Their faces flashed before her eyes. Her father. Her mother. Her brothers. Nascha waited for them to speak. Waited for them to tell her what to do. To offer advice and answers.

    Carpathia approached first, with the same regal air she'd held in life. Her chin was lifted. Her back was straight. Her hands were clasped across her stomach. Her golden curls were piled atop her head in an elaborate style, and within her blue eyes shone a stern, but loving look.

    "Did I not raise you to know the workings of Court?" Carpathia asked.

    "A long time ago," Nascha replied. "I've forgotten."

    Carpathia tilted her head. "No, you haven't. You remember how to carry yourself in public. You remember how to address your peers and equals. How many hours did you spend at my side while I attended to my duties? Did you learn nothing by watching me?"

    "I learned everything by watching you."

    Carpathia came closer and took Nascha's hands into her own. "Then you must remember. Do you think I was ready to become Lady when my father died? I was your age, newly married, and pregnant. I managed."

    Nascha swallowed hard. "I'm not you."

    Carpathia hooked a knuckle beneath Nascha's chin, but kept her touch light. "No, you aren't. You are better. Stronger. And you won't be alone. Just as I had your father, so you have your mate."

    "This burden isn't for Fenrys to bear."

    The person before her became her father in the blink of an eye. Nascha memorized his face, and the features that were so like her own. "I don't believe he will see it as a burden," Soren said. "I never did. It was my duty to help your mother, just as it was her duty to help me. Have you ever felt burdened when trying to help your mate with his problems?"

    "No," Nascha admitted. "But it's not the same."

    "It is, more than you think. Trust me, Stardust. No one can do this task alone. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There will always be someone willing to give it."

    "But Father, I..." Soren was gone before she could finish. Nascha stared at her eldest brother as he smiled down at her. "Shit," she breathed. "I forgot how tall you were."

    "Maybe you're just small," Vandran chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling.

    "I'm average, thank you very much."

    "You are more than average, Nascha. You always have been. You were always smarter than Zeno and I. You were more powerful. Your magic is even greater than mine was after I Settled."

    "That doesn't mean I can do what you did."

    "The only thing I did was learn. I never led our people, except in our final battle. But you can do both. You can learn, and you can lead. You can restore our home to the peaceful place it once was."

    "There's more to this than just helping Arcelia. Aelin's Court has made it clear that they will never accept me. They..."

    "Who cares about them?" Zeno interrupted. Nascha blinked in surprise. "Who is more important to you? A Court of Fae and Demi-Fae, half of which don't even hail from Terrasen, or our ancestral home, filled with people who know and respect you. Filled with people who want you."

    "Do they respect me enough to cease their cries for independence?"

    "If they don't, you can help them to." Nascha averted her eyes. Zeno grabbed her by the shoulders. She managed to face him. "You are worthy. You are capable. You are ready. This has always been your destiny, Nascha. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't."

    "But how can I... What if..." Her eyes burned with unshed tears.

    "Every step you've taken, every choice you've ever made, has prepared you for this," Zeno said, taking on a more gentle tone. "You learned to fight, so that you could protect those who were important to you. You learned to heal so that you could mend what has been broken. You learned to fly so that you could always reach our home atop the mountain."

    "You freed slaves because you care about freedom and rights. You hunted criminals because you believe in justice." Zeno's voice grew softer still, and tender pride shone in his brown eyes. "You fell in love because you no longer want to be alone."

    "Does it bother you? Who he is?" Nascha whispered.

    "No. If you are happy, I am happy. Besides, no one has cared for you the way he has. There is no one else we would trust to look after you." Zeno closed his eyes. "I wish I'd been there when you Settled, but I'm glad you had someone who was so devoted to you."

    Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I miss you."

    Zeno pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her forehead. Nascha buried her face against his chest, drinking in his scent and crying harder still. "Time is short," Zeno said. "The battle is beginning, in a valley in the foothills of the Anascauls." An image flashed through her mind. "Remember what we've told you, Nascha. We died for our home. You must live for it. You are ready."

    Nascha tightened her arms around her brother, refusing to let go. He returned her embrace. A moment later, Vandran was there with them, then Carpathia, then Soren. Nascha kept her eyes closed, relishing the moment while she could. She knew that when she woke, they wouldn't be there, but Fenrys, her people, and her friends would.

◦ ~ ❘ ☼ ❘ ~ ◦

    Fenrys drew in measured breaths, staring across the valley to where the Arcelians had gathered. In just a few moments, the entire valley would be filled with screams and blood. Innocent screams that didn't have to be heard. Innocent blood that didn't have to be shed.

    Vaughan rode up beside Fenrys, catching his attention. Fenrys knit his brows. Vaughan had chosen to wear a set of thick black leathers. The only armor he wore were black pauldrons, gauntlets, an armored plate across his stomach, two more on his thighs, and knee guards.

