A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  Then ahead, on the dirt road, a white blur racing towards us—white fur matted with reddish-brown.

  “Shit,” Casteel grunted, running out the doors. Someone else cursed, shouting for him to stay back, but he was already halfway to Delano.

  Who was hurt.

  Who was also alone.

  I took off, the cloak billowing out behind me.

  “Dammit.” That was definitely Kieran.

  I didn’t slow down, reaching Casteel and Delano just as the wolven collapsed, sending clouds of dirt into the air. My heart stopped as I read the fiery agony in him. The physical pain snapped my senses open in the way they had before I woke the day before. The cord stretched out, connecting with him, and the pain caused my steps to falter.

  Kieran caught my arm, righting me. I started to thank him, but he was already past me as Casteel dropped to his knees.

  I reached them just as Jasper did. “Why am I not surprised that both the Prince and our soon-to-be Princess are outside the walls of safety?” he said.

  “Welcome to my world,” Kieran muttered.

  “He’s in pain,” I said, moving to where Casteel knelt. Once I did, I could see the wound in Delano’s side, under his front leg—his right arm. The blood there was fresher, leaking from a puncture wound.

  “He’s unconscious,” Casteel bit out, looking up the empty road and then back at me. “Can you—?”

  I was already on my knees on the other side of Delano, my hands tingling with heat. “I don’t know what will happen,” I said, glancing over at Casteel. “I don’t know if I will ease his pain or anything more beyond that.”

  Eyes like chips of amber met mine. “Do whatever you can.”

  Aware of the Guardians surrounding us as Alastir knelt behind Casteel, I sank my hands into the soft wolven fur. Like with Beckett, before I could start to pull from the all-too-shallow well of good, happy memories, the heat intensified. A faint glow surrounded my hands as I felt Delano’s pain rise suddenly, sharply, and then ease.

  “Gods,” Jasper whispered hoarsely.

  “I’m glowing again, aren’t I?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Casteel answered. “Like moonlight. Beautiful.”

  Delano shuddered as I felt the last of his pain trickle away. His ears twitched and then perked. A moment later, he lifted his head, stretching to look back at me as I lifted my hands.

  “Hi,” I said, and I swore the wolven smiled.

  “Delano?” Casteel leaned forward. “Can you shift?”

  The wolven turned back to Casteel and shuddered again. As the fur thinned, Kieran whipped off his shirt, draping it over Delano’s midsection just as his legs lengthened, claws retracted, and pale skin replaced fur. A moment later, Delano was in his mortal form.

  I rocked back. Watching a wolven change forms would never cease to amaze me.

  Delano lifted his right arm as he sat up, wiping the blood off to reveal no wound. Just a pinker, ragged patch of skin. He lowered his arm, eyes meeting mine.

  “Delano,” Casteel said. “What in the hell happened?”

  Tearing his gaze from me, he turned to Casteel, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. “They’re coming. The Ascended.”

  Chapter 35

  “They’re burning everything,” Delano said between mouthfuls of roasted meat and gulps of water as we sat in a room inside the fortress, off from the dining hall. “All of what was left of Pompay. All of the woods from Pompay to—to Gods, possibly all the way to New Haven. The Dead Bones Clan?” His bare shoulders tensed as he reached for the water. “I don’t see how they could’ve gotten out of there. They have to all be gone.”

  My empty stomach churned with nausea. I was no fan of their people-eating and skin-wearing habits, but that didn’t mean I wished they’d all be murdered. Especially after learning that they’d survived the war and the Ascended by hiding out in those woods.

  “As soon as we saw Pompay, we knew it wasn’t normal. There weren’t that many there. Maybe two dozen guards. But to create that kind of fire? To the point that the air is nearly black with smoke? We knew there had to be more.” His knuckles bleached white from how tightly he held his glass.

  We.

  But only he’d returned, and I knew what that meant.

  I looked to where Casteel stood on the other side of the table.

  His expression was utterly devoid of emotion, but I could feel the vast, icy rage inside him. “Did you see more?”

