Love & War
Chapter 22

Illiana

He thinks I am insane. I can see it written all over his face.

I look over at Theos again and frown.

“Tell him this, Illiana. Tell him the hunt did not die when the land did,” Theos says, looking over at Elliot.

I look back up at Elliot. His eyebrows furrow and he crosses his hands.

“The hunt did not die when the land did.” Elliot’s eyes widen.

“Okay, what the fuck. There is no way you could know. No way.”

“You are absolutely right. I did not. Theos, who is standing right beside you, did.”

I look up at Theos again and frown. Elliot and I are finally on good terms again, and now this happens. Elliot pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs.

“Say I believe you, and I’m really trying to, where has he been?”

“With the magic stripped from the land and people not believing anymore, we’ve begun to fade. We were always there. We will not forsake our people,” Theos says, allowing his shoulders to slouch.

“Theos said he never left. People stopped believing, and the magic was stripped from the land. He would never abandon you.”

Elliot stares at me for a moment before sighing.

“Okay. Will you ask him to check on Zander? I need to know what his condition is. How bad he is,” Elliot says.

“I shall return.” Theos vanishes again. I wish he would stop doing that.

“He said okay.”

“Is that where you look off to all the time?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you speaking with the gods when you zone out?” Elliot approaches me.

Zone out? What is he talking about?

“Illiana. Zander is wounded, but alive. His condition is not critical, but he may have a permanent limp,” Theos says from behind me. I frown.

“What is it?” Elliot lifts my chin with his finger.

“Zander is alive. He’s wounded but he’s alive. His leg is not in good condition.”

Elliot’s hand falls from my face.

“This is my fault,” he mumbles as he takes a step back from me. He squeezes his eyes shut and takes a deep breath.

“I need to go hold a meeting with Saphira. Will you be okay here?”

“Yes. I will be fine. Go,” I look up at the top of the outpost tower.

There is no way I would be able to join him unless I use my wings, but I am certain he would be opposed to that.

Elliot goes to walk by me and pauses.

He leans down and kisses my cheek.

“I love you, Illiana.”

My heart beats loudly in my ears. I look up at him and smile. He kisses my forehead and walked to the base of the outpost tower.

Do I love him too? What even is love? A sense of security? A safe place? A yearning? Do I feel these things for Elliot?

I walk over to the outpost tower and lean up against it. I can hear the rest of the soldiers on the other side unpacking and talking amongst themselves.

“You know his majesty’s wife is not elven. Do you know what she is?” I hear a woman’s voice.

“Frankly, I don’t care what she is as long as she’s not a glitter shit,” a man laughs.

They are talking about me. A glitter shit, a faerie, is precisely what I am. I frown.

“Yeah, like Prince Elliot would stoop so low as to marry and knock up a rapska. Please. He has to have more taste than that.” The woman laughs.

“His wife is a pretty little thing. I’ve never seen any woman with her kind of features before. Maybe she’s exotic? One of the meridian maybe?”

“The meridian? Are you daft? They are literally water beings. Beings made completely out of water. She isn’t made from water.”

“Touché.”

“Here, help me lift this.” They both grunt and move further away. I suppose Elliot was not kidding when he said there are those who will hate me just for my race.

I bring my hand to the cuff on my arm and frown. Note to self, keep this on at all times. Especially now. Why do they judge my entire race by the actions of the few?

“Oh! Lia!”

I turn my head and see Jess running toward me.

“Jess?”

“Hey! I didn’t think I’d see you here! I thought you’d be back at the village with the baby and all.” She stops in front of me. I smile at her and put a hand on my belly.

“I am perfectly fine, Jess. If this is a political meeting, I have to be here. Technically, by law, Elliot and I rule over both thrones.”

Jess’s jaw drops.

“Holy toadstools! I didn’t even think about that! Do you have any siblings?”

I grimace.

“Trey is my half-brother.”

“Ew. Girl, I’m sorry but that’s gross.”

“You’re telling me,” I laugh. Jess turns to the fae camp and her face hardens.

“They have my husband.”

“I know. But I also know that he is alive. We will get him back.” I put my hand on Jess’s shoulder.

“One way or another,” she gives me a weak smile. My lower back starts cramping up again. I take my hand from Jess’s shoulder and hold my lower back.

“Kona, are you cramping again?” I hear Elliot’s voice from behind me.

“I am okay, Maður. I just need to sit down for a moment, is all.”

“Oh well, let’s get you to camp. They should have the fire going by now,” Jess smiles and loops her arm with mine. She pulls me into the direction the two soldiers were talking earlier. Elliot is walking close behind.

The camp is nothing more than a small fire with log benches and sleeping bags all around it. No tents this time. Probably smarter to do it this way for a quick escape, should we need to make one.

“Illiana, watch your step. There are roots poking up all around this area,” Saphira called out from the log she is sitting on. I go to take one step and the tip of my boot catches one of the roots.

I feel myself falling until Elliot grabs my arm and pulls me to him.

“Holy fucking shit! She’s one of them! A glitter shit!” One of the soldiers jumps up from where he is sitting. He is pointing at me.

I put my hand over Elliot’s. His hand should be just over my cuff.

“Fuck. Your wings.”

I roll my shoulders and my wings spread open. Oh no.

“You brought a rapska here? After all they’ve done?” Loryn looks at me wild-eyed.

“And what per se did my wife do exactly? She did she specifically do to make you act this way?”

“Do you not see her wings? They’re green! That’s Fae royalty!” Loryn points at me again.

I could cut the tension with a knife. Where the hell is my cuff? I rub over my arm and feel sharp shards under my shirt. He broke it when he caught me.

