The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,69
Elena.
Farah clenched True’s thigh.
“And that is my blood, darling,” he finished.
“Well, it’s good that your mother’s blood is good and kind and won out in you, isn’t it?” Elena retorted without a second’s delay.
“Gods, nothing shakes it, does it?” Cassius muttered.
“No,” Elena responded easily on a large smile.
It took a moment, but Cassius’s lips quirked.
“You’re the Sky King,” Farah blurted.
True turned to her to see her gaze on Cass.
And thus, he only heard Cassius’s reply, “In name only.”
Farah looked to True. “And you’re the Green King.”
“Also, in name only, darling,” he murmured.
She turned to Mars. “And you’re the Fire King and you,” she looked to Aramus, “are the Sea King.”
“And you will note, my people didn’t get caught up in that messy bloody business,” Aramus stated.
True felt his own lips twitch.
“This is…we are…” she stammered but said no more.
“Farah?” Ha-Lah called.
“We are their power,” Farah stated.
The room went silent again.
Someone cleared their throat, and all looked to the door.
A servant was there, his eyes on Elena.
“Your Grace, dinner is ready,” he announced.
Before Elena could say anything, Bram appeared in the door, rounding the servant, and his eyes were locked on True.
“True, a word?” he asked.
At the look on his brother’s face, True did not delay in murmuring his apologies, straightening from his seat, and following Bram out of the room.
Bram headed down the hall the opposite direction of the dining room.
He stopped nearly to the entry of the Citadel.
“I don’t like the look on your face,” True noted after he stopped with him.
“We’ve had ravens from Alfie. He says he’s sending a messenger with the fullness of his report, including the evidence he has that supports what the ravens bear. That being, he believes it was The Rising who conspired to surface the Beast. And True…fuck.”
“What?” True asked with dread.
“He thinks there’s strong evidence that the Beast is risen.”
True closed his eyes.
And whispered…
“Fuck.”
136
The Assignments
The Great Coven
Silbury Henge, Argyll Forest
AIREN
In the clearing of the forest, the first flash of light came before the first of the five standing stones.
The light was coral.
The witch Melisse of the Nadirii Sisterhood.
The next flash was green.
Rebecca of Wodell.
And at her side, arms linked, was Queen Farah.
The next light was crimson.
Nandra of Firenze.
And linked to her was Queen Silence.
Then there was marine-blue.
The witch Lena of Mar-el.
And with her came Queen Ha-Lah.
The last flash was bright white.
Fern of Airen.
At her side, with arms linked, was Queen Elena.
Without a word, they moved as one to the slab in the center of the stones.
Touching the stone with her fingertips, Lena stated clearly, “The moon.”
Fern of the Airenzian touched it. “The star.”
Nandra of the Firenz also put fingers to stone. “The blood.”
Rebecca followed suit. “The dirt.”
Melisse hesitated, closed her eyes, breathed deep, took a moment with love, respect and sorrow to remember her sister, her friend, and then said, “The sisterhood.”
Instantly, Elena broke from Fern and declared, “You need to cease your activities in Dunlyn.”
“It is too far gone for that, Your Grace,” Fern replied.
“It is on orders from your Regent,” Elena returned heatedly.
“We have weightier topics to discuss,” Rebecca broke in.
And Nandra of Firenze did not hesitate in doing that.
“We would feel him, would we not?” she asked.
“We felt the disturbance in the veil,” Lena remarked.
“But then…nothing?” Rebecca asked. “How could he ascend after these many millennia and then…nothing?”
“We must seek him in the now,” Fern stated, leaning forward into both her palms on the stone before them. “We must discover if he has surfaced.”
“And then what?” Nandra asked.
“Vanquish him,” Fern replied, pushing back. She then indicated the queens amongst them with a sweep of her arm. “They are at their full powers.”
“Elena must marry,” Melisse stated. “She is the last. This union, their vows, must be felt by the veil. Only then will those prophesied be at their full powers.”
There seemed a general agreement with that, but Melisse did not make verbal note of it.
She continued, “And Ha-Lah, Jorie and Silence must make alliances with the beasts of the seas.”
“Do you think to drive him to the seas again?” Rebecca asked.
“I think we must consider all avenues, regardless if they are used,” Melisse answered.
“But Silence hasn’t even used her fin yet,” Ha-Lah shared.
“Then teach her,” Melisse replied. “And do it swiftly.”
Ha-Lah glanced at Silence.
Silence nodded her head to Ha-Lah.
The Firenz Queen did not appear afraid.
She appeared excited.
“And you must bring peace in your realm,” Melisse said to Fern, her gaze then shifted to Elena to finish making her point.