  “We skirted past them, traveling farther west. That’s where we saw them—saw the rest. We got close—as close as we could. To see how many there were.” He downed half the glass of water. “They have camps, Cas. Horses. Wagons pulling supplies.”

  Alastir, who’d been standing since we entered the room, sat in a chair, his face pale as Delano lifted his fingers, one by one, from the glass. “There have to be hundreds of them, close to eight hundred or so, I’d guess. A godsdamn army.”

  I sat back. From the moment I’d realized that the sky wasn’t actually burning, I had already suspected that the Ascended were behind the fire. My hours on the Rise were spent preparing myself for what I already knew. The knowledge that the Ascended were coming wasn’t what shook me. It was the sheer numbers of them.

  “Hell,” Jasper muttered.

  “One of them saw us as we left their camp. Arrows. That’s what got me. Got Dante.”

  “Was he killed?” Casteel asked.

  Delano nodded as he stared at the plate. “Got him in the head.”

  Alastir swore, rising once more. “Dante didn’t know when to shut up.” He turned, clasping the back of his chair. “But he was a good man. Honorable.”

  “I know.” A muscle flexed in Casteel’s jaw.

  “I couldn’t stop to heal,” Delano said. “The moment the arrow hit me, and I saw that Dante was dead, I ran. I would’ve gotten here sooner but I was weakening.”

  “It’s okay. You got here.” Casteel unfolded his arms and placed a hand on the wolven’s shoulder. “That is what matters.”

  Delano nodded, but I knew he didn’t believe that. I could feel it. The anger—directed at the Ascended and at himself.

  “You ran how many miles?” I asked. “With a wound that most likely punctured a lung. You did more than most could ever think to do.”

  Delano’s eyes met mine. “And you healed me with the touch of your fingers.”

  “And that was nowhere near as difficult or as impressive as what you did.”

  The centers of Delano’s cheeks pinkened as Casteel added, “She speaks the truth. And you’re the first person to ever impress her. I’m jealous.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Casteel squeezed Delano’s shoulder once more and then asked, “Did you see any sign of Elijah? Or anyone from New Haven?”

  With a shake of Delano’s head, a heavy, somber pall settled over the room.

  “There are other ways they could’ve traveled—routes that would take significantly longer. But that doesn’t mean Elijah and the people didn’t get out of New Haven,” Kieran said, speaking for the first time. “They could’ve headed north and then come down through the foothills of the Skotos to avoid the Ascended.”

  “I know.” Casteel crossed his arms. “Did you see any Ascended? Any knights?”

  “No, but there were windowless carriages and wagons with high walls, completely sheltered. It’s possible some are with them.”

  “That’s one bit of good news then,” Casteel said.

  “How is that good news?” Alastir turned to him. “There are hundreds on their way here. An army.”

  “It’s good because hundreds of mortals means Spessa’s End has a chance,” Casteel answered.

  “A slim chance.” Alastir returned to his seat. “You may be optimistic. I respect that, but even with the Guardians we have here, that will not be enough to hold back an army of hundreds.”

  A chill settled in my bones as I looked around the table, around the room and the stone walls that had
already witnessed one city fall. “We can’t let Spessa’s End fall.”

  Several pairs of eyes turned to me, but it was Casteel’s gaze that I met. “And we won’t,” he said. “Nova?”

  The tall Guardian with the braided blond hair stepped forward. It was the one who’d watched us the day I saw them training. “Yes, my Prince?”

  “Remind me of how many people we have that are capable of defending the town?”

  “Less than a hundred who are trained or capable of physically fighting,” she answered, and Emil let out a low curse. “Our older population is trained with the bow, though. We would have about twenty archers.”

  Twenty archers was better than nothing, but it wasn’t enough. Everyone knew that.

  “We have an additional twenty-three from my and Alastir’s groups.” A muscle flexed along Casteel’s jaw. “When do you think they’ll reach Spessa’s End?”

