Chapter 30

Ididn't know where to look when Zephryn came into view, parting the wintery mists like waves in front of a ship's prow, the boom of every powerful wingbeat thundering against the mountains.

He sailed toward us, wingspan so immense the tips almost brushed the canyon sides.

"Holy goddess," Bella murmured, and her mother wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulders as the dragon banked, following the same trajectory as Simon, tracing a lazy circle overhead.

"I'll bet Tristan doesn't try to eat him." The owl hooted in agreement.

"We should probably clear a landing spot, which means everyone should get back inside." Those heavy wings stirred up a cloud of blinding snow and the dragon wasn't even close to the ground.

The coven scattered, most choosing to huddle against the walls of Stormfall to watch as Zephryn landed, blasting ice and snow against Raziel's shield. Without it, we would have been knocked on our arses.

The dragon was a black, scaled behemoth. Where Tristan was lithe and sinuous, Zephryn was built for ramming and crushing. No less graceful, as his head swung in a wide arc to glare at the gaping witches, at least three times the size of Tristan and broader across the chest.

Torin slid down one side, legs crumbling beneath her when she hit the windswept ground. Simon was already gone, flapping up into the wind, a shrill keening cry trailing behind him.

Vesper's eyes flared in horror then swung on me.

"That is the Fae King's High Seer. Why is she here?" Bella hissed as some strange, new magic thrummed around us, Vesper and Bella's fingers glowing blue. "You've betrayed us to the Fae."

Raziel stepped between us. Even Dane had sensed the change in mood and was racing our way, Tristan roaring at Zephryn like he meant to take on a dragon thrice his size.

"You are in no danger. These are friends of ours," I explained quickly. "Returning from freeing their friend from years of captivity." The dragon stalked in a tight circle around Torin, baring fearsome teeth that made the wyvern's look like kitchen knives.

The rest of the coven fled through Stormfall's reinforced front doors, slamming them behind them.

"Torin was the High Seer of Tempeste," I explained, ears popping from the force of their throbbing magic. "But for three hundred years she's been working to overthrow the Fae King. She's on our side."

"My mother does not trust her. I do not trust her. She is the Oracle's minion, last we heard," Bella hissed, but after another of those silent conversations they spooled their magic back.

It was too soon to explain who the Oracle really was, so I gave them both a crooked smile. "I don't exactly trust her either, no offense"—Raz huffed in agreement—"but she's growing on me."

"We are a bunch of unlikely allies, that is true," Raziel explained, his eyes fixed on the dragon circling Torin like a protective watchdog. "But we are all on the same side at the moment, and if my years of combat have taught me anything, it's to take help when it's offered."

"There is a war coming," I explained to Bella and Vesper. "A war none of us will survive if we do not band together. That alliance is what we must decide."

Bella gasped when Zephryn shifted into an enormous, very naked Fae male then promptly collapsed beside the seer. Torin crawled over to him and hugged him close, then Simon landed, shifted, and the three of them became a tangle of arms and legs.

So much for keeping a low profile.

"Where is Zor?" I muttered. "Why isn't he here?"

Torin glanced our way, her eyes wide, and I elbowed Raz. "Help her get Zephryn inside. He's got to be freezing. Simon, too." The whole time, panic wrapped icy fingers around my throat.

If something terrible happened, would they wait to tell me? Would they wait until we were alone to break the news?

A sob broke free when Zor popped into sight, hurrying toward me. I rubbed my aching chest, the pressure building until I could hardly breathe. Oh gods, he was alive. Alive and safe, and we were all together again.

"And you might also recognize the Shadow King's general." I met Bella's wide-eyed gaze with a shaky grin.

Then I was crushed up against him, drinking him in, wiping my wet cheeks on his filthy shirt that reeked of something foul as I gripped him tight, fingers digging into flesh to reassure myself he was real. "I'm here. I'm here." He pressed his lips to my ear. "I missed you every second of every day I was gone."

"Likewise. Welcome to the High Barrens," I murmured before I raised my head and gave Bella and her mother a decidedly watery smile.

"Like Raziel said, we're unlikely allies, but you have to admit, we do bring a certain amount of star power to the table."

"What in the fuck is that?" Zor hissed.

My eyes swung up to the wyvern watching us from the archway. "Now, if we can get Tristan to come down, we can have a civil conversation about what comes next."

An hourlater Tristan was back in his Fae form, dressed in black witch's clothing and sliding his fingers along the too tight collar of his jacket as he stared daggers at Zephryn, who was over in one corner, his boots thrown carelessly up on a chair.

I'd glimpsed Zephryn's wrecked leg when he'd transformed from his dragon form and knew it wasn't disrespect that put him in that position but pain. Torin stayed beside him, her hand resting on his arm like she had to keep touching him to make sure he was real.

Simon lounged against the wall beside Tristan, arms crossed over his chest, the black, unforgiving clothing making their hair—deepest red and brightest gold—glow like flames beneath the flickering torches.

The witch archer and the almost assassin were locked away in prison cells, though Solomon had slipped through our fingers. The fortress was being searched floor by floor, assisted by Dane and Raziel, who both claimed they didn't have the patience for negotiating alliances and that we could give them the highlights tonight over dinner.

