*Lena*
Oliver was driving, and I was gripping my seatbelt for dear life as he topped one hundred miles per hour in the rickety truck that definitely was not made for this kind of speed. The barren landscape sped past in a blur, and my stomach clenched as I forced my eyes to stay open and on the road.
Normally I would have asked him what the hell he was doing driving so fast, but I didn’t care. We’d make it to Crimson Creek within the hour at this rate.
Oliver had nearly killed , Charlie, and Uncle Troy driving like this once. It had been his first ti behind the wheel. Troy was teaching Charlie and Oliver how to drive, and we’d taken the newly constructed bridges that interlocked so of the large islands in the isles. They weren’t open to the public yet, which was a good thing, because Oliver had launched Troy’s unassuming box of a car into hyperspeed before Troy had a chance to protest.
We had all scread, but Oliver was screaming out of pure glee. He’d always been an adrenaline seeker.
For this drive, however, he was nothing but focused. The silence in the truck was overwhelming, and I was left to the rcy of my own thoughts. We’d left Breles two hours ago and hadn’t stopped. Beyond the blur of the rolling hills, I caught glimpses of the burned villages and cities along the highway, and that was it. No one else was on the road. No one was walking around the villages. It was empty, not a soul left to pick up the pieces.
“How are the northern packs faring?” I asked through gritted teeth as Oliver sped up to one hundred ten miles per hour, his face expressionless.
“They’re holding onto their territories but have experienced major casualties across the north. Dad talked to Kacidra recently, and Red Lakes is the largest outpost for refugees coming from the smaller mountain villages in the north, like Cedar Hollow. The vampires are using smaller portals to co through, and it’s been impossible to figure out where those portals are before they close up behind them.”
I swallowed back whatever reply had been forming on my tongue. We’d lost the southern end of the continent, but the north had a chance. At least, they would have a chance, if we were successful.
Success seed like a pipedream. I had no real plan of action besides walking into the portal and shredding the realm. Oliver was planning on finding Zeke at the very least, maybe even teaming up with the lower vampires to start a war in their realm against King Nikolas so that the brunt of his forces were situated in their own realm, instead of ours.
Oliver was fully aware that it was likely we would have to separate to accomplish our own goals.
I didn’t realize I’d been closing my eyes and nodding off to sleep until I felt the truck beginning to slow. Oliver murmured sothing under his breath as I opened my eyes. I started, my body going rigid as I looked out over the outskirts of Crimson Creek.
Large tents had been erected all over the small town–black tents, so unlike the flimsy canvas tents I’d seen in Breles. I looked over at Oliver for a mont, then behind where John and Colton were now huddled shoulder to shoulder and looked past us from the back seat.
Lower vampires were walking around in droves. The sun was coming up, and they were hurrying into tents, their arms full of food and supplies.
Food and supplies... rations–rations with the royal seal of the united allied forces on them.
“Oh my Goddess,” I managed to croak, my voice cracking as we drove by at a crawl.
“They look like us,” Colton said quietly.
“They’re more like us than we give them credit for,” Oliver replied in a level tone, his eyes following a group of young won carrying small children to a tent, all of their faces reddened with tears.
“They ca through the portal,” I breathed in disbelief. If they’d co here, the very land their own realm was battling against, the situation in the Night Realm must be dire.
We passed down the narrow street of what was considered downtown Crimson Creek, past the bar and hotel where I’d stayed with Xander. It felt like a lifeti ago now. All of those mories of our field study ca flooding back to as the massive estate houses rose up in the distance, a pale, cloudy sunrise lighting them up like beacons.
Oliver didn’t stop the truck until we’d reached the clearing that I knew so well. The portal rose up ahead of us, the sunrise reflecting upside down and glistening with energy. Warriors surrounded the truck, but then walked away as Oliver made our presence known. We were expected here, it seed.
I got out of the truck and stalked over to a commander, who was wearing a blue and turquoise pin on his jacket–a Poldesse commander.
He turned around, eyeing skeptically as I approached but bowed to nonetheless.
“I’m closing the portal,” I said without breaking my stride.
“How are these things supposed to get back into their lands if you close it?” he asked, and I didn’t like the patronizing tone of his voice.
I narrowed my eyes at him, tilting my chin to et his eyes. “There won’t be much to return to. They will stay here.”
“Princess–”
“That’s an order,” I snapped, then turned to face Oliver, John, and Colton, who had co up behind . “We have twelve hours in the Night Realm to do what needs to be done. Let any lower vampire seeking refuge cross the portal. Keep guards at the entrance on both sides. Everyone gets through, especially the won and children.” I fixed my gaze on Oliver as I took a shuddering breath. “I’ll take you to Brune. It’s not far from the portal’s entrance.”
“Brune?” the commander cut in, stepping forward.
