prepare before we leave, but I think it’s best if we go as soon as we can.”
“And what of your brother? Is he ready to face Valen and the Order?”
I cringed. Travis was headstrong and the type to jump in before looking. I clamped my eyes shut, searching the recesses of my mind for the solution.
Warm fingers brushed my arm. When I opened my eyes, Cassie’s face was close, her look determined. “Heath’s right. We can’t go back before we have a shot of success, but I’d like to know we’re working our hardest until the time comes.”
“You have my word,” I said, leveling my stare. “We’ll convene the council in the morning, then.”
She scrunched her nose. “No offense, Rayla, but not much gets done in those meetings.”
I sighed. “That’s because no one can agree.”
Heath spoke up. “Where war is concerned, people need orders. It is no time for opinions and bickering over who should perform everyday tasks.”
Had he trolled my mind for an update?
“No. The more things change…the more they stay the same: isn’t that how the saying goes?”
“More or less.”
He grinned. “We still have most of our army, and unlike the rest of the people, we are used to moving by command.”
“Wasn’t Jett the head of the army before everything went down with Valen?”
“Yeah,” said Heath, “and he won’t let anyone forget it, either.”
I raked my hand through my hair, standing up. What did I know about warfare? I supposed it didn’t really matter as long as I had people on my side who were adept at the art. “I need to find Jett.”
Heath joined me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Summon him. It’s the quickest way.”
Since I had been previously bound to Jett, I still had a mental link. Though, I wasn’t so sure how he would react to being summoned. I didn’t have time to worry about upsetting him. Two seconds after I sent the call, he popped into our living room. His eyes immediately scanned the room for threats.
Only after he had raked the whole apartment did he come to stand before me. “What is the matter, my lady?”
I frowned. Since I’d made my choice, the other lords had distanced themselves from me, but I had expected Jett to maintain our friendship. Perhaps it would just take some time for him to get over it. I hoped it was soon, because I was tired of pussyfooting around the men who meant so much to me, no matter which one I took as my bondmate. “We need your help,” I said, trying to gauge his mood.
“I am always at your disposal, Rayla. What is it you desire from me?”
Heath jumped in, his voice tense. “We need your expertise, Lord Jafan. The mortal realm awaits, and we need a leader to orchestrate our attack.”
Jett’s eyes narrowed fractionally. “What has happened?”
I shrugged. “Every day we lose access to more Elementals at the Order’s hand. We cannot wait forever to fight for what is rightfully ours.”
A boisterous laugh leapt from Jett, his long, dark braids swaying with the movement of his head. “Ours? My lady, not too many months ago you were on the other end of this equation fighting for your freedom. Now you wish to enslave those who weren’t as fortunate?”
My hands shot to my hips. “I said nothing about enslavement. I intend to free them from the Order monsters.”
His voice lowered until I could barely hear his reply. “All men are monsters when they can’t get what they desire.”
Travis
MOM SCOFFED, FLIPPING HER HAND IN the air as if I’d just said the most absurd thing in the world. “I’ve known Nigel for years. He would have shown signs if he were fae. Besides, the Order would never allow an immortal to lead them.”
“I’m not saying he’s fae. The truth is I don’t really know what he is; maybe he’s been changed by a fae. By Valen?”
Her arms came to hug her middle. “Fae can’t alter humans in any way. It’s part of the agreement keeping them here. Even Valen has to abide by the rules or risk
“And what of your brother? Is he ready to face Valen and the Order?”
I cringed. Travis was headstrong and the type to jump in before looking. I clamped my eyes shut, searching the recesses of my mind for the solution.
Warm fingers brushed my arm. When I opened my eyes, Cassie’s face was close, her look determined. “Heath’s right. We can’t go back before we have a shot of success, but I’d like to know we’re working our hardest until the time comes.”
“You have my word,” I said, leveling my stare. “We’ll convene the council in the morning, then.”
She scrunched her nose. “No offense, Rayla, but not much gets done in those meetings.”
I sighed. “That’s because no one can agree.”
Heath spoke up. “Where war is concerned, people need orders. It is no time for opinions and bickering over who should perform everyday tasks.”
Had he trolled my mind for an update?
“No. The more things change…the more they stay the same: isn’t that how the saying goes?”
“More or less.”
He grinned. “We still have most of our army, and unlike the rest of the people, we are used to moving by command.”
“Wasn’t Jett the head of the army before everything went down with Valen?”
“Yeah,” said Heath, “and he won’t let anyone forget it, either.”
I raked my hand through my hair, standing up. What did I know about warfare? I supposed it didn’t really matter as long as I had people on my side who were adept at the art. “I need to find Jett.”
Heath joined me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Summon him. It’s the quickest way.”
Since I had been previously bound to Jett, I still had a mental link. Though, I wasn’t so sure how he would react to being summoned. I didn’t have time to worry about upsetting him. Two seconds after I sent the call, he popped into our living room. His eyes immediately scanned the room for threats.
Only after he had raked the whole apartment did he come to stand before me. “What is the matter, my lady?”
I frowned. Since I’d made my choice, the other lords had distanced themselves from me, but I had expected Jett to maintain our friendship. Perhaps it would just take some time for him to get over it. I hoped it was soon, because I was tired of pussyfooting around the men who meant so much to me, no matter which one I took as my bondmate. “We need your help,” I said, trying to gauge his mood.
“I am always at your disposal, Rayla. What is it you desire from me?”
Heath jumped in, his voice tense. “We need your expertise, Lord Jafan. The mortal realm awaits, and we need a leader to orchestrate our attack.”
Jett’s eyes narrowed fractionally. “What has happened?”
I shrugged. “Every day we lose access to more Elementals at the Order’s hand. We cannot wait forever to fight for what is rightfully ours.”
A boisterous laugh leapt from Jett, his long, dark braids swaying with the movement of his head. “Ours? My lady, not too many months ago you were on the other end of this equation fighting for your freedom. Now you wish to enslave those who weren’t as fortunate?”
My hands shot to my hips. “I said nothing about enslavement. I intend to free them from the Order monsters.”
His voice lowered until I could barely hear his reply. “All men are monsters when they can’t get what they desire.”
Travis
MOM SCOFFED, FLIPPING HER HAND IN the air as if I’d just said the most absurd thing in the world. “I’ve known Nigel for years. He would have shown signs if he were fae. Besides, the Order would never allow an immortal to lead them.”
“I’m not saying he’s fae. The truth is I don’t really know what he is; maybe he’s been changed by a fae. By Valen?”
Her arms came to hug her middle. “Fae can’t alter humans in any way. It’s part of the agreement keeping them here. Even Valen has to abide by the rules or risk
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