The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash 4)

“Have you heard from Eloana?” Poppy asked of my father. “Was she able to tell you anything about where she entombed Malec?”

Father cleared his throat. “Yes. Just before we arrived in Padonia. Eloana was able to give some detail,” he said as Poppy leaned forward, the length of her braid slipping over one shoulder. “Malec’s entombment is in the northeastern-most portion of the Blood Forest.”

“That would be…” Poppy picked up the edge of her braid.

“Near Masadonia,” Delano told her as I dragged my thumb over the curve of her hip. “A few days’ ride from here, if that.”

Poppy began twisting her braid. “Anything else?”

“You’ve been in there,” Father said, gesturing with his chin to a narrow window. “You know that a lot of it looks alike. But she did say that there were ruins in that portion of the Blood Forest. The remains of whatever existed there long before the Blood Forest grew. He would be close to that.”

“There could’ve been any number of small towns there at one time.” Sven scratched at his beard. “But there was nothing there but fields during the War of Two Kings.”

So, whatever had once existed there had been old. Possibly even as old as when the gods were awake.

“That helps, though.” Poppy glanced over her shoulder at me and then Kieran, who nodded. “I can use the spell you told me about,” she said to Sven. “I have something that belonged to him. A ring.”

Sven gave her a warm smile. “Clever.”

A pink, rather adorable flush stained her cheeks. I leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to the nape of her neck. “When we find him,” she began, “I don’t think we should attempt to wake him. Do any of you know if that will be possible?”

My father shook his head, looking at Sven. “Well…” the Lord began, and Perry filled a glass with whiskey, sliding it in his direction. “It really depends. Was he entombed in any sort of casket?”

“He was,” Father confirmed. “A casket covered in deity bones.”

“That should be fun to transport,” Kieran remarked.

“So, I imagine if you don’t open it, he should remain as he is when you find him,” Sven said.

“He’s unconscious,” Poppy said, and Sven’s stare turned curious. “That was how my father knew that something had happened to him. When Malec lost consciousness, it woke Ires.”

“Interesting,” Sven murmured, back to scratching his beard. “So, he’s the Primal of Life and the Consort’s son,” Sven began, “and his entombment had to have some effect on the environment.”

“Besides the Blood Forest?” I said, and Poppy straightened. Hell. I couldn’t believe it’d just occurred to me. “That’s why the Blood Forest is there. The trees grew because he was entombed there.”

“Just as the trees grow for you,” Kieran said, looking at Poppy.

“I thought you all knew that,” Sven remarked, his brows lifted.

“Apparently, they didn’t,” his son said, and Delano grinned because we hadn’t.

Poppy’s head tilted as she studied my father. “Who exactly helped Eloana with a Primal spell? Do we know whose Primal essence she used?”

“Wasn’t me,” Sven remarked.

“I believe Wilhelmina helped her,” Father said, and none of us had been expecting that. “What essence she used…I don’t know.”

“But do we know what becomes of Malec once we defeat the Blood Crown?” Hisa asked. “Do we put him back into the ground?”

All eyes, including Aylard’s, turned to us. I didn’t answer, having enough sense to know that it wasn’t my place to do so. It was Poppy’s.

“No,” she said, squaring her shoulders. “We make sure he returns home with his brother, to Nyktos and the Consort.”

Chapter 40

Poppy

It was early evening by the time we finished discussing our plans to leave for the Blood Forest, and I was able to spend some time with Tawny. I entered the chambers, relieved to find two deep tubs side by side, both filled with steaming water.

While Casteel had lingered behind—hopefully to speak with his father—I inspected the chambers as I undressed. The exposed beams of the ceiling and the white-washed stone walls reminded me of the bedchambers in New Haven. However, these were far grander, outfitted with sitting and dining areas separated by a standing screen. The wardrobe doors were open, and I found the clothing Vonetta had brought hanging there. But it was the items that hung next to it that brought a smile to my face.

Clothing for Casteel.

They truly hadn’t doubted that we’d return. Together.

A crate sat at the bottom of the wardrobe—the one that held King Jalara’s crown. Another would join it soon. I still didn’t know what I would do with them.

I drifted to the table by the bed and placed my hand on the cigar box, knowing what lay inside.

Our crowns.

Inhaling deeply, I left the box closed and went to the tub. A faint ache returned to my jaw as I bathed and washed away what felt like a week’s worth of grime before drying off and finding a robe, slipping it on. A knock sounded on the door just as I finished tying the sash.