“Izzy it isnt like that! Please just listen to me. I- oh come on! Izzy really,” Stryker's voice was filled with exasperation and edging on sounding very annoyed when I made my way into the back garden to find him.

“Izzet I need your help. I need you. Please just come back and we will talk about this. I'm sorry I lost my temper at you. This is important, though. It's related to the reinstatement of leadership in Adoh. Please just come,” he said in a pleading tone before shaking his head and hanging up the phone.

“That sounded like it was going well,” I said sarcastically.

“She will come, so... well enough I guess,” he said with a sigh.

“What is Izzet to you anyway? Mal called her your girlfriend?” I asked.

“She's my ex. We have too many uncompromisable differences in what we want out of life. She doesn't see it that way, but I'm not willing to budge on my principals,” he admitted.

“I see. Well, in any case, I'd rather not have your girlfriend, or ex, or whatever trying to kill me. Is it a good idea for me to continue to use that room?” I asked.

“I'd feel safer if you stayed in Mal's room while she is here. I did not expect such a strong reaction from her. I will ensure your saftey this time, please have no doubt about that,” he assured.

“There will be no need. Kasia and I will be traveling tomorrow, so you and Izzy can spend all the time you need sorting out her petty feelings,” Malakar interjected into the conversation.

“Traveling?” I asked.

“The flame master does not feel comfortable entering Sunlite. We will go and meet her near the northern beach,” he informed me.

I nodded and looked to Stryker for his reaction.

“Very well. I will see to it that Lorién and Lisanna are taken care of and then send Izzet back on her way. For now though, I've got to make it to that summit meeting. Do you think you could fast travel me there, Mal?” Stryker said and held a hand out toward my brother.

“I'll be right back, Lil K. Go inside and start a kettle of water for tea, would you please?” Mal said and nodded towards the house as he addressed me.

“Sure,” I mumbled and half turned to head towards the house.

Just as I was about to lose sight of the two men, Stryker's hand met Malakar's, and they both disappeared into a thick cloud of black smoke. I've really got to ask Mal how he does that. That is some kinda ninja-esque shit if you ask me, not Fairy. I laughed to myself and then walked inside the cottage. After a bit of rummaging, I located a tea kettle and filled it with water. I placed it onto the front left eye of the stove, the best eye on any stove, and clicked on the heat. I didn't quite think of Mal as a tea drinker, but I guess I hadn't thought of him as a crier either. He's surprising me in new ways every moment that I spend around him. Imagine the things I'd know about him if we had just been raised together properly. I wish we had gotten that chance. I sighed and sat down on the barstool I'd been perched on earlier to wait on the water to boil. I guess I've got a lot of shit that I never knew about to work through now.

The tea kettle was just beginning to whistle when a loud thump in the living room drew my attention. I moved the kettle to the hot plate and then cautiously went to investigate. When I entered the living room, at first I didn't see anything to explain the noise. I walked to the window and peered onto the front porch to make sure there wasn't someone at the door. The porch was empty. I felt the skin on the back of my neck goose over and slowly turned from the window back to the room behind me. My eyes scanned my surroundings slowly but nothing stood out. I suddenly could not shake the feeling that something was very wrong, though.

“Hello?” I called into the empty space.

“K..” came a muffled groan from behind the couch.

I hadn't looked that way when I first entered the room. I quickly lept onto the couch and looked over the back of it. My heart caught in my throat for a split second but my body was already moving. I pulled the couch forward in a single movement and was behind it kneeling beside my brother before I knew what I was doing. Malakar was covered in cuts and already swollen bruises. So much blood covered his clothes that I was sure he had hardly any left inside him. With a strength that I didn't know I had, I lifted Malakar onto the couch and propped his head on a pillow. My hands shook as I removed his mangled shirt to assess his injuries. He has several long, deep lacerations in his chest wall and one of them was oozing little air bubbles into the pooling blood every time he breathed. My whole body trembled with fear as I tried to process what was going on.

“What happened, Malakar? Where's Stryker?” my voice sounded foreign and tortured as I spoke.

“Lorien was their King,” Malakar choked and spat a bit of blood onto the couch cushion, “They retaliated...”

“Mal? What'd they do? Where's Stryker?” My heart clenched as my hands worked quickly to apply pressure and manage as much bleeding as I could.

“He saved me,” Malakar managed to say before his eyes fell shut.

I thought he had lost consciousness for a moment and I used that moment to focus on my anger. I pulled at my rage and focused it all into my palms. I pressed firmly into the bubbling wound on Malakar's chest and the smell of burnt flesh made me gag. Malakar groaned in pain but I kept firm pressure until I was sure the wound had been cauterized. I cannot panic right now. I have to keep my cool and help my brother.

“I brought him.. as far as I could carry us together... river...” he whispered.

“Just hold on Mal. I'm going to get you fixed up. Conserve your energy. I'll be right back,” I told him, before running to the kitchen.

