16. Chapter Sixteen

Rows upon rows of fae stand before me with worried eyes. They watch as their prince walks to the center of our make-shift stage and prepares himself to speak. It's not often we see so many of our people in one place, so the image of just how many we have to lose if this war goes badly is haunting.

Nell shifts slightly next to me, holding her chin high in support of our bond. A giddy smile tugs at my mouth. She looks every bit the queen we mean for her to be. She was born to be a leader, and the fact that she stands before thousands as if she's comfortable? Incredible. She is staggering.

Cas lifts his hands, no doubt using his air to create waves that will carry his voice to all in attendance. It's nice that he's able to speak to so many at once, though I imagine it helps stave rumors that would spread from miscommunication otherwise.

"Good afternoon. We have called you all here today to provide a much needed update to the situation happening outside these walls." My abdomen tenses at his strong, assertive tone. "Seeing as we do not have the luxury of time on our side, I will be blunt. Prince Andras has declared war on the realms." Murmurs float through the crowd, though most stay focused on what Cas says next. "Yes, realms. He brings war to us in Anloria and the gods on Europa. Many of you have surely seen strange faces around the city the last few days, and I am honored to tell you that we have been joined by the gods themselves. They are here to fight in this war with us." He halts his words, letting the information sink in. As it does, hushed, frantic questions are exchanged.

Most of the fae whisper with their neighbors about what this means and how they are to protect their families. Some fae stand frozen, staring at nothing. Their lifeless eyes are the only indication of their soul-deep shock. Then there are fae, though very few, who wait in silence with looks of indifference. I'm sure there has been talk of an impending war, so this announcement is not surprising to many.

"You are right to question what this means for you and your families. You are right to be worried. Scared. I will not lie to you and say that everything will be okay. Andras has managed to form a powerful army. So powerful that even with the gods on our side, we are still left questioning our chances in this war." He continues to explain that those who wish to join the soldiers may do so, and the rest must prepare to evacuate.

Once his main speech is over, he answers question after question. This is the part of his job I do not envy. His patience and empathy are unmatched; utterly admirable. They are two of the qualities I love most about him; things I've always striven to duplicate in my own personality, though I learned quickly that I would rather be seen as a bastard than a fraud.

My head turns to the left, where Nell stands between Cas and me. A light breeze sweeps silky hair over her face, where sweat builds from the beating sun. My fingers twitch, about to reach out and move the strands back over her shoulder, when my heart stops dead in its attempt to keep me alive. I cannot be seeing what I think I am. No. That's not right. I am just overstimulated and stressed. I refocus my eyes on the alley to the side of our stage, shoulders dropping when they see her staring wide-eyed at me.

Mother.

She still lives here? After all these years? Did she know who I was, or did she just assume I was dead?

She's frozen, her arms crossing to hug her torso. She looks so similar, yet so different from how I remember. Though, I only ever saw her in the poor illumination of underground tunnels.

Her features are sunken, cheeks appearing more hollow than any healthy fae's should. She holds dark, brittle hair in a braid, the end reaching her waist. There are gray streaks that are evident even from my position, where to me her body sits in the shadows instead of the too-bright sun.

Nell notices my sudden stillness and affectionately runs her fingers over my arm. "What's wrong?" I try to tell her everything is fine, but my eyes will not look away and my mouth will not move from its lightly parted form. I feel her worry as if it's my own. She adjusts her stance, positioning herself between me and the crowd. "Emrys. What's going on?" The slight waver of her tender voice is almost enough to pull me out of this trance. Almost.

When I do not answer, her alarmed emotions flow through me, heightening the all-consuming quality of my own. Her head snaps to the right, angling to find what I cannot stop staring at. I know the moment she realizes who the woman in the alley is. Statues are less still than Nell becomes.

"Is that?" she breathes, straining to get the words out. Her eyes find my face again, searching through every truth I'm probably displaying. "That's her, isn't it?" Overpowering rage slams into my chest, finally allowing me to look at something other than my past.

The moment my eyes leave mother, her blurry form retreats from my peripheral. "Oh, fuck no," Nell spits, sprinting from the stage to the alley. It doesn't immediately occur to me that I am following her. "Stop or you die!" she screams, and the frail female halts but does not turn around.

I don't know what to say or do. My mind has separated into small pieces and scattered so far away it feels impossible to put them back together.

My bond, however, does not seem to have such a problem. Her fists clench until the skin lacks any color. Her body trembles hard, and I can practically smell the restraint she's exuding to keep herself from advancing. The stranger gasps, spinning to face us in a robotic manner. My brows scrunch at the movement. She looks as if she's warring internally with herself.

I know I'm right when Nell advances, stalking the female like the predator she is. What the fuck do I do? Let my goddess have her way with mother, or tell her not to and save mother? Impossible fucking situation.

"What is your name?" Nell is positively ethereal. Her voice is raw and commanding—no doubt able to amass the attention of an entire realm with just one word. Mother shakes her head, tremors wracking her body, causing her increasing sweat to flail in various directions. "You will tell me, or I will force you to. I will know the name of the pathetic excuse of a female that. Sold. My. Husband." Mother's eyes open impossibly wide as depraved thoughts of Nell shoot through my brain from the satisfaction of her calling me her husband.

"Sh—" she stutters, clearing her throat as if that's the reason she's struggling to talk. "Cheri." Nell flicks her wrist, sending mother roughly to the stone wall.

I still cannot find my voice. Do I even want to?

"Cheri." The power leaking from my bond sends a cold shiver down my spine. "I was going to ask why you're alive, Cheri, though I find I am quite delighted you are."

Clouds separate, casting bright rays of light over Nell and mother. The latter weeps, tears streaming down her face, making my stomach turn. She's crying? After everything she put me through, she's the one who breaks down at the prospect of being hurt?

I take in her clothes, not having noticed their horrid state before. She wears a brown dress that could barely pass as a used rag, and ankle boots with the leather stripping from the sides. A breeze sweeps through the alley, throwing her scent at me. When was the last time she showered?

"Would you like to know why, Cheri?" Mother says nothing, not daring to move a muscle—probably the most intelligent thing she's ever done. "Because now I get to kill you. Do you have anything to say for yourself? Or to him?" Nell jerks her head in my direction, her eyes not leaving the female standing helplessly in front of her.

Mother drops her gaze, shame crossing her features. I want to laugh. She's never felt sorry for one fucking thing in her life. "Still the gods-damned manipulative bitch I remember you to be." Did I just say that out loud? She sneers at me, her true colors showing so quickly.

"You were always good for nothing. Never docile enough to make decent coin—" she sputters, blood flying from her lips as Nell drops any control she was holding inside. Her fist strikes mother"s face over and over, nearly leaving her unrecognizable by the time I find my voice again.

"Stop."

My goddess halts, crimson liquid dripping from her knuckles and soaking through mother's hair. Her eyes move eerily fast, meeting mine with a deranged, curious look. "Stop?" She mouths the question, very little sound leaving her throat, but I hear her all the same.

Nodding, I take a step in her direction and hold out a hand. She hesitates, looking between mother and me like she's trying to decide if my reaction to her not listening would be worth continuing. "Death would be too good for her." Her jaw tightens, breathing slowing from her attack. Eventually she relents, dropping mother from the wall and taking my hand. I rub my thumb over her wet skin in silent thanks before turning my attention to the female that's about to bolt.

"If I ever see you again, I'll let my wife do whatever she wants to you."