Bella and Vesper had changed into bright, flowing tunics, the pops of color every bit as jarring against the black and gray as the first blooms of spring. Their long hair hung to their waists, and they had brought seven witches with them, both old and young, all with keen, clever eyes and serious expressions.

"Thank you for coming." I dipped my head and took a seat, not at the head of the table but off to one side, letting everyone else sort themselves out.

I placed the crown between us, glad to be free of its crushing weight and the strange magic seeping from the black metal.

Zorander and Tavion took the chairs on either side of me, Vesper and Bella directly across from us. While everyone else jockeyed for position, I ran my hand down Zor's arm again.

"You look thin, Zor," I murmured, "and tired."

"I'll sleep well tonight now that we're together."

His hand clasped my knee, his slow smile edged with wickedness. "Though all I thought about for the past week was putting my mouth on you, so I hope you're well rested, Anaria."

Heat washed through me, and on my other side Tavion went taut, nostrils flaring before his head swung my way, the same slow smile lighting his face.

"I swear, you two are going to be the death of me," I muttered, trying to slap away Zorander's fingers dancing up the inside of my thigh. "Stop that. We're here to negotiate a treaty, Zor," I hissed beneath my breath.

"You're here to negotiate a treaty," Zorander corrected, never pausing his exploration. "I'm only here because this is where you are, and I missed you terribly."

"Zorander Vayle, behave." I moved away but that only put me within range of Tavion's roaming hand, which smoothed up my thigh, sending shivers cascading through me. "Both of you, stop. What sort of message are we sending?" I hissed before I realized everyone was staring at us.

"You smell delicious," Tavion murmured against my ear, and gods help me, heat spun through me, landing in my core. I closed my eyes and tried to reorder my thoughts. Vesper, though, was smiling when I opened my eyes, her face softening as she looked between the three of us.

Bella set her elbows on the table. "Firstly, we wish to thank you. For doing what we could not."

"Not for lack of trying," I countered. "I'm only sorry you suffered for as long as you did."

Vesper reached out and gently took Bella's hand. Something like sorrow swept through me then, a sense of loss as I realized…that would never be Adele and me.

I had hardly looked at my mother since yesterday. Given she'd known that fight was to the death and hadn't even warned me of the danger…Maybe I should feel guilty but I didn't. Adele had crossed a line when she threw me, unprepared, into that ring with Vireena.

But she'd crossed the point of no return when she'd offered up my males to be slaughtered.

"I have no wish to wear a crown or sit on a throne. Nor do I have the luxury of staying at Stormfall for long. The Shadow King must be removed and his people freed. Then we hope the magic will return to Solarys as it did to Caladrius."

"You are truly willing to hand over all this power…in exchange for what, exactly?" The witches looked at each other, some with the same expression as Raven before she dragged me off the edge.

"A healing spell?"

"Not just any healing spell." Beside me, Tavion went still, as if he was piecing everything together. I laid my hand on his knee to warn him not to interfere. "But we will discuss the particulars later. For now, it is enough to know you will have a leader who can keep your coven safe."

"My mother has agreed to become High Priestess." Bella folded her hands in front of her. "I had time to check the ancient records." She nodded somberly to the witches gathered around the table. "We will elect a council of seven to govern and they will decide coven matters."

"That sounds wise."

"What about the prisoners?" an older witch hissed from the far end. "What of them? They must be punished for three centuries of crimes committed against us."

Zorander leaned in so our elbows touched, looking at me, and I nodded.

"I have sat in many councils. Listened to many kings…and queens make decisions." His dark, steady eyes skimmed over the table then landed on Vesper.

"I suggest your council's first task be to decide the prisoner's fates. A public trial. A good test of your new government, and a clean way to put the old one behind you."

"You do not wish to pass judgment yourselves?" Bella asked. "Some of these crimes were against you. Raven tried to kill you. She would have…" Her pale eyes drifted over to where Tristan leaned against the wall, and she swallowed, hard.

"By our own laws, it is your right to seek revenge." Bella tore her eyes away from Tristan. "The blood debt is owed to you, not to us."

"I leave their fate in your capable hands," I said quietly. "And as far as the exchange of power…" I lifted up the crown and handed it to Bella. "Unless your mother likes ceremony, which I suspect she does not, I return this crown to the rightful bearer, along with the authority that goes with it."

Bella's hands shook as she lifted the crown up then placed it on her mother's head. Tears glimmered in Vesper's eyes before she gave me a fierce smile.

"Long live the High Priestess," Zorander said quietly, rising to his feet and dipping his head. "May your rule be prosperous and filled with years of peace for you and your people."

Tavion pressed his hand over his heart as he rose, and then everyone was on their feet, heads bowed, and this time…there was no stopping the silver tears spilling down Vesper's scarred cheeks, her hand folded tightly in her daughter's.

Somehow, I suspected my own tears had less to do with the crown on Vesper's head than how tightly her daughter clutched her hand and the adoration shining in her eyes.