63. Elianna

Chapter sixty-three

Elianna

Our days given for preparation were over, and it was now time to storm Velyra’s capital and end Idina’s reign over the realm once and for all.

I stood in front of the vast window of the war chamber that overlooked Alaia’s great city. My eyes wandered over each building, civilian, and alleyway in sight. My mind raced, realizing that this could be the last time I saw this beautiful sanctuary that Jace had helped build. There was a large chance that many of us would never see it again, and it left a gaping wound in my heart.

Walking up to the center table, I picked my dagger up from where it sat. I admired the way the early morning sunlight glistened off the obsidian blade. A small smile formed as my gaze moved to the wyvern wings adorning its hilt and the antler carving of Nyra.

I thought of everything it represented and how this blade was the true beginning of the rebellion. How my father gifted it to me as a surprise when he declared he wished to have named me his heir.

This blade protected me from Kellan’s crew on his ship, opening my eyes to the male he truly was and would always be. It had then been taken from me and used against Jace before being shattered. The scream that tore from my throat when I witnessed Kellan's attempt to kill him will forever haunt my mind, as will the heartbreaking sight of it being destroyed. But much like myself, the blade rose from the ashes of what it had been dealt—and I had my mate to thank for that.

My fingers tightened around the hilt, fueled by the burning desire to exact vengeance on the usurpers who had ravaged my kingdom, stolen my crown, and mercilessly ended the lives of my parents, Lukas, and countless others.

I strapped the last of my weapons to my leathers and blew out a breath as the door to the chamber opened. Turning to the doorway, I came face-to-face with my mate, who wore his full suit of armor—a sword strapped on each of his sides, daggers hidden beneath metal flaps, and the commander’s helmet held in his hand.

Our eyes were locked on each other as love radiated down the bond, bringing me a sense of comfort.

He placed his helmet on the stone table and took my face in his hands, pressing his lips to mine.

When our eyes met once more, he spoke. “We’re ready for you, my Lia.”

I opened my mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words—consumed by the fear of what lay ahead.

As we planned, Veli, Empri, and Madalae would open the rift directly beyond the Islan gates. Jace would lead our armies through the portal on the ground while Nox and I took to the skies. Zaela, Gage, Leon, and Landon were the pointed leaders of designated battalions. And then, once everyone was on the other side of the rift, the witches would join us in our fight.

My plan was to try to convince Idina to surrender before the battle, but I knew she would never yield—it didn’t matter, though, I had to try. If only to convince myself I did absolutely everything possible to avoid bloodshed. So, once the fighting ensued, my task was to find Avery and get her to safety before returning to the battlefield to join my mate, court, and kingdom in one last fight for freedom.

I knew deep within me that if we didn’t win and their lives were lost, I wouldn’t be able to live without them—I wouldn’t be able to live without him .

Jace clearly sensed where my mind had wandered. “ No matter the outcome, I am so proud of you. Wherever this battle leads, I will never regret a single choice made since the moment I laid eyes on you. No amount of time with you will be enough, but if we meet our end in this, just know that it was the honor of my life .” His soothing voice wrapped around me like a warm embrace as it flowed down our tether.

“The honor has been mine,” I answered.

He took my hand in his and escorted me from the war chamber, out into the city streets where the citizens cheered in awe of our bravery, and straight to the fields where our soldiers awaited.

Matthias galloped alongside Jace’s stallion as we approached our troops. The lines were forming beautifully as thousands of our men prepared to march into Isla.

Stretching as far as the eye could see, our soldiers stood in disciplined order. Their armor gleamed vibrantly beneath the sun’s rays as emerald banners whipped in the wind on our catapults.

The air was filled with the resonating sound of armored boots and hooves hitting the ground. Nearly matching their rhythm was the beat of Nox’s wings as he soared overhead, circling the army.

