Her voice was a mix of aggravation and hurt, which was rare for the sorceress.

“We have regrets,” they answered together. “Things may have turned out differently if we followed your lead all those years ago, but to go against the High Witch is to go against your monarch and maker—always resulting in execution.”

“I remain here before you now.”

“Aye,” Madalae said. “And you have been in hiding. What is a witch without her magic? Or the full potential of it.”

My aide swallowed. “Together, we could have possessed the power to overthrow her.”

“It likely would have been a battle lost, with her possessing greater use and access to the dark magic.”

My eyes flared then. “The crone.”

“Sylvae,” Empri added.

“Sure.” I huffed out through my nostrils. “Why is she significantly older looking than the rest of you? I understand that dark magic brings this on, but how is it that her appearance is such a stark difference from your own?”

“Sylvae found the book centuries ago. It fell into her possession, and before we knew all it entailed, Azenna had ordered that she cast the spells first as a sort of precaution.”

I sat back in my chair, slightly more relaxed, as the anger settled slowly. “So she was willing to sacrifice her?”

“Not necessarily,” Veli interjected. “Azenna just didn’t want any hidden consequences to fall upon her.”

“As far as I’m concerned, that is one and the same. It would be as if I chose one of you to engage in something that I feared was a threat. And I would never do such a thing.”

“We know, Lia,” Jace whispered, easing the last bit of tension that lingered within me.

Empri’s eyes remained on him for a moment before she spoke. “Any other concerns…” She sniffed the air. “Mate of the realm’s heir?”

She could scent the mating bond without having known us before? I swallowed thickly. Witches’ senses truly were significantly stronger than the fae’s.

He hesitated before speaking. “When the ship began to sink, Sylvae plucked one of Nox’s scales from his back before you all fled. Why is that?”

The twins' eyes flashed to each other quickly and then back to us.

“After we fled, Azenna spoke of her plan to offer her services to the current false queen. We had no interest in disrupting the natural ways of the realm, so we made ourselves scarce before she disclosed any further plans. She believes we just drifted off to where we had been before, and she took Sylvae with her. You are sure this is what you saw?” Madalae asked.

“It happened right before my eyes. I am sure.”

Veli sucked in a sharp breath. “You did not tell me this.”

“What can she do with his scale, Veli?” I asked.

“There are many things.” She paused for a moment as her stare slowly lifted to meet mine. “The one I am most concerned with is replication.”

“Replication?” Avery questioned.

“It is possible that she could use the genetic makings of your wyvern, held within its scale, to conjure an entirely new beast.”

“That cannot be possible,” I whispered.

“It is magic, Heir of the Realm. Anything is possible if you are willing to barter for its asking price,” Empri stated.

Tense, disbelieving silence blanketed the war chamber.

“Say they conjure a wyvern,” I started. “Would they be in full control of it in battle? That must take some form of immense power.”

“You would be correct. Especially a beast as sizable as the one you possess. It would likely take significant focus to keep the beast within constant control.”

“Well, that may help us,” I thought out loud.

Zaela scoffed, earning disapproving looks from Avery and Finn. “Lia, how? We had one thing on our side, and that was Nox. If they have one, along with dark magic, we have lost before the battle has even begun.”

My eyes wandered over each of their faces leisurely as her words sunk in—defeat written into all of their features .

“I see a slightly more even match now,” I admitted. “We each possibly have a wyvern. We don’t yet know if that was what the scale was for, and we have three witches compared to their two. One of which may be constantly occupied keeping the conjured wyvern under surveillance, so it doesn’t attack their own fleet.”

“My brilliant queen,” Jace praised from my side.

“I haven’t lost all hope yet.” My gaze lingered on the three witches. “Veli has been appointed as my aide. She has made it known that she isn’t comfortable using the dark magic that the book possesses, and I will forever stand by her decision in that. However, I have an inkling that may not also be the case for the two of you. Crimson eyes and all,” I said with a small smirk forming.

Two wicked grins formed before me. “What dark magic do you seek to be used?”

“Elianna,” Veli cut in. “I refused to use strong bursts of magic in general to prevent my coven from finding the book. Since all that is now considered lost, my last declaration no longer holds true. I will do all it takes to ensure our victory. Including some of the darker aspects if needed.”

My eyes flared as a grin formed on my face. “Very well then. And which forms of this magic are you comfortable using?”

As if in answer, dark, swirling wisps emerged from beneath her silver locks as her eyes flashed gold.

“I like the shadows,” she said as a soft smile tilted her lips. “They whisper sweet things in my ears while accompanying me. Like little pets that wish to be loved. Those I plan to put to use in battle.” A look to Zaela. “Among other things.”

Zae’s eyes flared in response.

“You still scare me sometimes,” Avery admitted.

Everyone let out quiet chuckles as the last bit of remaining tension fizzled out.

“And what is it that you possess from the book?” I asked the twins.

“While our time between the pages was slim, we were able to dabble and possess more than just shadows,” Madalae answered as both of their eyes flashed a quick, glowing effect.

“Excellent,” I said. “Regarding your presence in our city, I don’t believe it’s best for you to remain here. We have many frightened people already.”

“We do not wish to stay amongst your mortals,” Empri hissed. “But we shall stay near.”

“Perfect, then we are in agreement. My concern now is when you will know to come back, when your aid is needed.”

Veli let out a huff. “If they stay close, as they claim, I can summon them.”

The twins nodded in agreement.

“Looks like we have quite a bit of reorganizing to do,” I stated. “Welcome to the rebellion, witches.”

I was answered with grinning faces that sat around the table. Their eagerness filled the air, giving me hope that we may have a chance in this after all.