"Yes, we went there last week to retrieve it, but it seems that everyone in Last Pyre has gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes, as far as we could tell. We were hoping that you might know where they are?" The king stood behind his wife, his hand on her shoulder as they both stared down at me, both of their looks together someone magnifying the eternal x-ray of the queen, I shifted again.
"I don't." I couldn't force myself to look at them.
"I expected as much. In fact, it seems that many other communities have vanished, with the raids and attacks that have been taking place lately it's understandable, but it makes it hard for us to protect them."
I nodded, not knowing what kind of response to give her. We had heard from the others that the Eternals had been intersecting with the raids and saving many of the Undermortals from the CCC, but it was still kind of hard to believe. I still wasn't quite ready to go spewing information to her about it. Even if I knew where they were.
"We need to know where they have gone, Gemma." The king began, the deep booming of his accented voice pulling my focus right to him. "Especially if they have a Vilỳ--"
"Why would it be so bad if they have a Vilỳ?" I interrupted him, Ryland stepping forward like he was going to throw himself before Ilyan like he was some kind of shield. "They would be like everyone else."
"Yes, but untrained, uncentered magic can be dangerous," Queen Joclyn said, leaning forward and resting her hands on her knees. Screw this, I looked right at her, furrowing my brow as I popped a shield around myself. Like hell if I was letting her get in. "The bite from a poisoned Vilỳ on its own can be dangerous. I'm actually surprised you survived it. So many of those bitten by a poisoned Vilỳ exploded in those early days."
"I'm sorry, did you say exploded?" I jerked back, all thought of some epic stare off gone. All of them gave me a nod, expressions from disgust to worry to even awe in the case of Mira looking back at me.
"Yes, which is why it's important that we find them. I need you to ask everyone you work with for food and in those late-night meetings," I jerked back in my seat, damn the freaky queen really did know everything. Damn Draks. Just like her son. Fuck, what had he seen? Before I could go down that inevitably scarring Rabbit hole, the Queen continued. "Ask them if they know anything of any of the communities. We need to know what happened and where they have gone."
Eternals spy school take two was officially in session. At least this one was as easy as the last one, I could get the information and pass it on without anyone knowing I was collecting information for the royals.
"We also need to know the leader's names of each community and would like your help setting up meetings with them,” The kings blue eyes flashed, they didn’t look away, they sunk in as ice settled in my veins. “We would like to start working alongside your people. I need your help to make the connection.”
Shit.
---
The room was filling up.
The low squeak of my door as it opened and closed was less of a steady rhythm now, the low hum of voices increasing as more and more people came in filling every chair and couch and piece of floor as they always did.
I was still in my room. I hadn't been able to force myself to leave.
I wasn't scared, I didn't have time for that shit. But perhaps I was apprehensive about what was about to happen. This could go one of two ways. Considering I had snapped my shield to myself and not the room I was clearly expecting it to go the worse way possible.
"Are you going to come in any time soon or do I need to shave my head put on a skirt and lead this shit myself," Eddy peered around the side of the open doorway that led to the sitting area, wagging his eyebrows in practice for his epic drag appearance.
"It'll never work," I said, harsher than I expected, as I jumped to my feet. "You don't have boobs."
"I dunno. If they keep giving us such delicious food I might," he winked at me and puffed out his chest in a beautiful display of male boobage.
I couldn't help but laugh, the sound turning to shrieks as he continued his pursuit, tits out as it were.
"What do you say, baby, wanna hook up sometimes?" He was putting on some weird voice that was only making the whole thing worse. I pushed him away, desperate for air.
"I have sat here on my ass, waiting for this--”
“You’ve been waiting for me to come on to you?” Eddy smirked, still puffing out his chest.
“No. Stop trying to get in my pants, Ed.”
"Wait. Does that mean you want me in your pants? I thought we were going for something more regal..." I pressed my hand against his mouth before he could say anything else and fixed him with a mighty glare. He shut up, was still smirking though.
"You don't even like my pants."
"True," he said, slowly lowering my hand. "But there are some pants out there I like."
He wagged his eyebrows at me and licked his lips. I ignored him and strutted into my room, freezing in place. The room was packed, more so than it had been two weeks ago when we had held out last middle-of-the-night mixer.
"If they try to kill me, promise you'll jump in front of the bullets," I whispered to Eddy, who stepped around the wall with me.
"Aw, hell no. You're on your own babe." Ed gave me a look and slid onto the clogged couch, right next to Greer who gave him one of his wide smiles. I wasn't sure if that smile was a flirting one, but wasn't going to step in. Besides I had bigger problems than where Eddy was swinging his bat.
"Seems we are the popular hangout tonight," I teased, gaining a few laughs as I perched myself on the arm of the couch like I usually did. Everyone instantly moved in, people in the front sitting on the carpet so that the people behind them could hear.
I was actually amazed my room could fit this many people. Of course, it would be the worst popular time to have this happen. More people meant a high chance of inciting a mob.
I glanced at Ed, who gave me a thumbs up that I almost shoved up his nose. He was too positive, and apparently a shit bodyguard considering that he immediately turned to start chatting up Greer. He was more interested in the guy than to how this was going to end up.
