Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“What did you do with the other bodies?” Ian asked Peg.
“We did not have time to make crates for all of them. There were too many,” Peg answered, and Cassius winced. “But we shrouded them securely and buried them.” She looked to Cass. “This is your way, is it not?”
Cassius nodded.
“Cass?” Rus prompted.
He expelled a heavy breath.
And then he decreed, “We cannot have Fern’s army slaughtering citizens before a war has even officially broken out.”
“Guess we’re outvoted,” Jasmine muttered to Mac.
Mac flung an arm around her shoulders.
She leaned into his frame.
“And we cannot have Silvanus and his Zees running amuck across Airen thinking he’s helping, when he’s not.”
“I did not know you formed that deep of a bond with him, Cass,” Elena remarked.
“I didn’t either,” Cassius replied, before he voiced his decision. “I need to make a proclamation, as soon as possible, that any unsanctioned aggression in this realm will be treated as the criminal act it is.”
“Until it’s sanctioned,” Jasmine put in.
“If it is,” Cassius retorted. He again looked to Ellie. “Your mother has my permission to proceed as she will to liberate Fern. That is all.”
“Then we must get to parchment and gather the heralds,” Elena said quietly.
He had hoped for a different end to this day.
Wine. Food. Their friends around.
And if they could, retiring early, if just so he could lie abed with Elena and hold her.
This being after he divested her of that fetching gown.
But this would clearly not be happening.
“I’ll order dinner sent to your stu—” Ellie started to say.
She did not finish, for a soldier entered the room.
His rank was high, a marshal, and if Cass remembered his name correctly, it was Angus.
“Sire,” he said on a smart bow. “A communication from the Nadirii squadron.”
He lifted his hand and in it was a message from a raven.
“Shite,” Cass muttered, pushing up.
He and the man met in between, Cassius walking with Elena close to his side.
The message was passed off, the marshal bowed, turned smartly and left the room.
Cassius unwound the missive and instantly made the decision any communications from anyone would be delivered to him in private.
For the message said,
Night Heights. Southeast Range. Bring Elena immediately. The queen is dying.
“No,” Elena whispered.
He shoved the ribbon of parchment to the person nearest, this being Rus, and turned to take her in his arms before he took her from the room.
But she moved first, taking a step away.
“My darling,” he said gently. “Come with me.”
He heard a gasp, he knew not from who, but he knew it meant the news was traveling the chamber.
“Ellie, please, come with me.”
“No,” she whispered again.
“Ellie—”
“No!” she shrieked, the pain in that one word clawing at his heart.
And with that, Cassius went to her.
Cassius met his men in the Great Hall next to the table now sporting spikes of deep purple and shocking blue gladiolus.
“Report,” he ordered when he stopped at their huddle.
“Scouts sent,” Mac told him. “Those to find the location of the Nadirii squadron, those to assess our path is clear in getting to her.” He paused and then said, “Cass, after the siege was defeated, we know they’re holding back, waiting for any excuse to start the war. But you’ve just sentenced their king to twenty-five years in prison. And with your attention divided, this would be the perfect excuse.”
“Yes, it would,” Cassius replied. “And until this news from the Nadirii, I would relish it starting so it could be over. But we need to hold off their hostility for the now as my priority is to get my woman to her mother.”
Mac nodded.
“Birds and riders sent,” Ian entered the conversation. “To True so he knows and can tell Serena. To Mars and Aramus, not to the Go’Doan.”
Cassius inclined his head.
“A battalion is readying,” Tone put in. “As are the Nadirii who traveled with Elena. We will be ready to ride out in no more than half an hour.”
Cassius tipped his head to Antonius and looked back to Ian. “I will need you to stay. The proclamation must be made, and the Bay kept secure. Also, send reinforcements to the Bailey. King Gallienus does not breathe a free breath until he serves his twenty-five years.”
“Of course,” Ian replied.
His gaze went through them all. “Rus stays with Ian. The rest of you ride with me and my princess.”
He received gestures of assent.
“This does not seem important now, but who knows what is important in times like these with all manner of things happening,” Rus spoke up. “The unicorns are restless.”
“It is my understanding they are bonded with Elena and I, and thus, probably sense her agitation,” Cassius told him.
“Do you wish for them to ride with you?” Rus asked.
“I wish for them to be free to make that decision,” Cass answered.
Rus nodded. “I’ll see to it that that their paddock is opened.”