I slammed together the ingredients I had helped Stryker make into a salve as quickly as I could and grabbed the gauze from the kitchen cabinet before I returned to my brother. I applied as much salve as I could to his wounds and then wrapped his chest tightly with gauze. Once I was satisfied that I had provided the best care that I could, I took a deep breath to steady myself. Okay Kasia, you've done what you can here. You have to find Stryker. He could be just as badly wounded. Get going, girl. I forced myself to turn away from Malakar's pale body. He looked like a bloody ghost but there was nothing else I could do now.

“I'm going for Stryker. Don't you dare leave me while I'm gone,” I said firmly, and clenched my fists into tight balls at my sides before storming out the front door and into the forest beyond the cabin.

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I made quick work of finding the small river nearby. My eyes scanned the banks fervently as I ran along the side. My breath halted when I spotted a shining silver at the water's edge. I was kneeling beside Stryker in an instant. I pulled his head into my lap and pushed his wet hair from his face. The river water was spinning cocoons around his arms and legs. It took me a moment to realize that the water was providing pressure to his wounds. His torso looked relatively unscathed, luckily. The only major wound I saw was a deep gash on his left thigh. Thankfully, I had run from the house in such a hurry once I had tended to Malakar that I hadn't even sat the gauze down. I did my best to bandage Stryker's wounds and the water slowly retreated back into the river as I worked. Once I'd gotten him sufficiently bandaged I scooped a handful of water from the flowing river and splashed it into his face.

“Come on damn you. Wake up, Stryker,” I growled and shook his shoulders firmly but gently.

Stryker groaned and turned his head a little. I splashed him again and his eyes slowly opened. I was met with an angry glare for just a moment before panic set into his expression. That's not something I thought I'd ever see on this man's face. He had a look of genuine terror. Stryker tried to sit up and I slid up closer behind him providing support as he moved.

“You cant be out here Kasia. Get back to the cabin now. Right now, go,” He demanded.

“Not without you,” I countered as I stood and offered him my hand.

Stubbornly Stryker moved to stand on his own. Of course, with his gaping thigh wound, he found himself on his hands and knees in front of me instead. I huffed and again offered him my hand. This time he took it, although begrudgingly. I supported his left side as we made our way away from the river. Stryker was constantly surveying our surroundings as we moved. His head seemed to swivel at the slightest of sounds. I wonder what happened at that meeting. We did not speak again until we were safely behind the closed doors of the cabin.

“What happened out there?” I finally asked as I helped Stryker ease into the chair next to the couch where Malakar lay sleeping.

“It turns out that although they never let him have sole leadership, the wolves viewed Lorien as their King. They didn't take kindly to the news of his death,” Stryker said with an ironic chuckle.

“So they attacked you?” I asked.

“They wanted payment in the form of royal blood. They would have killed him,” Stryker said softly and turned his head to look at Malakar.

“He said you saved him,” I told him.

“Let's just hope it was enough,” Stryker's expression was soft and caring but laced with worry as he eyed his friend's pale figure on the couch beside him.

“I did what I could to stop the bleeding,” I offered.

Stryker nodded and closed his eyes. I waited to see if he would tell me any more about what had happened but I was soon met with the soft sounds of his snoring. I sat down on the floor between the two Faire men and sighed. They are both injured because of me. I didn't have to kill Lorien. I could have controlled my anger but I made the choice not to. I made a choice that almost cost me the lives of my people. Yes, these are my people. If I'm supposed to be their leader I cannot let things like this happen. I will not risk them... or let them risk themselves again. I sat there guarding the two men until sunlight began spilling through the windows of the cabin. I stood and stretched out my back. A loud yawn escaped my mouth unintentionally causing Stryker to rouse.

“Kasia? Did you stand watch over us all night, princess?” he asked in voice gravely with sleep.

“Well you couldn't exactly watch yourselves,” I told him.

Stryker laughed and stood to join me in stretching. He did not favor his injured leg at all. I tilted my head and eyed the bloody bandage on his thigh. He took note of my gaze and smiled. Stryker slowly unwound the bandage and to my utter shock, only a small scar remained where his leg had been gashed open last night. I guess the look of shock was visible on my face because he laughed at me in response.

“I heal quickly. Perks of Faire Folk blood. The fact Mal dropped me into the river probably didn't hurt the process either,” he admitted.

“Right,” I said simi-skeptically.

“We need to start preparing to leave. The island isn't safe for our people anymore. I'll send word to the flame master that plans will be changed so you don't have to worry about that today. Can you gather up essentials for a very long journey for the three of us? I've got to make several calls to arrange to get our people safely out of this place,” Stryker got right to business.

“I'll do what I can. I don't think Mal is in any shape to travel right now, though. His injuries...” my eyes landed on my still sleeping brother's pale face and I grimaced at the memory of his chest being shredded through last night.

“We will leave the moment he is conscious and walking. The situation is serious, Princess,” Stryker said seriously.

“Oh it's serious, is it?” Izzet's voice lofted from the stairs in a mocking lilt.

“Izzy, impeccable timing, as always,” the sarcasm laced through Stryker's voice was palpable.

I instinctively stepped closer to Malakar at the sound of her voice. I do not trust this girl, at all. As far as I'm concerned, she is a danger to him in this weakened state. I kept my gaze on Stryker as Izzet approached the sitting area. He stepped forward to greet her at the bottom of the stairs and then held out his hand gesturing toward the kitchen. I could feel her gaze burning a hole in the side of my head but I did not acknowledge her in the slightest way. I don't have time for a mad bitch right now. I have to protect my brother and Stryker which apparently means we have to get out of here.

