Song of Sorrows and Fate: A Dark Fantasy Romance (The Broken Kingdoms Book 9)

My smaller heart thudded in my rounded chest. They were there. All of them.

“Saga?” Elise stepped forward. She stripped a short fur cloak off her shoulders and held it up.

It’d do. No time to fret over a little flesh.

I flew into the shrubs. Elise let out a ragged laugh and rushed to the bush, gently tossing the fur over the top of the hedge, then stepped back as my body peeled into my true form. Feathers shifted to fingers. Bones stretched and repositioned. My legs lengthened with my spine until I reached a hand and wrapped my front with the fur.

“Saga.” Elise flung her arms around me. Her body shuddered. Sobs. We were all holding in bleeding sobs.

“You’re all here?” I whispered. “You’re all truly fine?”

Elise’s eyes burned. “Most of us.”

A cinch gathered in my stomach, but I was soon drawn into the kingdoms. Over my shoulder, I looked to the trees. “Rune, where are you?”

The rustle of leaves followed shortly. From a distance away, shadows shifted, and the length of Rune’s glistening wings came into focus under the red moon. He landed in a crouch in the next heartbeat and folded his wings.

“We heard movement,” he said. “And came to investigate. Gods, it’s a relief to know it’s you.”

Herja shoved through her people and took hold of my arm. “Gunnar and Eryka?”

“They’re safe,” I told her. “Eryka has said a few things.”

“As always,” Kase grumbled.

Malin used her elbow to shove his ribs, then looked back to me. “Any idea where we are?”

Oh, I had an idea. And it made little sense. “We took to the skies to get a vantage point,” I said. “I quickly learned I didn’t have need of one. This land . . . this is my home. My first home. The land in which I was born.”

Heady silence stacked over the gentle breeze through the leaves. Valen was the one to speak. “When you say the land in which you were born—”

“The first kingdom. The one we all saw in Ari’s memories.” I hugged my middle, keeping the fur over my breasts and thighs. “This is the kingdom of my brother. I swear to you, from the peaks to the distance to the shore, this is home.”

“The kingdoms broke,” Elise muttered and held a hand to her head. “They broke once, now if this is right . . . it’s as though they’ve gone back.”

Rune came to my side. “We went to scout around to get our bearings and for Ari to draw a map. Come to our camp, just through there.” He gestured to the southern wood. “We found a pond with plenty of fish, and we can plan how to reach the sea. That is where the light shines.”

“Any sign of the storyteller and Falkyns?” Kase asked.

I grinned. “Niklas found us.”

“Hells.” Kase’s chin dropped, and I suspected it had a great deal to do with the fact that he did not want the rest of us to see his expression in the moment.

“But Cal,” I said, voice soft. “I have not seen her. Not yet.”

“It could be her at the shore, if something is there.” Sol Ferus stepped beside his brother. “I agree, we need to make our way there.”

“Follow us,” I said, slipping back toward the shrubs. “He will bluster his words, as you know, but Ari will be extremely relieved to see you all.”

I led them through the trees in raven form. Rune kept to the treetops with me, watching for threats from above.

The forest was still and quiet but for a few curious creatures. My mind still hadn’t gathered the possibility of what happened here, but I knew this land. The falls, they’d be half a day from our position. There, we’d find the hot springs like the ones that had been in the Court of Blood. In the other direction were wild fruit trees with colorful pomes and spiked fruits and berries where we could feed kingdoms for months. Where we could gather and make all manner of sweet wines and ales. In the center knolls were where quarries had once been, where the smiths stocked their iron ore and masons found their granite.

The sea was close. Doubtless it would have the same shoreline with pebbled beaches, herring and silver fish, fat from blue algae that grew on the black stones at the bottom of the coves.

All of it was familiar. It made little sense.

The barest flicker of a flame cut through the trees. I let out a cry and dove toward the small camp. Niklas, Junie, and their Falkyns had arranged traps and wards that kept Davorin’s dark glamour out. Still, every face was tense, everybody seemed ready to lunge and attack.

Ari shot to his feet with Mira asleep in his arms. Which of the two refused to part with the other, I didn’t know. Since pulling her from the burrow, Ari hadn’t taken his hands off the girl. Then again, nor had she. The only time she seemed to breathe at a normal pace was when both her little hands were clasped in mine and Ari’s.

Gorm, Magus, our folk who’d joined us in the journey to explore beyond the altered isles, rose at the sight of me.

The Falkyns watched with curiosity, sharpening their blades or checking the wards endlessly.