I turned to him as he tilted his head, looking skeptical. “Yes,” I said sharply. “King Costas once offered us aide–”
“That’s where these people are coming from. They said their king was selling them as slaves to the Vampire King–”
“We need to go, now,” Oliver cut in, fixing the commander with a steel-eyed look. I looked behind us, where a crowd of warriors was gathering, all of them wearing the patches of their holands on their jackets and hats as they readied their weapons–Drogomor, Winter Forest, Mirage, Poldesse, Breles... even Egoren. These warriors were from all over the realm and beyond, and despite how battered and exhausted they were, they were willing to fight, together.
We were going in. I would be the one to lead them.
The commander stepped out of my way as I walked forward toward the portal. I could feel its pull, and behind Oliver said, “I can find Brune. You don’t need to co–”
“There’s soone I need to see,” I said in reply, reaching up to touch the sunstone that was tucked inside a locket around my neck.
***
It wasn’t hard to get into Brune. It was empty, for one. The crystals that once lit the cavern up like day were darkened and cracked. So of them had fallen from the ceiling of the impossibly large cavern and fallen to the ground below, crushing houses and shops into splinters.
We hadn’t stopped to rest at all since crossing through the portal. It was dayti in this realm, but I knew it would be fleeting. Once night fell, I’d be hightailing it to King Nikolas’s castle, to Xander.
The fifty or so warriors jogging behind Oliver and , under our command, as well as John and Colton, were looking around in awe. If only they could have seen this kingdom in all its splendor. It was devastating, honestly, but I didn’t have ti to dwell.
I led them through the village and into the forest, all the way up to the bridge that connected Narcissa’s lair to the kingdom of Brune.
But there was no longer a bridge to the other side.
I ca to a stop before the drop-off. We were blanketed in darkness save for the pale light of the lanterns so of the warriors were carrying.
“Narcissa!” I cried into the darkness.
There was no response. I felt a chill run up my spine as I turned to Oliver, my shoulders slumping in defeat.
I needed her. I needed her to explain how I was supposed to use the sunstone.
But I turned my head around toward the sound of footsteps on the ledge across the dropoff–hurried steps, like soone running.
“Lena? Is that you?”
“Kiern!” I breathed, grabbing the lantern John was holding and lifting it over my head to illuminate my face.
A thundering crack sounded in the cavern as another chunk of the crystal-lined ceiling broke away in the distance, the impact with the city below sending a shockwave over us all. So of the warriors yelped in surprise, a concerned murmur cutting through the group.
“Where is Narcissa?” I cried, panic rising in my throat. “Kiern?”
“I’m here,” she whimpered, and I could hear her panting with excretion. “The bridge–”
“How can I get across?”
“Just walk,” ca Narcissa’s lifted, friendly voice in the darkness.
I licked dry lips, turning to Oliver, who was shaking his head. His face was pale, and I could see the gooseflesh covering the exposed skin of his arms.
“Walk across what?” I retorted, turning back to the darkness.
“I won’t let you fall,” Narcissa said lightly.
“Narcissa, I need you to co with . All of you. Kiern, Starla if she’s still here–”
“To kill my brother–”
“And to reunite you with Androda,” I interjected, Androda’s na leaving my lips sending a hush over the area.
“Androda?” Narcissa whispered, and for the first ti, I heard a hint of pure sadness in her usually kind and level voice.
“Please,” I cried, letting my stone wall of reserve shatter. I didn’t care if the warriors I was commanding saw cry now. I was desperate. “The king has my mate.”
“I cannot help you–”
“I t your father. He gave the book... the book that once belonged to Morrighan.”
It was quiet again, but I could feel a creeping energy blanketing us.
“Where did you see my father?” Narcissa bit out, her voice booming through the entirety of Brune. She sounded like the Goddess she was, and not just so friendly vampire who enjoyed baking cookies.
“The castle,” I whispered beneath my breath.
I knew she could hear . I knew that she understood the significance of his location, as well. “He lives in the library, unbeknownst to your brother.”
“He guards my fallen siblings,” she said over , and through the darkness I saw a glimr of movent. Kiern was speaking quickly, her words rushed and barely audible.
“Narcissa,” I said as I fell to my knees. “Please, I beg you. I need you. Goddess, you must protect your people.”
I felt soone touch , running their thumb across my forehead. I looked up into Narcissa’s eyes, which were glowing with fury.
“I get to kill him,” she whispered. “His death is mine.”
“Yes,” I said in a whimper, overwheld by her power, her stance. “I promise.”
“Well, let’s go,” she said in a shockingly chipper and casual voice, walking past and through the warriors, who had parted to allow her to pass.
Everyone was pale and wide-eyed as the beautiful but terrifying woman walked away, turning her head to motion us to follow.
Kiern knelt beside , squeezing my hand.
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