lives if necessary.
Unfortunately, it probably wasn’t enough. We suspect Kymaris is not going to come to the ritual with just the power of the Blood Stone. It would be needed to tear the veil down, not protect the ritual. We assume Kymaris will show up with hundreds of daemons and Dark Fae also willing to lay their lives down in support of her.
Since her army is heavy on daemons who don’t possess magic and are frailer than fae and annihilators, we hope that fact will make the difference. She had a hard time collecting her original Fallen Dark Fae, so we’re banking on the same for those descended from the originals.
We hope beyond hope we are at least evenly matched given the quality of our warriors, even if they have more in quantity.
It’s a lot to depend on hope, but it is all we have.
Because we hiked into our arranged meeting spot, which was still a mile through thick woods to the ritual spot, there wasn’t really anywhere to get comfortable. I sit on the ground with my back against a thick tree, nervously twining my fingers. Boral lounges on the pine-needled floor as if he frequently hangs out in the woods, and Zaid paces nervously nearby. My eyes keep cutting to the core group of strategists and warriors who are ironing out and making any last revisions to the game plan.
Deandra is admittedly magnificent in battle armor that actually still looks feminine. Her black hair is in a high ponytail on top of her head, and she looks both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. She has reiterated on more than one occasion that Pyke is hers to take care of.
Rebsha is similarly dressed, but his look is far from feminine. His muscles are on full display, and the genial advisor to Queen Nimeyah is gone—replaced by a warrior.
Titus is in dark leather pants and a sleeveless leather vest, with an array of weapons attached. Carrick and Maddox are more modern, dressed in all-black fatigues and long-sleeved shirts, their sturdy combat boots making them both look badass.
Even though she won’t actively participate, Zora stands with them, listening intently as they go over their strategies. She’s wearing a pair of comfortable workout clothes in black, same as me.
She has her hair in a braid, also same as me, but because hers almost glows at night since it’s so white, she has a black knit cap on to dampen it.
The rest of the forces are scattered deeper in the woods, managed for the moment by the leaders of the two Brevalian tribes. Caiden has the annihilators set up and ready to go. Myles is with Titus’ wife, Priya, who will bring him closer when it’s time to set his drone into the air.
“You ready for this, Savior?” Boral asks in a lazy tone. Out of all of us, he’s the most laid back about all of this. I expect it’s because he’s killed so many people and creatures in his lifetime that death is nothing more than an ordinary day for him.
“Are you?” I return, crossing one outstretched leg over the other.
Boral shrugs a shoulder. “We all got to die sometime.”
“Except you’re immortal and I’m not,” I point out. “Your laissez fair attitude works better for you.”
“True,” he agrees, and we grin at each other.
Zaid can hear us as he paces nearby, and I normally wouldn’t want to say something that could potentially hurt his feelings. But time is ticking, and I’ve never said this to Boral.
“Thank you.” My earnest tone and expression causes Boral to go still. “For helping me over these past several weeks. For being on our team. For being loyal. And for saving my life on more than one occasion.”
Zaid stops in mid-stride, head turned his father’s way.
“You’re welcome,” Boral says in a gruff voice.
“You’re not bad for a Dark Fae Ravager,” I tease, not willing to risk a glance at Zaid. He’d probably hate me bantering with the father he hates.
But to my surprise, Zaid lightens the mood with some dark humor. “I bet you’re his favorite human he’s wanted to kill but decided not to.”
For a moment, Boral doesn’t know how to take that, but I’ve come to know Zaid well over these past months. Much better than his father does, and I crack up laughing.
It takes a second or two, but Boral eventually does the same.
Even Zaid chuckles before resuming his nervous pacing.
Glancing at my watch, I note just two minutes have passed