My eyes focused in on the banners as they fluttered in the breeze, displaying an insignia I didn’t recognize. Adorning the center of the emerald, flowing fabric was a crest that beheld a design of my original dagger with giant wyvern wings wrapping around it as the Valderre name perfectly flowed through the design.

As the wind tousled my hair, my gaze flew to Jace, his horse thundering beside mine as we approached the back of our army.

“ I told you we would have a new crest for you, my queen .” His voice filled my head, and an excited, booming laugh left me in answer as we raced up through the center of the lines.

As we approached the front, my court came into view. I owed everything to my loyal friends, who constantly risked their lives by leading a rebellion in my name and claim to power.

The general, Gage, Zaela, and Lynelle all stood front and center before the army, my Nyra girl sitting at their feet. My gaze drifted to where Veli stood off to the side, accompanying the twin witches. Lastly, my eyes fell upon the healers’ wagons posted separately from the troops of soldiers—Finnian stood at their front, his stance beaming with pride.

I tugged on Matthias’ reins, and his galloping slowed into a trot until his steps completely ceased before the masses.

I dismounted my horse and led him to Landon, who was in the center of the first lines. His hand reached out for the reins, his face hard as stone as he focused on the task of leading this side of the battalion.

“I will trust my horse with no one else. A stable hand turned troop leader…I am so very proud of you,” I said to him softly. A curt nod was given to me as the tiniest smile cracked his lips.

As I turned around to meet the others, Jace, ever the commander, rode his steed along the front lines, his voice carrying over the assembly as he brought their full attention to us.

Veli met me in the center as I faced the army while my mate finished his rounds. Our gazes remained looking out towards the troops.

“What you have done will be written into history, regardless of what becomes of the realm. You have made a difference without the crown properly adorned atop your head. And while I still think that you are a foolish, reckless girl…” Her whispering paused, and a grin formed on my lips. “I am honored to hold the title that you gifted to me. Thank you for trusting me in being your aide.”

I blinked as my eyes flashed down to her while she stood at my side, her face wearing a wicked smile I rarely saw. Her once violet eyes met mine as her shadows danced around her face. “Thank you for guiding a foolish, reckless—”

“A brave, loyal, and noble queen,” she cut me off. “It has been an honor.”

A smile formed without my permission from her praise—something I never thought I would hear.

Jace brought his horse to a halt at our side and looked down at me. “They are ready to hear from their queen.”

My feet carried me forward, separating me from my court as my eyes drifted over everyone—their stares boring into me.

I lifted my hand and let out a sharp whistle into the sky, and a moment later, the ground beneath our boots rumbled as Nox landed directly behind me. His horn-covered head hovered over my shoulder only a moment later, acting as my usual guardian.

Soldiers that once cowered at the sight of my wyvern now stood proudly before us both. Not a single flinch caught my eye as he faced them all.

The tiniest smirk tilted my lips as I turned on my heel and climbed onto Nox’s back. I stood on his shoulder, my arm reaching for his neck for extra balance.

“My fearless warriors,” my voice rang out, cutting through the silent valley like a blade. “The day is upon us when we must end the brutal slaughter of the mortal race. Our enemy remains tireless and insatiable, seeking to destroy everything you have rebuilt.”

I paused, letting my gaze linger on the faces of each soldier on the front lines .

“Now, I understand that I have never had the pleasure of fighting side by side with most of you on the battlefield, and I am thankful for you giving me that opportunity today. Not only to be alongside you but trusting me to lead you there. Many of you have fought by my mate’s side for years—facing the horrors dealt from the fae that would break the spirit of lesser men. You have bled, you have suffered, and yet you stand here unbroken and unyielding.”

My gaze drifted down to Jace, who remained in the saddle of his horse directly next to Nox. “ Your words mean a great deal to them…and to me .” His voice filtered to me.

“I will never be able to take back the part that I played in this war before your commander opened my eyes to the true horror of it all, but you must know that where my heart lies now and for the remainder of my existence is with you . The innocents of it all. Both the innocent mortals and fae that have been roped into a gruesome war of power and greed.”