Whatever.
"As usual," I began, trying to ignore the nagging voice as to why they were all there, or that this meeting was going to turn into a disaster. "Let's start with updates from Saturday's food run. How are the communities faring, who is ready to fight--"
"I think we are all ready to fight after that display yesterday," someone said from the back, although no one turned toward him. If anything, they leaned closer, eyes wide and looking right at me. I could have sworn Ed groaned from beside me. It might have been me, though.
"You not only knocked down part of the building, but you tried to kill the prince, too," Ruby said, her face thankfully bruise-less after her run in from Sia.
"she almost succeeded too," someone else said, "I was there. The guy took off screaming out of the window."
I sunk down onto the lamp table, sending the porcelain thing rattling as I plopped down. Damn it. They all sounded like Sia, except for them it wasn't flabbergasted anger. It was awe. Fucking, awe. Because we were clearly one step closer to what I had promised them on that very first day.
What I had spent my life working towards.
What I had changed my mind about, or was being ordered to change my mind about. I sighed, Rowan was causing far too many problems for me. I would have to unpack that later.
"Damn. If we can get that close to killing that idiotic prince, then ending them all should be easy," a voice piped up, battling over the eager buzz that had finally made an appearance and stilling everyone.
Not that I knew what it felt like, but I could have sworn a metal spike was plunged straight down my spine. Everything had gone rigid and cold as I looked at both Eddy and Greer, the only other two in this room who had met Rowan, who knew the truth. Well, part of it. They both looked ready to explode.
Well, I still had a few bodyguards on hand.
/>
"I'm not sure that's the best course of action anymore," I began, making sure to lift my voice enough to pull everyone's focus. Considering what I had said, I could have whispered and still gotten the same effect.
Every eye turned to me, every gaze narrowed as a wave of whispered moved through the Undermortals, a powerful ripple of angry magic following right behind.
"You tried to kill the prince," a Ghostlander piped up, the guy muscling forward from where he and his companion had been standing at the back of the room. "You almost killed him, and now you have second thoughts."
I paused, debating how much to correct them, how much of the truth I should divulge. I had a key to disaster on my palm, burning a hole through my palm. Waiting.
I balled my fist and shoved my hands in my pocket as I stood, stepping atop the coffee table as I usually did. yeah, it totally made me a target, the fuming guys behind me would have to deal with it.
"My intent wasn't to kill him." Everyone immediately started to whisper, the magic boiling in the room. Instinctively, I moved my shield from around the room, to around me. Chances were everyone was asleep anyway. I was having a good hair day, didn't want someone to mess that up by trying to take off my head or some shit.
"If it wasn't to kill him, then what were you doing?"
"We were sparring. It was Defense class." I narrowed my eyes dangerously, but no one recoiled, they met the glare head-on. Stupid, stubborn, Undermortals.
"So, you wasted an opportunity to kill him--"
"I won't kill him," I quickly interrupted, my heart thumping painfully at the truth in the words, fear tightening around it like ribbons. Fear and joy mingling in a dangerous concoction. "Rowan is not our enemy. None of the Eternals are out enemy. They wish to--"
"You said you were a double agent." The Ghostlander nearly yelled, too loud. Hopefully, no one was wandering around at five am because I was sure they would have heard that two doors over. "Turns out they have you in their pocket."
"They do not have me in their pocket," I was snarling, the Ghostlander just smiled.
"How much did they pay you, you traitor?"
"They didn't pay her anything!" Greer roared, jumping to his feet as Eddy did. "I play rugby with the Prince. He is a genuinely good guy. You have seen his family Dramin and Patrice work with us every weekend to deliver food. What more do you wish to see to know that they are on our side?"
"A little bit of food does not repay a lifetime of repression."
"Our people still died at the hands of the CCC because they did nothing."
"They cannot be nice for a month and expect us to forgive centuries of arrogance!"
The voice plowed over one another. They rumbled and grew and buzzed so loud that I was sure the walls were vibrating. If not from the noise, but from the angry waves of magic that were washing over everything.
"Stop!" I roared, throwing any spec of caution to the wind. "That's enough! We have been wronged, we have been used, but they are trying to make amends." I lowered my voice, knowing whose wall my dorm shared a room with and not wanting to take any chances. "They are fighting against the CCC, you have heard that from your own communities. You have seen their attempts to give our people homes and a better life. I have heard whisperings that soon they will face them head to head."
I paused, looking to the wall as though I would see Sia on the other side with her ear plastered against the wall. Knowing her she was probably fast asleep, wrapped in the skin of the undead that will grant her eternal youth and couldn't hear a thing.
"Ilyan has asked me to work with you all to arrange--"
"Ilyan?" Kira cut in, my once loyal supporter looking affronted. Everyone around her mumbling and whispering. "You on a first name basis, now?"
"No, I mean--"
"Save it!" One of the Ghostlanders interrupted. "We don't want to hear it. I ate your lies about being a double agent. I believed that you could actually pull this off. I thought she almost killed the prince. I was sure I put my faith in the right person. But you've been lying to us all along."
"Let's go."