    He was armed with an assortment of weapons. Several knives glinted in the folds of his leathers. A short sword was strapped to his hip and there was a dagger sheathed at his waist. Vaughan's preferred weapons, twin kamas, were crossed on his back.

    "Did you choose to skimp on the armor because you don't think you'll need it or because you're hoping you won't walk off this battlefield?" Fenrys asked, keeping his voice low.

    Vaughan pulled half of his hair up in a bun as he answered. "I won't need it. Half of these people are trained warriors. The other half are just normal citizens, hoping to make a difference." He closed his eyes, tilting his head up briefly. "Let my blood be that difference. I will spill none of theirs."

    "Then stick close to someone who will," Fenrys replied. "I forbid you to die today."

    "You forbid me?" Vaughan arched an eyebrow, glancing at him.

    "On behalf of our Queen."

    "I'm capable of doing my own forbidding," Aelin said, guiding her mount in between theirs. "And I share your sentiment, Vaughan." She lifted her voice, letting it ring out across their army. "I want to win this battle with as little bloodshed as possible. Send them running. Render them unconscious. Immobilize them. Do what you have to, but do not kill them unless you have no other choice."

    "This is a battle. It's no place for sentiment," Lorcan said.

    "These are people. My people. If this can still be resolved without death, then I will take every step to do so," Aelin snapped.

    Lorcan bowed his head in deference and began to twist the wedding band on his finger. Rowan was next to him, his pine green eyes firmly fixed on Aelin. Aedion and Lysandra were on the other side of the group, weaving their way in and out of the gathered soldiers. Lysandra was in her ghost leopard form. Fenrys spotted Elgan and Kyllian not far from them, repeating Aelin's orders.

    He faced forward as a horn sounded. The Arcelians advanced. "The Tarins believe that if they force us to surrender, we will allow Arcelia to claim the Anascauls and secede," Aelin said. "And the Revolutionists are sure to be watching. If they see me surrender, they will gain an advantage." She faced Fenrys. "Let them know that my kingdom will not be stolen from me again."

    Fenrys dipped his chin and blinked four times. I am with you.

    Aelin blinked seven times in return. Stay with me.

    They returned their focus to the approaching army. Fenrys stroked the Mating Bond, hoping Nascha could feel his love and forgiveness in case he didn't have the chance to tell her himself. Aelin drew Goldryn.

    Her throat bobbed, and Fenrys understood just how much this battle pained his Queen. He understood the regret and guilt she felt. They had failed to secure peace, and this was the result of that failure. Fenrys unsheathed his own sword, exhaling slowly. Aelin started down the grassy slope, and the army rode after her.

◦ ~ ❘ ☼ ❘ ~ ◦

    Nascha flew hard and fast towards the Anascaul Mountains, praying all the while that she wasn't too late. Darkness and starlight swirled around her as she tunneled deep into her new well of power. She had no intentions of fighting, but she wouldn't arrive unprepared.

    A cold breeze ruffled her feathers. Nascha flew on, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling. She had more urgent matters to deal with. Her wings began to ache, but she pressed on still. The forest soon gave way to foothills and valleys. Nascha scanned the ground below for any signs of a battle.

    The sound of clashing metal and frantic screams reached her, carried on the wind. Nascha banked towards the sound, following it down to a valley filled with writhing bodies. The coppery tang of blood wafted in the air.

    She searched the mass for anyone familiar. Aelin, Vaughan, Rowan, Rayan, Eliora... Even Lorcan would do at this point. She found none of them. Nascha swooped down, hoping for a closer look. Arrows whizzed past her and Nascha threw a shield of starlight around herself. She dodged the next wave of arrows and heard strangled screams as they found alternative marks.

    Nascha kept flying, anxiously trilling to herself. Magic crackled through the air and more arrows flew. Nascha burst into a spin, leaving a few feathers in her wake. A shrill cry caught her attention. A familiar osprey plummeted past her, arrows protruding from his wings. Nascha dove after him.

    Vaughan shifted midair and Nascha threw a cloud of darkness beneath him, softening his landing. She shifted into herself just as she landed, and stumbled towards him. Two arrows were embedded in Vaughan's right arm and one in his left. The one on the left had gone completely through his skin.

    Vaughan was already working on removing the right arrows. Thinking quickly, Nascha broke the head off the left arrow and yanked the shaft free. Vaughan hissed with pain. She leveled her hand over the wound, summoning her healing magic.

    "You came back," Vaughan grunted.

    "I had to," Nascha replied. "Is Fenrys..."

    "He's fine. He's here with Aelin."

    "Where are Rayan and Eliora?"

    "I don't know. I haven't seen them yet."

    Blood misted through the air, spattering against their skin. Nascha fought the urge to vomit. Vaughan shrugged away from her and stood, unsheathing a dagger. He handed it to her and she begrudgingly took it. Vaughan drew two more weapons, ones she didn't recognize, and faced the oncoming warriors.

    "Find them," he said. "Find them and end this." Nascha nodded and shifted once more.