  “They’re in two groups,” Delano said. “The smaller one is closer, about a day’s ride out. I imagine they could be here by nightfall.” The tension in the room intensified. “The larger group will take longer to arrive. Probably two days, but those guesses are based on whether the first group waits for the larger group.”

  “And how many are in the first group?” Jasper asked.

  “Two hundred? Maybe three.”

  That was the smaller group? Dear gods… “There is no way they don’t know what has been happening here if they’ve sent nearly a thousand or more soldiers,” I said. “They’re coming, ready for a fight.”

  “Someone must have talked,” Emil said as he pushed off the wall. “They had to have forced the information from someone. Possibly a Descenter who traveled here or was aware.”

  “Or someone at New Haven,” Alastir said, and my chest seized with dread.

  “They’re probably not entirely aware of what has been rebuilt here, but they know with it being this close to the Skotos, they’re not coming unprepared. The size of the army could be more show than force in hopes of scaring us into giving them what they want.” Jasper, seated a few empty seats down the table from me, twisted in my direction. “Which I assume is you.”

  I already knew that. Whether they knew what Spessa’s End had become or not, they were coming for their Maiden. Their blood supply. The future of their Ascensions in one shape or form, and they’d brought an army to gain what they wanted, fully prepared to do so through force.

  And people would…they would die. Possibly even some of those in this very room. All of them were the closest things to immortal there were, but none of them were gods. And even with everyone willing and able to fight, we were vastly outnumbered. People would die because they were harboring me, just like the people in New Haven.

  Like Renfern.

  My stomach and chest twisted with the iciness of apprehension. I couldn’t live with that again.

  “They cannot have what they want,” Casteel snarled as his gaze shot to mine. “Ever.”

  I stilled as he held my gaze. There was a vow in his words, one that spoke volumes—one that said he knew where my thoughts had gone.

  “They’re here for me,” I said, holding his stare and willing him to hear what I couldn’t say in front of others. “We cannot risk—”

  “Yes, we can,” he cut me off, eyes burning an intense yellow. “And, yes, I will. They cannot have you.” Bending forward, he placed his hands on the table. “Whatever you’re thinking, you have it wrong. They’re not going to turn and walk away if they have you. You know that, Poppy. You saw that firsthand with Lord Chaney. They will get what they want and still lay waste to everything before them just because they can. That is what they do. And once they have you, they will use you to wreak more havoc and destruction. By giving yourself to them, you won’t be saving lives. You’ll be destroying more of them.”

  Casteel was right, and I hated that. It made me feel like there was nothing I could do to stop this—to fight back.

  But that was wrong.

  There was something I could do. I could fight.

  Casteel dragged his gaze from mine. “We need reinforcements, and we need them quickly. Alastir, I need you to cross the Skotos. Alert those at the Pillars and Saion’s Cove to what is happening. Send as many of our soldiers that can make it to Spessa’s End within two days,” Casteel ordered, to which the wolven already began rising from his chair to obey. Casteel wasn’t done yet. He turned to Kieran. “I want you to travel with him just in case something happens.”

  “What?” Kieran exclaimed, obviously as shocked as I was to hear Casteel’s demand. “There is a damn army of Solis heading this way, and you’re sending me to Atlantia?”

  “I am. You’re fast. You’re strong. And you will not weaken or falter if something happens to Alastir.” Casteel met the wolven’s astonished stare. “You will not fail us.”

  My heart started thumping hard because I knew. I knew in my bones why Casteel was sending Kieran away.

  “My Prince,” Nova spoke up. “I know you feel that it is your duty to remain here, but it is you who should travel beyond the Skotos. You should leave immediately and head for safety.”

  “I have to agree with her,” Alastir chimed in. “The Ascended may think you’re the Dark One, but they may know who you really are—the living heir to the Kingdom of Atlantia. You are the last person who should be here.”

  I tensed at Alastir’s words, but Casteel showed no reaction to him being referred to as the living heir to the kingdom. “I value both of your thoughts and opinions, but you all know I will not leave Spessa’s End to defend itself. Not when I helped to convince those here to come and make their homes in this place.”

