“Not to counter that lovely sentiment,” interjected Grant, “but how will Arkadia allying with the Black Lily be in Arkadia’s best interest? Especially if as you’ve said before—” he looked to his brother, Friedrich “—they’ve always bowed out of conflicts where there was no advantage for them.”
For the first time since they’d entered the room, Mikhail spoke up. “Because without Arkadia, we will lose this war. And if we lose this war, then Queen Morgrid and King Dominik will dominate the people and the land with brutal violence, spreading the blood madness and building their vampire army until Arkadia has no chance of defending themselves against such a force. Arkadia will fall if they wait and stand alone.”
Tension sparked the air as the truth of Mikhail’s words settled in the room. Marius was the one to finally break the silence.
“You’re right, Mikhail. But I know these men. Even worse, I know the pompous politicians of the House of Arkadia. They will not be persuaded easily.”
“To hell with them then.” Arabelle scoffed and slapped a hand at her side. “We’ll go straight to the people of Arkadia.”
“Arkadia is a prosperous, healthy land,” said Mina. “The people trust the noble lords of the House.”
“And so how do we persuade them?” asked Arabelle. “Obviously my normal strategy of brute force won’t work. What do we have so that we can show this is the only course of action? That they must ally with us?”
Dmitri stepped from the outer circle and bowed before Mina, punching a fist against his heart. “You have me, Your Highness.”
Nikolai took a step forward as well with a slight bow. “You have a former lieutenant to the Legionnaires of the Glass Tower.”
“And a Fire Witch.” Sienna smiled beside him, gold sparking in her eyes.
Mina still wondered what that meant exactly but felt the magic swirling in the air around her red-haired friend.
Friedrich followed suit. “You have the Duke of Winter Hill, royal nephew to the Varis crown.”
Brennalyn made a bow of assent beside him, then Helena as well as Grant.
“And you have a prince of Varis,” said Marius, falling in line.
“The leader of the Black Lily.” Arabelle winked.
“You have our clan of the hart wolves,” Allora promised.
Mikhail turned to her with fierce adoration in his gaze.
“You have the Captain of the Bloodguard,” he whispered. “But you already knew that.”
With tears welling in her eyes, she scanned the room, unable to process her own emotions brimming to the surface. But it was the emotion rippling from the black-haired man closest to her that swallowed her heart whole. He had enough hope and belief and determination to build a new world. With him at her side, she could easily build that world. One where humans weren’t trampled on as inferiors, but given the rights and respect and opportunity they deserved. One where the monarchs ruled not simply with a just hand but with generous hearts. One where she would be happy and loved and whole.
Inhaling a ragged breath, she said with regal confidence, “Then we set out for Arkadia at once.”
Chapter Fourteen
Mina had little to pack other than the extra gown, chemise, corset, stockings, and slippers given to her by Aleksei’s sister at Wentworth. She’d stuffed all into a small bag and set them by the door for the morning. For the journey, she’d wear the practical gown for riding that Sienna had designed for her and the sturdy boots Arabelle had acquired from Hiddleston. She stood in front of the small looking glass hanging on the wall, admiring her new attire.
The skirt of the emerald-green gown hit her mid-calf, but her leather boots laced high to her knees so no skin was bare. The black outer bodice laced at the front, giving her support and also comfort, unlike the suffocating corsets she normally wore.
Helena had asked to style her hair. Mina couldn’t deny the sweet girl anything. Though she’d survived a harrowing experience in the hands of King Dominik’s men, she still bore a sweet innocence about her. She’d woven several tiny braids together, tapering from her crown to fall loosely with the rest of her long, unbound hair. She looked more like one of Allora’s clan than the Princess of Arkadia. Not to mention the conventional dress and coiffure. Somehow, it suited her better. She looked like the warrior she’d teased Mikhail about at the archery field.
A soft knock came at the door.
Smelling his mulled-spice-and-leather scent, her heart raced ahead despite her efforts to remain calm. She opened the door to the devastatingly handsome sight of Mikhail in a loose-fitting black shirt with a lace tie at the V-neck and his black leather pants, the moonlight giving his hair a blue-black hue.
He roved her body from top to toe, then finally said, “I brought you a gift of my own.”
He held up a black belt with a dagger in its sheath.
“Thank you.”
“May I?” He gestured toward her waist.
“Of course.”
Standing in her doorway, he looped it around her hips and cinched the buckle tight. Mina refrained from leaning into him and pressing her lips to his neck. The temptation was palpable. Once buckled, he leaned away.
“Now, remove your dagger. I want to show you a few things.”
She did, then stared at the finely crafted eight-inch blade. It was narrow, thin, and fang-tip sharp. The metal itself was black with a sliver of gold embedded on the sharpened tip. The hilt bore a single emerald stone at the base near the handguard. “Remarkable. This is almost too beautiful to wield.”
He wrapped his hand around hers on the hilt. “Beautiful things can often be the most deadly.” He arched a brow to which she smiled. “Now. If you’re in close combat with a vampire, there are several quick ways to bring him down with a dagger like this.”
“All right.”
He moved her hand with the tip of the blade under the edge of his jaw. “Plunge straight up at an angle into the skull here.” He moved her hand and dagger tip toward his ear. “Right here. Less resistance on the entry. And if you’re unable to get a clean entry into the brain, then just slash through the jugular here.” He moved the flat of the blade to the exact spot for her to slice.
She nodded with grim determination, her primal instincts kicking in, her vampire liking this lesson very much.
“Got it?”
“Yes.”
He guided her hand to slide the dagger back into its sheath then let go. “Of course, I won’t leave your side if I can help it.”
“Do you think I’ll be required to use such deadly force on our journey?”
“There’s no telling who we may encounter already allied with King Dominik. There are already whisperings in Hiddleston that King Dominik will give ten thousand sovereigns to whomever turns you over to him unharmed.”
She noted his sudden shift from serene temper to volatile. Though his expression hadn’t changed at all, his fury rode him hard, sharpening his features into frightening angles.
“Thank you, Captain.”