The door swung open then, taking away any chance to explain. One by one, everyone filtered out. More than one person spat towards me as they left, every single one scowling as Ed, Greer, and I continued to try to pull their attention.
In seconds, the room was empty, leaving the three of us standing alone in the dripping anger of the near mob that had left.
"Well, no one tried to take you down," Greer said at full voice, his booming laugh followed right behind.
"They might have if they let me finish. If they knew why Ilyan wanted to speak to them," the two boys turned to me, but I still stared at the door, the solid wood having slammed shut seconds before.
"Adrian, the leader of Last Pyre, has found a Vilỳ," I said, Greer gasped, Eddy nodding once in confirmation. "The royals are too trusting, too confident to think much of it. But I know better. I think he's building an army."
34
Sia
"Adrian, the leader of Last Pyre, has found a Vilỳ." I repeated what I had heard verbatim, my father’s eyes widening. Talon's brow furrowed. "From what she said, she thinks he's building an army. If I had to guess, he's used the thing already. They might have more than a few magic wielders."
"A Vilỳ? Where did they get one of those? The ones at Imdalind are so locked up even I can't get to them." Talon scoffed, the harsh sound bristling against my spine and I gave him a look. The guy smiled with that heart-stopping grin that always sent my knees shaking. Not today, this was too important.
"I doubt it's one of the ones that you guys have," I said, giving him smug grin. "Since it's from her rat hole I bet it's the one that bit her. They kept it alive, now they are going to use it."
"A wild Vilỳ," Talon said, his hands rubbing together with the same eagerness that was smothering his features. He wasn't looking at me anymore, he was focused on something far away. "The magic those grant in their bite is second only to one. If we could get that we could build an army of our own. A real army, not just the Tarns with guns."
"We could bite the Tarns." My father's eyes were hungry, the two men now looking at each other as though they were fighting over scraps of meat. "Thousands with powerful magic, under my control."
"Our control," Talon corrected. I expected my father to scowl, to rage, but the two laughed, clapping each other on the back with the weird camaraderie that had formed over the last week.
It would figure that I would find my magic's mate and he would be the perfect match for the world we were building. Seeing that hungry violence in his eyes was begging me to drag him back down to my old bedroom again. The guy looked at me like he could read my mind, blowing me a kiss as his magic caressed the base of my spine.
Damn him. He knew he was driving me crazy, and he knew I loved it.
"Do we know where Last Pyre is?" Talon turned from me, giving my father a dark look before the two men strode over to the map on the wall. The old thing was marred with chicken-scratch writing and colorful stickers for the communities that had been emptied or attacked. Most of the red dots lined the main tunnel that circled the old city of Prague, the dark line. The Drains had been cleared out over the last few months in an effort to clear a path to the dark line, and the to the underground palace the royals occupied.
After Talon had joined our cause, those plans had shifted. The tunnels were cleared, but instead of clearing the caverns, Talon had suggested we move south, clearing the communities closer to the Academy buildings and an old tunnel system the royals still used. The thought was that if we took control of the tunnels, we could control their movements better. Especially valuable seeing as only Joclyn and Ilyan could stutter.
"It's here," my father said as I walked around the desk to join them. Talon instantly moved to hold me against him, magic flaring as skin pressed against skin. "We had been saving it for the end, waiting for Sia to end the bitch before we sacked her home. The idea had been to make her wa
tch as we ransacked the place, but Sia was never able to get her hands on the Drain."
I lifted my chin, meeting his glare head-on. I shouldn't be surprised that he still hadn't gotten over my failure. I had literally handed him a prince and once the bonding was completed, an Eternal daughter. It still wasn't good enough.
Fine. I would be the one to retrieve the Vilỳ myself, show him exactly what good his daughter can do.
"What are these?" I asked, pointing to the two yellow dots that stood between our estate and Last Pyre, the names Safe Home and Fire Fate barely legible.
"Sister communities," My father said the words as though they were poison. "Or so the intel says. They are being monitored, we believe Last Pyre may have moved there in the last few weeks. If we were to take them out before Last Pyre, chances were high that Last Pyre would come to the rescue, and vice-versa. We would need to take them out all at once to assure our success. So we left them alone while we waited--"
"What do you think the chances are that those communities are part of the army this Adrian guy is building?" I cut my father off, not really wanting to hear him drawl about pathetic girls that are about as useless to us as the rats that work in the kitchens.
"High," Talon answered before my father had a chance. He didn't fight back as he normally would, but his jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing at the map. "If you are right, and Last Pyre has moved south to Fire Fate, he may already be building an army. If he's been doing it since Gemma was carted off to Imdalind Academy some of those bitten by that deranged little creature are already awake, and already have magic running through their veins."
"They are already ready to fight," my father finished for him, turning away from the map to where Talon held me against him. Eager malice swelled with the magic as the two smiled, my father giving a low laugh before he turned back to the map, slowly peeling away the two yellow specks. "The fool has already built an army for us. An army with the same goal, to end Ilyan and Joclyn's reign."
"So, we get the bastards to fight for us?" I asked, twisting in Talon's grip to look at him, but he held me fast, resting his head on top of mine instead.
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