Page 108 of Crowned By Roses

I step forward. “What is⁠—”

“Before I show you, where’s Wrenley?”

“Safe, for now. She’s with Caspian.”

A crisp tinkling rings out, and I look down to see Jack with his legs spread on either side of the sack, rooting through it like a burglar counting his haul.

He pulls a large white crystal out of the bag. “Oh! Solagems! Quite a collection⁠—”

Before he can finish, Kairyn swipes at him. “Get away from those!”

Jack laughs and rolls out of the way before popping up on Kairyn’s left side. Kairyn jerks a hand toward his neck, but Jack ducks, maneuvering easily to Kairyn’s right. “You’re pretty slow, do you know that? But you’re also really big, so I guess that explains it.”

A growl erupts out of Kairyn as he lunges with both arms for Jack, who practically dances around him.

His eyes twinkle. “So you know Wrenley?” A grin curls up Jack’s face. “And do you…like her? I like her too. She has such beautiful blue eyes⁠—”

Kairyn roars, the sound more beast than man, and snatches Jack by his shirt, hauling him off his feet. Jack only smiles, satisfied.

“Enough, both of you!” I storm over. “Kairyn, drop him. Every person in this room besides me would like to see you arrested, and I’d like to avoid that. And you.” As soon as Kairyn drops Jack, I grab his shoulder and pull his ear close to my helm. “Keep fucking around, and I’ll find the nearest tree and shove you back in it. Got it?”

Jack’s grin could not get any wider. “Loud and clear, sir.”

I wish I wasn’t wearing my helm so I could massage the throbbing vein in my temple. “Okay, Kairyn, why did you bring us a bunch of…”

I look into the sack, filled with white crystals. Solagems. I’ve heard that name before. Seen them before. They illuminated the cavern in Airaleth.

And they were all over the underfae camp, used as their lights and fires and powering their machinery…

“I have walked here all the way from Winter with these crystals,” Kairyn says. “I had a feeling the High Prince of Spring wouldn’t be content to remain under Sira’s thumb.”

We lock eyes, his red ones finding mine hidden by the helm. My voice is hesitant. Hopeful. “These will power the armada?”

Kairyn smiles, a rare and uniquely beautiful thing. “Big brother, don’t you trust me?”

45

Caspian

Having traveled almost every corner of the seasonal realms, I can attest the mountains between Spring and Summer are a special place, even by the Vale’s standards. The air is fresh and sweet, carrying the scent of flowers and growing things. It’s warm but not sweltering. Fresh water flows down in crystal clear rivers, and ample game roams the grassy knolls. Groves of fruit trees and berry bushes sprout up frequently, and Wrenley’s pointed out at least five different types of edible plants.

A whole village could be self-sufficient up here.

Or a whole army.

Wrenley and I have been scouring the mountain range for the last four days for any sign of the Queen’s Army. Though many had joined Kairyn’s Green Rule when he took over, those still loyal to Aurelia’s memory had vanished. Delphia said the Huntresses of Aura found them here, but they refused to join our cause without orders from the queen herself.

Well, Anya’s not here, and Rosalina’s in Winter.

Birdy girl’s the next best thing.

She’s been mostly quiet on our journey, but it’s an easy, familiar quiet we’ve developed over the years. At night, she collects fruit, roots, and vegetables from the bountiful vegetation, and I cook them over a green flame. We sleep easily, knowing the other is on watch. During the day, we comment on the scenery, signs of habitation, an interesting bird.

We don’t talk about the approaching full moon. About what it means that Rosalina has her wings and Birdy does not. What will happen when it is time to fight.

“She’ll need to die, you know,” Birdy says calmly, breaking the quiet.

Okay, we don’t talk about any of that stuff until right now, apparently.