Vampire Girl 2: Midnight Star(51)

Asher grimaces. "How appalling. You live like such savages. How do you stand it, dear Ari?"

I shrug. "I don't drink blood."

He chuckles. "Not yet, at any rate."

Asher leaves before Fen gets any more angry, and I smile. "You two love each other. You should be kinder."

Fen looks up, narrowing his eyes. "He kissed you."

I nearly choke on my juice. "He told you?"

"Yes."

"Then he must have also told you it meant nothing. It was like kissing my brother, if I had a brother. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'm not his type."

Fen frowns. We eat quickly and walk to town. The army has set up camp outside the walls, since there isn't enough room inside. Baron trots between us, seeming quite happy that we are all together again. Yami rides on his back and occasionally flies over the wolf, causing Baron to bark and chase the baby dragon.

Fen just looks at me oddly, and I make a motion as if zipping my lips. He frowns, but doesn't push.

We walk to the outskirts of the city, to the largest crystal waterfall, the one that blocks the secret passage out of the Stonehill.

I rub the ring on my finger, the one Fen had designed for me. "I wear this all the time. It makes me think of this place. Of you."

We stand beside the water, crystals catching rays of sun, casting color and light everywhere.

"I don't need a ring to think of you," he says. He kisses me, and it's a lingering kiss. When he pulls away, I sigh. "I must check on the soldiers. We will leave soon."

"I worry for you. If anything were to happen… "

I touch his chest, and he covers my hands with his own. "I am the Prince of War. It is the Fae who should be worried."





Chapter 15

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

Fenris Vane





"War is coming."

—Fenris Vane



I do not want to leave Ari, but Asher approaches, and I know it is to tell me that our brothers are ready and it is time to march. "I must go," I say quietly, touching the softness of her cheek.

"I know," she says. "But I wish you wouldn't."

I kiss her once. "My heart stays here with you."

"You are my Karasi," she says softly.

"Spirit of my heart," I say. I have heard the Fae speak of this, but have never felt it myself until now. Time will tell whether this love gives me strength or weakness.

Arianna nods. "You are mine. And I am yours. We are bound, you and I. Come what may, we are bound."

"I will leave Baron with you, to defend you," I say.

But Ari won't have it. "I'll feel better knowing he's protecting you. I'll be safe in the castle."

By the time Asher reaches us, we have said our goodbyes. Ari hugs Asher and whispers something to him I cannot hear, and then we leave.

"What did she tell you?" I ask my brother.

He looks at me with an odd expression. "She told me we find more strength in love than in hate."

I should not be surprised that somehow Arianna heard the words in my heart and answered them. It is not the first time she has done so. "She is wise. We do not deserve her."

Asher nods. "In that we agree."

A Shade boy runs up to us, breathless. "The Fae army has breached the great wall, they're gathering north, just near the Outlands," he reports.

Remembering Ari's kindness, I tell the boy to fetch some food and drink before heading back.

Asher grins at me. "She really has stolen your heart, hasn't she?"

I frown and walk faster.

The armies of the Seven Realms gather outside Stonehill, near the burned corpse of a forest, each stationed with their colors. Ace's soldiers are under my command, since he is still convalescing at High Castle. Asher and I enter a grand red tent, large enough to fit dozens of men. Levi, Niam, Dean and Zeb wait inside, gathered around a war table full of maps.

Levi points to one. "Let us march forward, into the northern woods, and cut them off."

"No," I say. "We must avoid the forests. If they are set on fire we will burn alive within them. And we must stay far from the rivers unless we wish to battle Wadu once again."

"Where does that leave us then?" Dean asks, who at least came dressed appropriately for once in battle gear and armor.

"The mountains," I say.

Asher groans, but does not disagree.

Levi shakes his head. "They will slow us down, and if we are caught in the lower ground, we will be at a disadvantage."

"That will not happen," I say. "Not if the Druids think we're somewhere else."

Zeb nods. "What do you propose then?"

"A decoy," I say. "We send in a Shade we trust who claims to be a deserter. They tell the Druids we are taking the river pass, that we feared the forest because of fires, but we were less concerned with the Water Druid. We fought her off before."