  “Everyone who came here knew the risks involved,” Alastir argued. “Your life cannot be put at risk for Spessa’s End.”

  Casteel inclined his head. “If I’m not willing to risk my life for Spessa’s End, how dare I ask the people here to do so? That is not what a Prince does—at least not a good one.”

  A wealth of respect for Casteel rose so swiftly in me, it took my breath. I didn’t understand how he couldn’t see it practically radiating from me. He wasn’t willing to ask those to risk what he would not, and no one could argue that. Not even Alastir.

  He exhaled heavily and then nodded.

  “I should be here with you.” Kieran stepped closer to Casteel. “My duty is to defend your life with mine. That is what I’m bonded to do, the oath I took. How can I do that running away from the battle?” His voice lowered. “Don’t do this, Cas.”

  My heart twisted as I stared at them. Casteel was sending his bonded wolven away. One look at Kieran told me that he knew it, too. Casteel was removing any chance that Kieran would risk his life to save his.

  Just as he’d done when he left to kill the Queen and King of Solis.

  And that meant that Casteel truly understood the likelihood that Spessa’s End wouldn’t hold until or if reinforcements arrived.

  “You took an oath to protect me, and you will,” Casteel said. “You’re not running away from the battle. You will be keeping safe what is most important to me, and that is Poppy.”

  I jolted. “Wait. What?”

  “You will leave with them. It will be hard,” he said, still holding Kieran’s gaze. “There will be no breaks, and you will need to listen to everything Kieran tells you, especially when it’s night in the mountains, but—”

  “I’m not leaving,” I cut him off.

  “You can’t be here,” Casteel replied. “Not when they come. This is not up for discussion.”

  I shot to my feet. “Let me make one thing clear. I don’t know if you realize this or not, Casteel, but I’m not duty-bound to obey a single thing you say.”

  Casteel stiffened.

  “And maybe you should actually look at me when you try to order me to do things,” I tacked on.

  He turned to me, his head cocked. “I’m looking at you now.”

  “But are you listening?”

  “Oh, man,” Delano
murmured under his breath as the rest of the room went dead silent. “Someone is getting stabbed again.”

  Someone, I think it was Jasper, snorted.

  “Oh, I’m listening,” Casteel replied. “Maybe you should try that. Along with this thing called common sense.”

  “Definitely getting stabbed,” Kieran confirmed.

  I stepped around the table, aware that Delano appeared to be sinking into his chair. “Are you serious?”

  “Are you armed?” Casteel asked with a smirk. “You are, aren’t you?”

  “I’m so confused by what is happening here,” Nova whispered with a slight frown.

  “Apparently, she already stabbed him once,” Jasper informed the Guardian. “In the heart.”

  Nova looked at me.

  “And she cut me earlier tonight. Threw a knife right at my face another time,” Casteel ticked off his fingers. “Then this one time, in the woods, she—”

  “No one wants to hear about how many times I’ve made you bleed,” I snapped.

  “I do,” Jasper remarked.

  Emil raised his hand. “So do I.”

  “Look, not only is it not wise for the one thing they want to be here within their grasp, I don’t want to worry about you handing yourself over,” Casteel stated. “You know…like before.”

  “That is not a mistake I will make again,” I stated.

  “But you were just thinking about it, weren’t you?” He stepped to the side so Delano was no longer seated between us.

  “I was,” I admitted. “For a couple of minutes. But you were right.”

  His brows lifted. “Blessed be the gods, someone mark the date and time. She just admitted I was right.”

  “Oh, shut up,” I bit back.

  “Fine with me. Conversation is over. You’ll leave with Alastir and Kieran immediately.” He started to turn.

  “I am not leaving.” I lifted my chin when he spun back to me. “You’ll have to make me. You’ll have to drag me all the way to Atlantia yourself.”

  His chin dipped as anger pounded through him, reaching me. “Or I could just compel you.”

  My skin went cold. “You wouldn’t dare.”