I slipped behind a shrub where I’d abandoned my clothes while Rune landed in front of the king.

“Well? Anything?” Ari asked.

Rune folded his wings, grinning, and accepted Bo’s subtle hand when the tracker went to his lover’s side. “Oh, we found a great deal.”

I slipped my gown overhead and stepped into the camp before I’d finished tying the belt. I pecked Ari’s lips, but he kept his face close. “I learned quite swiftly after you left, that I cannot do that again. I’m not certain I’ve taken a breath since you flew away, sweet menace.”

Gods, I’d never tire of this man when he allowed the sincere vulnerability to snap through the surface. I kissed him, slowly, Mira’s body pressed between us.

“It is a good thing I did,” I whispered against his mouth.

“Tell me why, though, for I doubt I will agree. Any place without you is never a good thing.”

“Because she found us.” Valen’s voice snapped Ari’s face away.

The Night Folk king grinned a little slyly as the others filtered in behind him. Now, like Ari, Kase and Malin carried exhausted twin boys. Valen had Livia perched on his back. More and more, folk from both the North and the East filled in with their blades, littles, and a thirst for battle in their eyes.

“Ah, finally decided to join the fun, Nightrender?” Niklas tossed a pouch between his hands.

Kase glowered and eased Sander onto a grassy plot of land. “I come with armies from the North. Seems like you are the ones joining the fun, Nik.”

Niklas chuckled. Relief burned in his eyes at the sight of the Kryv and the Eastern folk. But the sight of the somber boy walking between Isak and Fiske, Niklas’s face shadowed. “Where are Luc and Dag?”

Kase’s eyes shaded black. I wasn’t certain he could control it. In a rare tender moment, he brushed a lock of Sander’s hair off his forehead. “We’ll speak about things soon.”

Niklas blinked, scratching his head as his chin fell. Junius clasped his hand, a palm over her mouth.

Doubtless, they already knew there would be a somber tale to tell.

“Gunnar.” Herja shoved through the procession.

“Maj.” Gunnar released Eryka’s hand and sprinted for his mother. He swallowed her in his arms. Soon, Hagen hooked an arm around his son’s neck, then embraced Eryka much the same. Gunnar laughed and teased his sister, donned in her warrior’s gambeson, then embraced Dain and young Metta.

“For a moment, we can be at peace.” Herja kissed Gunnar’s cheek, smiling.

Ari gently eased Mira into my arms, then crossed the camp in four strides toward Valen.

“I keep trying to think of something grand and hilariously amusing to say.” He paused, and clasped Valen’s forearm. “I’m afraid I must disappoint us all and simply say it is a great relief to see you, My King.”

Valen pulled Ari into a quick embrace as best he could with his daughter still clinging to his neck.

Ari tapped Livia’s nose. “Been a frightening adventure, Princess?”

“Etta broke,” she whimpered.

Ari’s smile flickered a bit, but as he’d always been able to do, he hid the disquiet masterfully. “I see. Well, the good in all this, is now it seems we’re all much closer together. I know for a fact the Nightrender is especially thrilled by this turn of events, don’t you think?”

Kase groaned. “Soon, I will demand that Valen or your own wife build me an isle of solitude to escape your voice.”

“Then what, pray tell, will bring you immeasurable joy each sunrise when I call out to you?” Ari laughed when Livia, at last, snickered at Kase’s scowl. He grinned at the Night Folk princess. “You shall see us all the time now.”

Livia’s smile was weary, but there all the same.

Ari gestured to Mira in my arms. “You know, all the other littles seem to be asleep. You’re the only one awake, Princess.”

Valen hiked her further up his back. “What do you say, little love? Care to sleep by Mira? Better than the smelly boys.”

Livia nodded, eyes heavy with fatigue. Valen cast Ari a significant look, one that hinted we’d all be speaking shortly, no mistake, of a great many drearier things, then went to settle Livia on the grass where I laid Mira.

Once the young ones were sleeping around the pitiful fire (we dared not draw too much smoke to our location) we huddled close together, three differing kingdoms. Royals, warriors, thieves, it didn’t matter what we were.

“We all saw the same thing,” Elise said. “A flash, the darkness, then we all woke here. Is the Borough intact?”

Ari nodded. “For the most part. Are you telling me Ravenspire is here?”

“Every damn gate,” said Elise.

“Our Nest is above ground,” said Niklas, “and it’s a travesty that I will remedy as soon as I can borrow the claws of a troll.”

