"and soon. We cannot let that thing be built. It'll spell nothing but disaster for all involved."
His eyes met mine and the weight of this knowledge settled over both of us. We were rulers, future Kings. The lives of our people were in our hands. It was a lot to bear—the weight of it could be stifling and almost murderous as time wore on. That was why the three of us had formed this outcast Court. Yes, it was necessary for more than one Royal to move the Court, but only one needed to truly rule it. Royals had been in such short supply since the war that having more than two at a time was a feat and a distinction of strength. But the three of us—Sorrell, Orion, and I—we were bound by more than our race or our Royal lineage. We were bound by more than blood because none of us were truly related.
The three of us were bound by honor. By trust. By hope. That one day this war would end and the dark clouds that hovered over us day in and day out would finally fade and the sun would rise once more.
I put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "I am truly glad to see you happy, to see you and Cress happy together," I said. "In the coming battle, I think you'll need her."
"She's not a fighter," he said. "Though she's been doing better, she is far from ready to take to the fields."
"I don't mean as a fighter, my friend," I replied. "I mean as a lover."
His brows lowered. "She's to be your Queen," he said slowly. "And yet you knew what would happen between us."
I shrugged. "Orion had her first, I second, and somehow, I just figured—we've shared everything since we were adolescents." I grinned at him. "Why not her so long as she agrees to it?"
He shook his head. "Sometimes, I forget just how truly hotheaded and insane you are."
"I think the bond between all of us makes us stronger," I argued. "Not just because we are all more connected, but I feel like my magic is stronger as well. Now”—I stopped and slapped him on the back as I pivoted and headed for the courtyard’s exit—“let’s head to the library and pray to the Gods that Groffet will help us find a way to win this thing before it’s too late.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cress
Sorrell and Roan arrived at the library alongside each other. Though they noticed Nellie and Ash’s presence with raised brows, neither of them said anything. Instead, Roan simply turned and closed the library doors behind him.
For a long moment, silence echoed throughout the chamber, and then Orion spoke. “Last night, Roan and I executed an incognito mission to destroy the King’s supply storage at Norune Castle. While there, we uncovered some concerning information,” he said.
“What kind of information?” I asked.
“The King has been tracking our Courts and is planning to build a moveable fortress much like ours,” Roan stated.
“Movable?” Nellie shook her head. “That’s not possible. Humans can’t use magic.”
“Humans don’t have magic,” Sorrell corrected her. “They can, however, use magical items—this castle and the magic orb that controls it, for example.”
Nel’s eyes swung my way and I knew she was trying to determine if this was real, but this was the first I’d ever heard of such a thing.
“What does that mean?” I asked, focusing on Orion.
“It means,” he said, “that our timetables must be moved forward. We can’t allow King Felix to complete that castle.”
Roan stepped forward and then leveled each of us with a look. The last person he landed on was Nellie, and I realized, now, why they hadn’t immediately kicked her out of this meeting. They wanted to see what she would do, and how she would react to this information. I glared at him and stepped in front of her.
“Don’t,” I warned him.
“I’m sorry, Little Bird,” he said. “We have to be sure.”
“She’s loyal,” I snapped. “Whatever you have to say, she’s not going to go blabbing it to another human. You keep her locked in here—there are no other humans in the Court of Crimson.”
“Cress, it’s okay.” Nellie’s words were soft, but my anger was still sharp. It wasn’t until her hand landed on my arm and she forced me to turn and meet her gaze. “They’re wise to be cautious—keep your friends close and your enemies closer and all that. I’m perfectly fine with anything they have to say.”