A child.
I peered at the elf king and he nodded, as if telling me this was real, not a farce to save his friend from the challenge fight.
I ran to Axil, stepping over the carnage and not allowing it to dampen this moment for us. We’d made a life together, a life that would be born of our love, carrying with it our struggle to find and finally be with each other.
I crashed into him and his arms came around me and he lifted me into the air, smiling up at me.
“You were worth the wait, my love,” he whispered against my lips.
The crowd cheered all around us and I grinned against his mouth, loving that our people were with us.
Someone cleared their throat behind me and Axil set me down as we both turned to face the dragon king.
“I hate to break this up, Axil, but our dear friend Lucien is holding off an entire army by himself and we could really use your help.” The dragon king tapped his temple to indicate Axil’s gift of being able to control people. I knew it was an invaluable asset in times of war but having just been on the receiving end of it, I wasn’t keen on seeing Axil use that power on others any time soon.
Axil sidestepped me and pulled the dragon king into a hug, rapping his back hard twice. “It’s good to see you, brother.”
Then Raife was there, hugging him as well and all eyes were on my mate. Would he hold up his end of the bargain, would he call our people to war to help his friends?
I hoped so. We owed them everything and Axil was a man of his word.
Axil looked over at his lead Royal Guard. “Ready the troops for war. Half of each household over sixteen must volunteer, man or woman, I don’t care.”
Chills rushed up my arms. This was happening. I’d never known war in my lifetime but I had heard of the Nightfall queen’s wicked ways. And I had grown to care for Kailani, Madelynn and Arwen. We owed them our life and a war not fought today would eventually find its way to our doorstep tomorrow.
“The Nightfall queen has declared war on all creatures with magic!” Axil bellowed to the amassed crowd. “Let’s show her that a wolf cannot be tamed!”
Roars and howls rose up in agreement and then the crowd dispersed to pack up their camps.
When the alpha gave an order, you didn’t argue. That was the wolven way.
A woman stepped forward then, not going off to pack up her tent with the rest, and I knew I recognized her from somewhere.
Oh yes. Brutus’ wife.
“Zara was going to forfeit. She can’t be queen,” the woman said.
Everyone froze what they were doing and turned to face the woman. I had to bite back a growl and then stepped closer to her.
“I did that to save a pack sister,” I muttered through my teeth at her, and then looked to the crowd, holding up my arms. “Any woman who thinks they are stronger than me, I challenge you right here and now!” I bellowed, my hands balling to fists. I would rip apart any female I had to in order to keep Axil.
A heavy silence descended over the people and I allowed my anger at this woman to rush through me but forced my wolf to stay at bay. I needed to look like I was in control.
To my surprise Eliza stepped into the fight circle and my heart sank into my stomach. There were a few gasps from some of the women watching.
I was more hurt than mad that she would challenge me. Why? “’Liza—” I started, but then she dropped to her knee before me and bowed her head.
Now I understood. She, as the last living champion of the Queen Trials, was sending a message to the other women, and it caused a lump to form in my throat. Amara, from my own pack stepped into the circle next and took the knee as well. Then another, and another, until two dozen women were on their knees before me. Emotion clogged my throat but I swallowed hard and tipped my head up high.
Axil stepped up next to me and then peered at the royal wolven advisors. There were five of them standing there watching the display of submission with female wolves who were anything but submissive.
“What do my advisors say?” Axil asked them and I steeled myself.
They looked at one another, and then one by one nodded.
“Axil Moon remains king and Zara Swiftwater is the people’s chosen queen,” one of the advisors declared.
The women stood then and Eliza rushed to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her and wished that we could celebrate. Relief and excitement filled me up in equal measure but there was also a sense of foreboding.
The war.
Eliza released me and I pivoted to see that the dragon king and queen were already in their dragon forms with basket saddles on their backs, waiting.
Time was of the essence and celebrations would have to wait.
This was it.
The testing of my capability as queen was at hand.
SIXTEEN
There was no time for a wedding. I didn’t need one anyway. Axil was mine and I was his. I’d been declared queen by the council, there was no need for fancy dresses and dancing. I’d never wanted any of that, I just wanted him. We were accepted by our people, as mates and monarchs, and that’s all that mattered to me.
We’d left Axil’s lead Royal Guard in charge of the war effort. The wolven troops were set to ride to our aid immediately but we could not wait to travel with them on foot. The fae king needed us now. Axil had spoken of Lucien and his dear friendship and unshakable alliance with the kings of Avalier that summer at camp when we were fifteen. How he went once a year to a retreat to spend time with them and strengthen their bond. Though it seemed like they’d fallen away from each other for some time, it was like no time was lost between them now.
I watched happily as Raife and Axil caught each other up on all they’d missed as we rode atop the dragon king. Next to us, Kailani and Madelynn flew on Arwen’s back.
“Married. I never thought I’d see the day,” Axil said to Raife over the roaring wind.
Raife smiled. “You don’t let a woman like Kailani get away.” He looked across the clouds at his wife and I couldn’t help but match his smile. I instantly liked Raife: any man who spoke so kindly about his wife was good in my book.
“So, what—” Axil started when a frigid chill slammed into us. Suddenly we were in the center of a snowstorm that had come out of nowhere.
I knew the winter king had a reputation of having an awesome power that he couldn’t quite control, and now I was seeing it first-hand.
By my calculations we were still in Archmere, elvin territory, where it did not snow this time of year if ever. Raife looked concerned, his brows knotting together in the center of his forehead. “The war must have gotten worse since we left only a few short hours ago,” he said.
The dragon king swooped low, below the thick snowy clouds, and a horrifying sight came into view. Thousands of soldiers, for as far as the eye could see, were attempting to infiltrate Archmere.
There was an ice wall, growing along the border as I looked and blocking the men from advancing across.
Elvin warriors ran to meet them, their arrows sailing over the ice wall and impaling the Nightfall soldiers.
“Get me lower!” Madelynn screamed next to us and Arwen swooped down towards the army of men on the Nightfall side.
Drae followed his wife and then suddenly we were in the thick of the war.
“There’s so many,” I breathed. Axil reached out and threaded his fingers into mine as we peered at the carnage first-hand. Dead bodies were strewn on either side of the border, Nightfall warriors wore metal glinting contraptions on their wrists and some flung wind and fire like a fae.