“Why don't we talk over tea?” Stryker offered and used his own body movements to guide her towards the kitchen door and away from me.

I did not take my eyes off of the pair until the kitchen door closed behind them. Once Izzet was out of the room I breathed a bit easier. I searched a side table and found a pen and notebook. I sat down in the chair beside Malakar and began making a list of items that would be useful for a long journey. I'm used to traveling light so my list wasn't very long. I included things like water bottles, a metal pot, a tarp, twine, food preserves, and all-weather clothing, along with a few other necessities. As I was writing Malakar began to stir. I sat my notebook down and moved to kneel next to the couch beside him. I placed my hand on his forehead to check his temperature. Thankfully he felt normal. I had been slightly worrying about infection due to the sheer severity of his wounds. Malakar opened his eyes and smiled weakly at me.

“Little K... I'm so glad to see you,” he said, his voice raw and raspy.

“Hey don't try to talk let me get you a drink,” I insisted and made haste to the kitchen.

“I don't know what you expect from me. One moment you're throwing me out for disrespecting some random whore you brought into our house and the next you're begging me to help you move an entire kingdom?” Izzet was saying to Stryker as I rounded the island to grab a glass of water for Malakar.

“I expect you as a leader of the dark fae community to understand the very real danger of the impending war, Izzy. I expect you to fall in line and follow my command. You've always known that I'm the leader of our forces when it comes down to it,” Stryker growled.

I finished filling the cup with ice water and made my way back to the living room. Malakar had moved to sit up while I was gone. I offered him the water and he took the glass. After a few small sips, he sat the cup on the side table. I sat back down in the chair next to him. I took a moment to look him over. The color was slowly beginning to return to his face which was quite a relief since he had been unnaturally pale even for a redhead.

“Where's Stryker?” Mal asked.

“Kitchen. Talking to Izzet,” I answered.

“It must be going okay then... I don't hear any yelling or dishes shattering,” he laughed.

“I couldn't say. I got the impression that she only cares about being the one in his bed, not about her people... but what would I know?” I chided.

“Indeed. What would you know?” Izzet asked from the kitchen doorway.

“Izzy enough,” Stryker reprimanded from behind her.

The pair entered the room and took seats. Stryker sat on the couch beside Mal and Izzet in the remaining chair opposite me. I still decided against acknowledging her presence. I looked to Stryker who was watching me intently. He looked away when our eyes met. Weird. The feeling of tension in the room was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. After what felt like an eternity it was Malakar who finally broke the silence.

“So, when do we go to war?” he asked which immediately drew my attention.

“War?” I looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

“Of course war. Not any time soon, though. We arent prepared. We need to move to a more strategic position and reinstate our court first. Once the princess is crowned Queen we will proceed with battle,” Stryker clarified.

“So what's our plan?” I asked, looking to Stryker for guidance.

“OUR plan,” Izzet said with an emphasis that said I was not included, “is to move our people off this island with as few casualties as possible. I could care less what you do. Who even are you, girl?”

“Izzet if you so much as look at her cross again I will personally see to it that you are removed from your standing as a leader in the dark circle,” Stryker growled and Izzet dropped her eyes to her feet.

“She happens to be your crown princess, you insolent bitch,” Malakar spat at her causing the woman to flinch.

I sat up a bit straighter as the two men came to my defense. It's not that I need their help, but it sure is nice to have someone willing to speak up for me. I finally spared a glance in Izzet's direction and found that her cheeks were red and her head bowed in a submissive posture. I guess the woman does have a bit of sense after all. She's at least smart enough to not further piss off these two powerful men at the same time. That's good, for her sake, because even despite his injuries I have no doubt that Malakar alone could end her with one hand behind his back. I looked to my brother and he was glaring daggers at Izzet. Stryker, though, was staring at me again. This time when our eyes met he held my gaze for a moment before clearing his throat and drawing everyone's attention.

“We will begin preparations to move our communities out immediately. Women and children will begin boarding the La Saine and the De Marin this afternoon. A small group of men will board The Cochin to sail with them as a protection detail. The remaining men will sail when the ships return during the night,” Stryker told us.

“I'll head out and begin notifying the community leaders,” Izzet said quietly.

“Essential items only and be prepared to fly with the caravan in shifts as the ships will be over crowded,” Malakar told her.

Izzet nodded and then stood to leave. She did not take her eyes off the ground the entire time but gave a gracious bow and then exited via the front door. Once she was gone I felt much more at ease. I don't think I'm going to get used to her being around. She just rubs me completely the wrong way. I stood next and walked over to the stairs. I glanced back at the two men on the couch and sighed. What on earth did I get myself into. This is going to be one crazy story to tell when I get old.

“So, where can I find some duffle bags to pack our essentials in?” I asked.

“Upstairs hall closet has all of the luggage in it. If you need help, call us. Malakar and I will be busy making arrangements with our sailing crews for the next few hours,” Stryker told me.