Chapter 34 The Calm Before
Ten days. That was all we had.
The seven provinces moved faster than expected. Hungry. Angry. United.
Kael healed in five days. Vampire resilience combined with my blood and sheer stubbornness. He woke up looking like death. Left his bed looking like a king ready for war.
"You should still be resting," I said.
"I will rest when I am dead. Right now we have ten days to prepare for the largest civil war Nocterra has ever seen." He strapped on armor.
"How are you feeling?" As if I were carrying a mystical bomb that may go off at any time."
"So normal then."
I almost laughed. "Normal. Yes. This is all very normal."
He crossed the room. Pulled me close. Just held me. No words. Just presence.
"I thought I lost you," he said quietly. "In that cell. When I heard you scream. When I could not reach you. I thought that was it. That I would die knowing you were alone."
"But you did not. We survived."
"This time. What about next time? What about the battle?" His hand touched my stomach. "What about when our child decides to unleash its power in the middle of a war?"
"Then we deal with it. Together." I kissed him. "Stop worrying. It makes you look old."
"I am old."
"Then stop looking older."
This time, he did laugh. Brief. Rough. But real.
A knock interrupted us. Lyra entered. "Your Majesties. We have visitors. Unexpected ones."
"Who?"
"King Aldric's enemies. The eastern kingdoms. They heard about the civil war and they want to help."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Why would they help us?"
"Because Aldric supporting the rebels weakens his position. If we win, he loses influence. If we lose, he gains a divided Nocterra to conquer." Lyra's smile was sharp. "Either way, they want him checked. And they think backing us is the smart move."
"Politics." Kael spat the word. "I hate politics."
"But we need allies." I stood. "Let us meet them. See what they offer."
The eastern delegation waited in the throne room. Three kings. All old. All dangerous. All watching us like we were pieces on a game board.
King Matthias of Stormhaven. Tall. Scarred. A warrior king.
Queen Elara of Nightfall. Beautiful. Cold. A political mastermind.
King Corvus of Ashenmere. Ancient. Cunning. A survivor.
"Your Majesties." Matthias bowed. Barely. "We heard you have a rebellion problem."
"We have it under control," Kael said.
"Do you? Seven provinces. Thirty thousand soldiers. Backed by Valcrest gold and Purist fanaticism." Matthias smiled. "That does not sound under control. That sounds like you are about to lose your throne."
"What do you want?" I asked. Blunt. Tired of games.
"Direct. I like that." Queen Elara stepped forward. "We want Aldric weakened. You provide the means. In exchange, we provide soldiers. Ten thousand between the three of us. Enough to even the odds."
"And what do you want in return?"
"Trade agreements. Border access. Alliance treaties." King Corvus's voice was dry as dust. "Standard diplomatic arrangements. Nothing sinister."
"Nothing is ever standard with eastern kingdoms," Kael said.
"True. But desperate times breed strange alliances." Corvus looked at me. "Besides. We are curious about your child. The one that should not exist. We want to see what comes of it."
"My child is not a curiosity."
"Everything is a curiosity to those who have lived long enough." His ancient eyes met mine. "Do we have an agreement?"
I looked at Kael. Felt his reluctance through the bond. His distrust. His calculation.
But we needed soldiers. Needed help. Needed anything we could get.
"Agreed," I said. "On one condition. Your soldiers answer to our commanders. No independent actions. No betrayals."
"Fair." Matthias extended his hand. "We have an accord."
Kael shook it. Sealed the deal with blood and magic. An oath that would kill whoever broke it first.
The eastern kings left to prepare their armies.
"That was a mistake," Kael said when we were alone.
"Maybe. But it is the mistake we have to make."
"They will betray us. Eventually. When it benefits them."
"Then we make sure it never benefits them." I touched his face. "Stop seeing enemies everywhere. Sometimes allies are just allies."
"In my experience, allies are just enemies who have not found the right moment to strike."
"You are very cynical for someone who bonded with his greatest enemy."
He smiled. Actually smiled. "Touché."
The next five days blurred together. Training. Planning. Fortifying. Every hour mattered.
I trained despite being pregnant. Despite Kael's protests. Despite the child making my magic unpredictable.
Sometimes my shadows were strong enough to level buildings. Sometimes they flickered like dying candles.
I learned to work around it. To fight when I had power. To hide when I did not.
Rowan trained beside me. "You are getting better."
"I am getting desperate."
"Same thing in war." He blocked my strike. Countered. Pulled back before actually hitting. "How is the baby?"
"Restless. Powerful. Terrifying."
"Sounds like its parents."
I laughed. "We are not that bad."
"You tore out Viktor's heart with your bare hands."
"He was going to kill Kael."
"My point exactly. You are terrifying when protecting what is yours." Rowan lowered his weapon. "Good. We need terrifying. The provinces are bringing everything they have."
That night, Kael found me on the balcony. Staring at the blood moon.
"You should rest," he said.
"I have rested enough."
"You are six weeks pregnant with a magical child. You have not rested enough." He stood beside me. "Are you scared?"
"Terrified. You?"
"Absolutely." His hand found mine. "But I am good at hiding it."
"So am I."
We stood in silence. Watching the moon. Feeling the bond hum between us.
"If we die tomorrow—" I started.
"We will not."
"But if we do. I want you to know. I do not regret any of this. The bond. The transformation. The child. All of it." I looked at him. "You gave me a life worth living. Even if it was short. Even if it ends in blood."
"It will not end tomorrow. I will not allow it." He pulled me close. "We have too much to live for. Too much to fight for. Death does not get us. Not yet."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
We made love that night. Desperate. Fierce.
As if we were attempting to commit each other to memory. To cause the memory to burn so deeply that it cannot be erased by death.
After, we lay tangled together. His hand on my stomach. Feeling the child move.
"It knows," he said quietly. "The baby knows tomorrow is dangerous."
"How can you tell?"
"It is restless. Pushing against your hand. Like it wants out. Wants to fight with us."
"It is too young. Too small."
"It is ours. That means it is a fighter regardless of age." He kissed my shoulder. "We will protect it. No matter what."
"No matter what," I echoed.
Dawn came too fast.
Horns blared. The seven-province army was here. Early. Too early.
We scrambled. Armor on. Weapons ready. Running to the walls.
The army stretched to the horizon. Thirty thousand soldiers. Maybe more. Banners from all seven provinces. United. Determined.
Leading them was someone I did not expect.
Lady Serina Blackwell. Looking regal. Powerful. Furious.
"Kael Draeven!" Her voice carried. Amplified by magic. "Sera Blackwood! Surrender now and we will grant you mercy! Resist and watch your palace burn!"
"We do not surrender," Kael shouted back. "Not to traitors. Not to cowards. Not to anyone."
"Then you choose death. For yourself. For your queen. For your abomination child." Serina smiled. Cold. Cruel. "We will tear down your walls. Kill your guards. Drag you both into the street and execute you in front of the realm."
"You can try!" I shouted. "But we will not go quietly!"
"We did not expect you to." Serina raised her hand. "Archers!"
A thousand arrows darkened the sky. Coming at us. At the walls. At everyone on them.
"Shields!" Kael roared.
Magic flared. Barriers went up. Most arrows bounced. Some got through. Screams. Blood. The first casualties.
The siege had begun.
"Fall back to defensive positions!" Kael ordered. "Let them come to us! Make them bleed for every inch!"
We retreated. Organized. Controlled. To the palace proper. To defend positions.
The enemy army surged forward. Ladders. Siege towers. Battering rams. Everything.
They hit our walls like a wave. Climbed. Fought. Died. But kept coming.
Too many. Always too many.