knees beside Liam as grief shot through me. My arms wrapped around my middle as giant sobs rocked through me. Lasair was my father, his blood ran through my veins, and we’d failed them. My sisters and brothers and their army of children had been slaughtered while I’d watched my husband march off to war. I’d ignored the immense pain that had bludgeoned through me for hours. I’d assumed it was nameless fae when in reality, he’d hit us where we would feel it the hardest.
They’d taken out the high fae, leaving their mark, just as we’d planned to do the exact same thing to them. We’d assumed the mages wouldn’t target the higher castes until they’d battled with the lesser ones, and yet they’d boldly gone for our throats.
Rising, I began walking to the castle with purpose. “Cailean, take men into the dungeons and check for our enemies. The babes are locked within the tower and are protected behind wards. Only the servants are within the stronghold. I want them all out of my home until we are certain they are not enemies. We allow no one inside until we are confident they are with us, not against us.
“Darynda, start a triage center for the wounded coming in, and get Eliran’s nurses and medical staff up here immediately. Tell Eliran to expect iron poisoning and weapon wounds caused by blades with poisonous metal. I want everyone who can fight to pick up a sword and prepare to defend the horde stronghold against an assault. Move, because this fortress will not fall while the king is away. I will not allow it!”
I turned slowly, staring at Adam, who regarded me with pain etching his features. Liam got to his feet, stepping closer, shaking his head. “I should be in the Blood Kingdom.” Agony burned in his azure-blue eyes as his scarred cheek ticked with anger. “I have to go back there now.”
“Go back to what, Liam? Go back to a tomb?” I asked gently, moving away from him to stare down at Arryn, who screamed in pain. Others continued sifting into the courtyard, wounded or carrying the injured. My hand stroked his head, pushing away his thick blond hair, painted crimson with blood. My brow furrowed with worry for him, but more with what was coming. If they’d fallen, that meant they were either braver or stupider than we’d given them credit for.
“Synthia…” Liam’s words died off as he shook his head as his hands rested on his hips.
“There’s no reason to go back, Liam. You’re the Blood King now, and you,” I said, turning to Adam. “You’re the Dark King, and you are both needed to raise your armies to wage war and avenge your fallen. You are Danu’s chosen heirs and the rightful kings of your kingdoms. Dying a heroic death to retrieve corpses won’t bring the dead back.” Tears slipped down my cheeks while I studied them both. “Once the horde stronghold is cleared, we will move the injured inside. I’m so sorry for your losses.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, too, Synthia,” Adam whispered, hugging me tightly. “I’m sick of losing people. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. We just found our families, and now they’re gone forever.”
“Where is the King of the Horde?” Liam asked.
“He just rode out to fight the mages.”
“He’s gone? He is needed here. They’re bringing the war to us. Ryder shouldn’t have left you here unguarded.” Anger burned in Liam’s eyes.
“Ryder is right where he is supposed to be. He took over forty thousand men to battle with him against our enemies. He left over twenty thousand troops here to defend this castle. I want to know how the mages took down our people. How the hell did they kill high fae so easily?”
“It wasn’t just mages, Synthia. They had a god with them when they attacked us. One who bestowed death to everything he touched. He fought with more power than we could hope to defend. How the fuck do you fight against that?” Liam asked.
“You call in the Goddess of War and pray she’s sane