“Same with the Black Palace, though we did lose the courtyard, and Felstad is made of even more ruins,” Kase said, flicking a twig into the dying flame. “Our sea is gone. Our regions are one land, one area. It is as if we fell asleep and awoke with our entire kingdom rearranged.”

“Think of when it all fell apart,” I offered. “We saw it in Ari’s fae sleep. I’ve no doubt the people of old awoke to a new world.”

“The difference was they had no memory of a before,” Malin offered, her hand wrapped tightly in Kase’s.

Ari knelt and traced out the land with a stick in the dirt. He lifted his gaze to mine. “You’re certain this is the general area of where we are?”

“I saw the sea. From there, I can gauge our vicinity,” I said. “The golden flares are coming from the shore.”

Ari brushed off his hands. “Are we in agreement that we go toward it?”

“Should we go in a small group?” Kase offered. “We have children with us.”

“I don’t know if it is safer to keep them elsewhere,” Elise said, “We don’t know what we’re facing. How do we protect them if we do not know?”

For a moment we all seemed to consider the notion. Sol cleared his throat and spoke. “There is something that feels almost peaceful about that light.”

“Could be a fae trick, Uncle,” Gunnar said.

Sol tilted his head. “I’ve thought the same, but where is Cal? The West is the only piece missing. What if she is there? Is her home not by the shore?”

“I’m going to just say it,” said Valen. “Calista is the daughter of the king who split our kingdoms. What if she is the one who has restored them?”

“Not such a far stretch,” I admitted. “Calista’s journey was meant to grow. My brother saw to it she was protected. We all know she had a path to find, so it might be that she has found it.”

“How do we explain the attacks on our shores?” Valen asked.

“We don’t,” said Ari. “Davorin has shown us new tricks. His glamour is there, his presence, but it’s almost like he is there in a mist. Nothing tangible. I don’t know where he is and it’s horrifically maddening.”

“Same with the sea fae,” Kase said. “Mal saw his likeness in their memories, but he never showed.”

“I say we rest,” Elise interjected. “Even for a few tolls. Then tomorrow, we do not stop until we reach the sea and find Calista.”

All at once, Bo shot to his feet. “There is someone out there.”

He squared to the trees, head tilted, a hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Our camp is warded,” Niklas said, voice soft. “Remember, no one can reach us if we stay within the borders.”

“Does that count for arrows, Nik?” Gunnar whispered as he took hold of his bow.

“Let’s hope so,” was all the Falkyn said.

“Back to the beginning,” Eryka muttered again, like she’d done before our world shattered.

The hair lifted on my arms when branches snapped. Trees shifted. Raum stood beside Bo, eyes narrowed as he peered into the shadows.

Soon, the Kryv’s mouth cut into a grin. “It’s blood fae.” He looked to Gorm. “I think one of them looks a bit like you.”

Gorm stalked to the edge of the camp in the same instant dark figures stepped into the firelight. Faces masked, spears in hand. Cuyler pulled down his mask at the first sight of his father.

“Daj. Thank the gods.” Cuyler hurried over the borders of our camp and clasped Gorm’s forearm.

Always formal, always on duty, still, Gorm clapped the side of his son’s cheek. “Good to see you safe. Where is the princess?”

Cuyler found me and Ari. He dipped his chin. “My Queen, My King. I was sent to find you. We suspected you would be here. All of you.” His pale eyes scanned the weary camp.

“Suspected?” Ari folded his arms over his chest. “So, Cal is behind this?”

“She was guiding you. The lands were breaking, and she did not know what would become of you. She did what she could and sang . . . or used seidr to bring you here.”

“She’s all right?” Sol stepped forward.

“She’s . . . well. There are some changes with Raven Row and Calista. Are you all well, at least as well as can be?”

“Most of our people are scattered across this new land,” I told him. “The Night Folk have need of help with Queen Lilianna.”

Cuyler’s mouth tightened. “We have refuge, room enough for us all, by the shore.”

“The light is Cal, then?” Elise asked.

“It is. Rest for now, but there isn’t much time. I think . . . I think we are facing the return of our enemy.” Cuyler glanced to me.

Ari stiffened at my side, and his voice took on a violent rumble. “Then he will face us all. But his head belongs to Saga. More than any of us, she deserves that.” He pressed a kiss to my hair. “I promised you, sweet menace. He returns? Then he will not be leaving with breath in his lungs.”

The truth was, if Davorin was returning, then either he or I would be greeting the Otherworld. I would fight to the death to rid this bleeding world of the battle lord.