“We do not fight for glory graced from the gods or for unfathomable riches. The fight we wage is for the very essence of our existence, the lands that have nurtured our hopes, and the people we hold close to our hearts. We fight because we are the last line of defense against the cruel, malicious beings that usurped my throne through treason and murder.” My words were a battle cry that echoed through the sky.

My hand clenched into a fist at the mention of the queen and all she had done.

“This battle will not be easy. There will be bloodshed, and our spirits will be tested like never before. The enemy may outnumber us, but we have something that they do not—hope. The false queen rules and leads by inflicting fear on anyone beneath her. That is not who I am, nor who I will ever be. Her soldiers fight you because of her greed. Our soldiers are fighting back for their freedom! ”

Cheers and shouts of agreement erupted down the lines, their echoes resonating through the valley.

The burning intensity in my eyes mirrored Nox’s flames. “Battles and lives have been lost over the last century, but today, you do not fight alone. We fight as one, both mortals and fae—a formidable force that will shatter the darkness lingering in the realm and ignite a new dawn for our people. A people united together as one under my reign!”

The air reverberated with the echoing roar of the assembled warriors, the clash of swords against shields filling the space with harmonious chaos. I unsheathed the sword from my hip and raised the blade high above my head as I remained balancing on Nox’s shoulder.

“Today, we march not towards death but towards the triumph of light over darkness. Now, let’s make our enemies tremble as they hear the thunder of our march and our roars for battle. For a better realm!” I screamed.

As if commanded, Nox let out a booming roar of triumph into the air. I leapt down onto my saddle and he turned to face my court, who remained behind us, smiles beaming on each of their faces.

“ I love you ,” I whispered down the bond as I met Jace' s stare.

“ Don’t whisper that as if it’s a goodbye. I will see you on the other side .” His eyes radiated concern. “ I love you more than anything in this world and beyond. The realm needs its queen .”

“ Remember, we don’t want to distract one another, so we must only use this in a time of true need ,” I reminded him, and he nodded as his eyes remained on me.

I looked to Nox’s opposite side, where Nyra sat, and then my eyes met Lynelle’s. “Take care of her until we return?”

“Of course,” she answered while guiding my wolf off to the side of the lines. My heart ached as my stare followed her walking away, but this would be too dangerous for her.

My eyes found Jace, Gage, Zaela, and Veli as they all stood before Nox. “Remember, no fighting within the city. It must be prevented at all costs, and we will stay beyond the gates unless Jace or I state otherwise. That is essential. If Idina or Kellan don’t come to negotiate a surrender before the battle begins, I will ride Nox above the city and try to get to Avery or the queen, whichever comes first.”

The veins in Gage’s neck strained at the mention of my sister. “We will get her back.” His voice was low, with the promise of revenge evident.

I gave him a curt nod. “That I promise you.” My eyes moved to Veli. “It’s time.”

“Aye, and just in time. The sirens have arrived at their destination,” she announced to me with a wink.

Her eyes radiated their golden, fuchsia glow as a wicked grin formed, and she turned from me, facing the distant fields that awaited our army. Empri and Madalae met her on either side, the three of them interlocking their taloned fingers to further combine their power .

The twins raised their outer hands and lifted them towards the open valley, Veli’s hands bound to theirs as their grounding power.

Whispers carried on the wind, and then I heard the barely familiar words, “ Odium Embulae .” A crack splintered through the realm, mimicking a bolt of lightning crashing from the sky above. In a display of immense power, the three witches worked together to create a rift large enough to accommodate an entire army, their veins and muscles visibly straining against the force of it.

I shielded my eyes from the blinding sun as the thundering stomps of hooves and armored boots echoed from behind me. A growl of anticipation rumbled from Nox’s chest as his wings shot out from his sides, readying himself.

My heart was galloping in my chest while my eyes were fixated on the power exploding before us all.

And then Isla appeared through the rift.