Chapter 30

30

“ T hey’re likely to split their forces between the Crystal and Day Realms, not knowing if and when we will move on,” Viktor assessed, bending over the enormous map splayed out over a table in the war tent.

Bubble lights floated in the canopy overhead, allowing us to meet despite the darkness beyond.

“If that is what they plan to do, then their forces will spill out of the mountains here and here,” Desmond said, bringing two carved markers to the base of the Agrenak Mountains, one in the Crystal Realm, another in the Day Realm. They weren’t far apart, which meant our attack would have to be brutal and swift.

“What if they decide to invade the Night Realm instead of meeting us here?” Endre questioned, earning a sharp look from me.

“They won’t. We hit them where it hurts, and Ruslan is the type of male to meet us head on. He’s cocky and thinks his mixed bloods will give him an advantage,” Viktor quipped, eyes never leaving the map and the pieces placed on it.

“They do give him an advantage,” Vadim pointed out.

“Not if we attack at night while we are strongest,” Viktor argued. With the loss of Viktor’s father, we were not weaker in strategy. Viktor was sharper than ever, willing to take more risks, and thirsty for blood – everything I needed to win this war and put this so-called empire to rest.

“And if they don’t split their forces?” I asked, just to be sure.

A good king examined every angle.

A fire crackled and popped in the corner of the tent as a breeze fluttered beneath the flaps. “Then they’re likely to go to the Day Realm and approach from there,” Viktor confirmed.

“Vadim, set up a patrol near the exit Desmond marked. We want to know when there is activity there,” I commanded, and he nodded, confirming his orders.

After doling out tasks for the rest of the group, I dismissed them, wanting to get some rest before the battle began. It was only a matter of time before they would appear, and I wanted to be fully prepared for the exciting reunion we would have.

Settling in my luxurious cot, I threaded my fingers behind my head and stared up at the dark canvas ceiling, falling into my favorite daydreams. The binding magic thrashed in my chest as I imagined the deaths of Ruslan, Drazen, and the rest of the mixed bloods that they’d worked so hard to create.

I no longer daydreamed of Izidora falling in love with me; no, the daydreams I had of her were filled with locks and chains and legs spread wide, waiting for me to take the pleasure I wanted. I didn’t need her love, because she would be mine regardless. Mine to play with, to carry my heirs, to support my claim to the Night Throne.

All. Mine.

A horse raced through the busy camp, dodging fires and tents and Fae milling about. As he drew closer, I recognized the rider as one of the scouts sent on a patrol earlier that evening toward the mountains. A wild excitement glinted in his eye as he pulled up short. “We can hear activity behind the rocks,” he pronounced, his horse’s sides heaving from the effort of returning with fortuitous news.

A wicked grin spread across my face, and I looked at the sky, where the first stars winked into existence. Vadim dismissed him with orders to pass the message along to others throughout the camp. Word spread like wildfire, and soldiers shoved to their feet, rushing to their assigned spots for further instruction. I remained in front of the largest fire, hands clasped behind my back while I watched my army prepare for battle.

Only black leather armor adorned the bodies of my soldiers, helping us blend into the night as we prepared to ambush the army of the Iron Realm. Orders were shouted from group to group, and they peeled off in different directions, creating layers and waves for our attack. Pleased with the progress, I threaded my way through thousands of tents until I found Fek. My steadfast stallion pranced in place, anxious to get moving as he sensed the urgency and anticipation in the air.

I offered him a lump of sugar, and he munched it greedily before tossing his mane as if he were asking me if I was going to get on. Bracing my foot in the stirrup, I threw my leg across his broad back, ensuring that my sword was secure, and steered him in the direction of the spot where the battle would take place.

In the distance, Endre and Kaztar rushed off to different flanks as we surrounded the base of the mountain. But I rode straight up the middle, wanting to see the look on their faces when we overpowered their forces.

Unfortunately, the flat plains of the Day Realm didn’t provide me with an exceptional view, though we were lucky that some of the only thick copses of trees happened to be near this exit from the mountains. I chose the highest point I could and halted Fek, glancing overhead as the moon rose higher, greeting her children and blessing us with victory.

And then, we waited.

The rumblings behind the mountain grew louder, and I tried my best to gauge their numbers by the increasing volume. They didn’t bother to smother their sounds, as if they couldn’t possibly expect anyone to be nearby, waiting for them to pop out from their secret tunnels.

Their arrogance ended tonight.

Silence waited beyond, the well-trained soldiers of the Night Realm more than prepared to ambush them. None were stupid enough to give away our position, not when their lives depended on it.

The first sign of Iron Realm soldiers’ emergence was a loud scraping of stone.

Slowly and with a grinding that caused my ears to flinch, an opening appeared in the rock, large enough for ten males to pass abreast. A horde appeared with bundles in their arms and weapons stowed at their hips, sauntering into the Day Realm without a care in the world. They dispersed, tossing their goods aside before turning back for another trip in and out of the tunnel.

Cloaked in darkness, we waited for more to appear.

Calling upon the black and silver ropes swirling in my chest, I rendered my stallion and I invisible so I could creep closer, unseen and unheard. Within half an hour, thousands had emerged and busied themselves with making camp. A crazed smile spread across my face as they continued to move about in ignorance.

I scanned those remaining in the tunnels for any signs of my true targets – Izidora, Ruslan, and those damned mixed bloods that would surely give us trouble. No familiar faces beckoned me to draw my blade and end this conflict before it truly started.

Gritting my teeth as my vision flashed black, I spurred Fek closer, needing to peer even deeper inside the rock. Finally, I recognized a few among the crowd, but none that I would draw satisfaction from binding and forcing to watch as I slaughtered their army. As if my thoughts had summoned it, that dark beast inside me snarled, furious that we’d been snubbed by those who dared question my power.

If they weren’t here, we’d fucking draw them here.

Yanking on Fek’s reins, I steered him in the direction of Vadim and his father, who waited among the infantry to give the signal to attack. Dropping my protective covering, I slid from my mount’s back and padded toward him.

“We need to attack now,” I whispered.

Vadim’s evergreen eyes scanned what was in front of him before responding. “We need to wait a little longer. Their full force isn’t here.”

“Nor is it going to be. There’s no sign of Ruslan here.”

High Lord Arzeni swore under his breath.

“That’s a good thing,” Vadim argued, shooting a look at his father. “It means we’ll be able to crush this part of his army and decimate their numbers. All the more reason to wait.”

Viktor crept into our little circle, crouching low and bending his head to join our hushed conversation. “If we can find a way to block the tunnel from closing, we can attack now.”

A breeze swept across the plains, and we all stiffened, holding our breath. Then, a shout of alarm rang out in the budding camp, and the scraping of blades filled the battlefield.

“Fucking Fates, we need to go now,” I snapped, already turning back for my mount.

“Goddess damn it,” Vadim swore, then popped up and shouted, “Charge!”

The roar of three hundred thousand Night Fae filled the night sky as they descended over the Iron Realm’s army.