Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,153

he and the elves have tried to force me to take, but considering they thought they had lost me, I have to expect some cossetting.

So, sitting in one of the quickly erected tents, cradling the warm mug between my hands, I snuggle deeper into the lap I’m currently sitting on. Grayson hasn’t let me out of his sight. The euisa had taken it out of him pretty hard. From what the others told me, when he first lost control, the initial blast of killing magic took out twenty forsaken. It completely obliterated them, they didn’t even have bodies to burn. We’re just lucky his magic didn’t attack Eldrin or Vaeril… Grayson has barely said a word to anyone since then, and I know he’s feeling guilty.

“I pulled the power from her body into mine. It should have killed me, but the bonds protected me. They were wrapped around my heart,” I explain, looking at each of my mates. “Then the queen’s lady-in-waiting stabbed her in the back while she was weak and I held her magic.”

A twinge of worry goes through me. No one had seen the lady-in-waiting who killed the queen since the battle. She fled, fearing the repercussions of her actions, and worried we might punish her for her association with the queen. The lady-in-waiting who stayed…well, her mind is broken, and the healers are working to make her comfortable.

When I woke up, my mates told me what they discovered when they finally reached the clearing. The queen and I had been on the ground, locked in a silent battle. The forsaken had attacked as soon as they arrived, and the forest came alive. Roots ripped from the ground, trapping the forsaken. Walls of brambles grew from nowhere and stopped the king from escaping, allowing him to be captured. All manner of fae had aided them in the fight—pixies, imps, and more dragging the forsaken to the ground, allowing the tribesmen to decapitate them.

They had discovered Rhydian’s body in the forest where I left it. I’d been terrified about telling Jacob it was me who had killed his brother, but he had thrown his arms around me and sobbed when he walked into the tent and saw me awake in my bed. I held his hand and explained what happened, my face lowered, unable to meet his gaze. However, he understood I was protecting myself and that he’d lost his brother a long time ago.

I still hurt all over, but surrounded by my mates, I feel complete. Leaning back against Grayson, I smile. “At least we know Jos’ weakness now,” I say, gesturing to the four of them.

The tent flap pushes open as someone makes their way in, but I don’t pay any attention.

Eldrin frowns, not understanding. “What was his weakness?”

“Love.”

“Love, really?” a familiar voice scoffs behind me, and if it weren’t for Grayson’s tight hold around my waist, I’d jump up. “Ugh, you really were the chosen one.” Naril grins down at me. He’s got his arm in a sling and looks a bit battered and bruised, but other than that, he seems to be his usual self.

“Naril!” I grin as I watch Eldrin swoop his brother into a crushing hug. “You’re safe!”

He grumbles, trying to escape his brother’s clutches, but secretly I think he likes it, if the gleam in his eyes is anything to go by.

Jacob appears at Naril’s side, smiling apologetically at me. I know he wants to let me rest, but I can tell something’s bothering him. “Clarissa, what do you want to do with the king?”

I let out a long sigh. This is something that needs to be discussed. The king, seeing that things weren’t going how he hoped, tried to escape, but was quickly captured. Since then, he has been trying to barter for freedom with trade deals, offers of land, slaves, gold—you name it. “There’s been enough death today. But he will be tried for what he’s done.”

Jacob nods sharply before turning and quickly leaving the tent. Things were going to get difficult now. No one had thought past what would happen when we won, not quite thinking it would be possible. Arhaven would need a new ruler. Technically, Michael is next in line, but the tribes would back Jacob as the next king.

The high elves have been affected the worst by the forsaken army, but we managed to save some of them when I pulled the darkness from the queen. The sea elves and wood elves have offered to