Their Fireheart

Chapter Thirty Nine

It was Velaris, as seen from above - as seen by Rhys as he captured the vision that was the City of Starlight. It shot past boats and piers, past the homes and streets and theaters that I was just beginning to know. Past the Rainbow of Velaris, the precious art district of the city, colorful and lovely in the warm sun. People, happy and welcoming and safe, waved to him as he passed. Moment after moment, images of the Palaces, the restaurants, even the House of Wind. All of the secret wondrous city, my mates home.

And through whatever strange power, the Veritas was able to convey the love the city contained. The love and the pure desire to protect and defend.

The image faded, all of the light and color sucked back into the orb.

"That was Velaris," Rhys murmured. "For five thousand years, my court has kept it a secret from outsiders. Now you know. That is what I protect with the rumors, the whispers, the fear. Why I fought for your people in the War - only to begin my own perceived reign of terror once I ascended my thrown, and encouraged the legends to spread far and wide. I know how I am perceived, but if the cost of protecting my city and people is the contempt of the world, I will gladly accept it.

Both queens were still gaping at where the image had been, as if they could still see the city. Mor cleared her throat, and the golden one startled, dropping an ornate lace handkerchief on the ground. I narrowed my eyes as she leaned to pick it up, seeming to struggle to properly grasp it.

The crone raised her eyes to us. "Your trust is ... appreciated."

We waited.

The crone's face was grace, unmoved. The younger queen blank.

The elder added at last, "We will consider."

"There is no time to consider," Mor shot back. "Every day lost is another day Hybern gets closer to taking innocent lives."

"We will discuss amongst our companions, and inform you at our leisure."

The crone was smug. Heat licked at the base of my spine.

"Do you not understand the risks you bring upon yourselves the longer you delay?" Rhys asked, words threaded with shock and desperation.

The ancient bitch shrugged her frail shoulders. The glint in her eye sunk to the bottom of my stomach like a heavy stone. She condescended, "Did you think we would be so moved by your letter, your plea?" She jerked her chin towards one of the guards, and he reached into his armor to pull out a folded letter. The crone read, "I write to you not as a High Lord, but as a male in love with a human female. I write to you to beg you to act quickly. To save her people - to save her family, and to help save my own. I write to you knowing I am not the only male desperately in love with this female, and that in itself offers hope for our two worlds. With only the desperate dream that our two people may one day know peace. So there may come a day that I will be able to live in a world where my own people and the people of the woman I love can live in harmony. A better world, a more complete world." She set down the letter.

My heart felt set to burst free from my chest at the loving words from my mate. In fact, love was hardly an accurate description of what I felt for this male, for all of these males. They were a part of me, as integral to my survival as the blood that flowed through my veins and the air that filled my lungs. I said nothing, instead reaching over, brushing my fingertips across the back of his hand until our fingers were intertwined. These foul women did not deserve to witness the boundless depths of devotion we held for each other.

Then the ancient one said, "Who is to say that this is not all some grand manipulation?"

"What?" Cassian blurted out.

The golden one nodded, stating blandly, "A great many things have changed. You claim so-called friendships with our ancestors. How are we to truly know the current state of affairs? Perhaps allegiances have shifted. Perhaps the High Lord has crept into our minds to make us believe we fight for the same goal."

Clever thing.

I slid into Rhys's mind, urging him to be silent, and he was - we all were. Until Azriel said too softly, "This is the talk of madwomen. Of arrogant, stupid fools."

Rhys held up a hand to silence him. But Az stalked forward a step, face white with rage. "You will damn her. You will damn her and all of her people - your people. Give us the Book."

The queens blinked. The crone stiffened, narrowing her eyes to me. The golden one slid a split second glance towards me.

I winked.

Az snapped, "Give us the Book."

Fed up, the old bitch hissed, "No."

The word clanged through the space, the force resounding in my chest like a physical blow, even as an anticipated one.

Az looked prepared to rage, but I released my hold on Rhys's hand to step towards him, settling him with a hand pressed to his chest. He stilled.

"Well then, it looks like we have nothing further to discuss," I stated. I felt the shock emanate from my family as they startled at my words. I didn't look away from the queens. "If you will not risk your own necks in defense of your people, then we will do what we must to give them, to give this world a fighting chance."

I locked eyes with the crone, a snake stalking a rabbit. I smiled. "I do hope you've chosen the right path," I purred.

Uncertainty flashed across her eyes before they hardened once more. Without signal, the two women rose. Stiffly announcing, "We will now return to our palace to deliberate with our sisters."

"You're already going to say no," Mor pushed.

The golden one smirked, looking directly at me. "Perhaps." She grasped the withered hand beside her.

The ancient queen lifted her chin at Rhys, "We appreciate the gesture of your trust."

"One last thing." They stopped in their tracks, turning to me. I only focused on the too-bright eyes that were watery with age. "You should start praying to whatever greater power exists that you will emerge victorious from the coming battle, and that I do not, because if I do ..." A dark chuckle escaped me. "I'll be coming for you next."

"Is that a threat?" she demanded, all forced bravado. Her quivering chin betrayed her.

"I don't make threats, only promises," I warned.

I pulled a minuscule amount of flames into my gaze, and the pathetic worm couldn't completely hide her gasp of fear. Without another word she turned back to her golden companion, and they were gone.

Cassian swore behind me, and Rhys attempted to get my attention. But my eyes were locked on the chair where the golden queen had been seated.

Beneath it, previously hidden by her voluminous skirts, was a box. A box that she had removed from wherever she was hiding it when she'd leaned down to pick up her handkerchief. I was just thankful everyone else had been oblivious to her actions.

Stalking over, I smoothly picked it up and set it on the chair, turning back to the rest of my family as comprehension dawned. Flipping back the lid, I saw the note that lay atop the golden metal of the book.

I read aloud.

I read your letter. About the woman you all love. I believe you. And I believe in peace.

I believe we can make a better world.

If anyone asks, you stole this during the meeting.

Do not trust the others. The sixth queen was not ill.

So nothing I didn't already know, although the fact it was written prior to our meeting provided the smallest kernel of hope. I lifted my gaze, locking eyes with each of my mates, with my adopted sister. Relief and triumph was clear in their eyes, in their slightly slumped posture. My stomach tightened at being the bearer of bad news once again.

"We are going to have to work quickly. The mortal queens have allied themselves with Hybern."