“Listen up. I am aware of who my wife is. She is Illiana Cottonwood. Queen of the elves and the fae. I suggest all of you treat her with respect, or you each in turn shall feel the cold kiss of my blade against your throats.”

I shiver. Elliot is serious. All the soldiers sit back down and stare at me. At my wings.

I have never felt more alone.

Elliot pulls my into his arms and glares at all of them. When he lets go of my arm, the shards of the cuff fall from my sleeve and to the ground.

“I will protect you, my love.” He leads me to a log away from everyone. Jessilyn and Saphira join us.

“Well, I didn’t see that one coming. You have beautiful wings, Illiana,” Saphira smiles at me. Is it genuine, though? I feel like I am being paranoid. What would Nanny say?

“Now, Lia, you know some people won’t understand you or where you come from. Be kind,” I can almost hear her voice in my head. I smile to myself and lean my head against Elliot’s shoulder. He wraps his arm around me.

“That did not go as intended, but that’s okay. Now they know, and they have no choice but to accept it.”

“It is okay, Maður. It must have been a shock to see a faerie in elven territory, let alone married to their Prince. Give them some time to process.”

Elliot shakes his head and looks down at me. I close my eyes and take a breath. The fire feels nice.

“Come, let’s get some rest. Tomorrow is the meeting.”

🍂

A pain in my pelvis wakes me up. I prop up on my elbow and put my hand over my belly. The cramping is now in my lower back, wrapping around to just below my naval. This freaking hurts.

I breathe through it and look over at Elliot. He is sleeping on his side facing me. He looks so peaceful.

The cramps finally let up, and I lay back down. I brush a hair out of his face and his eyes open. His gorgeous hazel eyes.

I smile at him.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he whispers.

“Good morning.”

“Today is the day. Are you going to be okay to stand before your father and that lizard scum?”

“If you will be there, I will be okay.” He smiles at me.

“There’s something else we need to talk about,” he says. He looks me in the eye. Oh. This must be serious.

“Okay?”

“Baby names. We know we’re having a boy and a girl. What do you think about the name Annalise for the girl?”

“I love that name! Do you have a boy name in mind?”

“I had Grayson but Obsidian shot that one down,” he chuckles. He props himself up on his elbow.

“Hmm. What about Thoren?” He thinks for a minute, then smiles.

“I like Thoren.”

“That settles it then. Thoren and Annalise Cottonwood.”

“Thoren and Annalise,” he repeated with a smile on his face.

“Ell, it’s time to get up and get ready. The fae are already starting to line up,” Saphira approaches us.

“Thank you.”

He stands up and helps me up as well. I dust off my shirt and take down my braid. My hair is in knots.

I run my fingers through my hair to untangle it, and Elliot clears his throat.

“May I?” He points to my hair.

“If you want to,” I turn my back toward him.

In minutes, he has my hair braided back into an intricate updo. How does he do that and so fast?

“Okay, Kona. You’re ready.”

“Thank you,” I say. I turn around and he is grinning at me.

“What?”

“I’m still in shock that you’re actually mine, is all.”

“Are you ready brother?” Jess walks up to us.

“Yes. We are.”

“I will get the archers into position. You need to head toward the field. The scum are already there. Zander is already there,” she says, gritting her teeth. Her muscles are tensed up, and she is holding her bow so tightly her knuckles are white.

“Okay, sister. Fight with courage.”

“Vanquish our enemies,” Jess says. She turns on her heel and jogs off toward a group of other archers.

“Now, where is Garett?” Elliot looks around.

“I’m here, uncle El!” Garett says from the other side of the fire. He is dressed in the rags Obsidian came to the village in. He has a maroon colored cloak tied around his shoulders. The hood is up to hide his brilliant silver hair. He could definitely pass as Dian from a distance.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes!”

“Then let’s go.”

The walk to the center field is in silence. My back is cramping with every step we take. I ignore it and put on a brave face. The daisies from the last time we were here are still in full bloom. It may just be me, but I think the grass looks slightly greener as well.

We stop maybe ten feet from my father and Trey. Both are dressed in the finest silks and jewels.

Trey is clad in the red of his kingdom. Silk and satin clothes with rubies sewn into the jacket he is wearing in a diamond pattern. His hair is tied back in a low ponytail, and he has a golden sash across his chest with the fire dragon emblem on it. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. Well, to one elbow, and to what is left of his other arm. Elliot really did a number on him.

My father is in a powder blue silk robe that contrasts with Trey’s attire. He is wearing his quartz crown with his hair down. He looks at me and glares.

“Illiana. What in Fyoria are you wearing?” My father asks in disgust.

“Clothes. What does it look like I am wearing?” I glare at them both.

“I see this bitch got a mouth on her now. Clearly she wasn’t using it the right way, though,” Trey points to my stomach. “How disgusting. It seems you’ve decided to show your wings as well. I’m surprised they that been cut off.”

“Why should my wife have to hide them? They’re part of who she is. I suggest you watch your vulgar mouth,” Elliot says in almost a growl.

Trey rolls his eyes. He turns slightly to his left and snaps his fingers. Two fae soldiers dragging Zander’s bloody body by his arms drop him in front of Trey.

His clothes are bloody and ripped. There is something sticking up out of his right leg. What is that? A crystal of some sort? It is opaque with a blue tint to it, and the sides I can see are carved into points.

“As you can see, this elf is alive. Where is my healer?”

Alive? He is barely alive.

Zander weakly lifts his head and shakes it.

“Ell, you can’t give them the boy.”

Trey kicks him in the ribs, and Zander curls into a ball on the dead grass.

Elliot clenched his fist.

He has done it now.