The Beginning of The End
Chapter 76

Manze smiles down at me, "I heard you guys need help organising a rebellion."

He knows!?

I didn't even know if that was still on the table, but clearly it is. Clearly, we are still going to overthrow Darax and his minions.

Maddox scowls at his brother, "Not here." He says harshly. "Come back to the castle with us, we can talk more behind solid walls."

Manze nods once, "lead the way."

Was his brother messing with me? Was he purposefully trying to scare me out of my mind? Cause if he was, it worked.

It definitely worked.

Gods, these creatures could be assholes.

Maddox ushers us towards a carriage, helping me inside and wrapping a blanket around my shoulders before he and his brother climbed in.

Brother. That's so weird. They look nothing like each other.

Manze laughs a little, "don't look so uptight fae, I ain't going to hurt a hair on that pretty little head." He says. "I was just messing with you."

"Yeah." I frown, "I kinda guessed that."

Asshole.

"You shouldn't mess with her, she is the Queen, not a whore from the streets." Maddox growls a little, moving me closer to him and pulling my legs onto his lap. "Are you warmer now?" He asks me.

I nod, smiling up at him. "Yeah, thanks for that."

"Awe look at the happy couple." Regards Manze, "isn't it the sweetest thing you did ever see."

I'm going to punch him, hard, in the face.

"Enough brother." Maddox growls. "Now is not the time for jokes."

"There is always time for a good laugh, you're just too uptight."

Maddox growls again, I stifle a laugh.

Manze was right about that, sometimes it was like Maddox had a rat in his ass. So grumpy and stern.

Maddox looks at me strangely, "you agree with him?"

He sounds hurt, I laugh again."

"He has a point." I say between laughs, "you can be grouchy."

Manze looks like he just won a trophy.

"Let's change the subject." Maddox grumbles, "I got word that Ryker is awake, that's what took me so long."

My mood lifts even more, it's good to hear that's he is awake, consciousness is one step closer to healing.

"Will the rebellion start once he is healed?" I ask.

"Yes." Nods Maddox, "we need him at full strength before we begin." He says. "We will

need all our men at full strength if we hope to win."

My anxiety gets the better of me, "and if we don't win?"

"Easy." Manze says, "we all die."

Great.

The ride back was easier than I thought, especially with Manze present, he made the atmosphere almost easy, and Maddox seemed more relaxed in his presence.

They talked a lot about plans for moving forward, though most of it I didn't understand I knew that I would be called upon when I am needed, or when my power is needed anyway.

He takes me to a room on the third floor, one much nicer than the one I was in before, and Miya was waiting for me.

"I'll be back for you later." He told me before he left. "There are guards outside the door."

I wasn't sure that Miya was supposed to know anything about the war that was coming, but I told her anyway, I always told her everything.

I flop back on the bed, "yeah, so the rebellion could be as close as next week."

"And you think it's ok to just help them kill an entire city and a King?" Miya asks, flopping down next to me. "Are you sure you are ready to kill for them?"

I nod, "Darax is responsible for it all Miya, all of our suffering and pain." I scoff. "If I don't fight, I'd be a coward. I'd miss the opportunity to do something useful." "You'll never be a coward Elora, you are one of the bravest people I know." She says softly, "but you couldn't hurt someone just because you thought it was right, I know your heart and I don't think you are ready."

I sigh. I hate when she's right.

"I have to be ready Miya." I tell her, "If not, we all die."

Miya laughs a little, taking my hand. "We've been on deaths door so often I've forgotten what it's like to have a normal day."

I laugh with her, “I don't even know what a normal day is anymore."

Someone knocks on the door, the handle turning as we both jump to our feet, apprehensive. Last time we were torn away from each other and although Maddox promised it wouldn't happen again, I wasn't so sure I could trust him just yet. No matter how much I wanted to.

Suer walks in and I take several steps back, bumping into a bed post.

"My Queen." He says with a bow, shutting the door. "I need to talk to you."

I didn't like the tone of his voice, he was worried, and that makes my heart flutter with anxiety.

"Go ahead." I say, "trying to hide my fear."

I take Miya's hand, and she lets me. Her closeness is comforting in a way that no one else can give me.

Suer rubs the back of his neck, "I wanted to apologise for what I did." he says. "I didn't want to hurt you; I was just following orders."

I instantly calm down, but I'm confused, why would he apologise?

"I know you were." I turn to Miya, "we both know you were just doing what you were commanded to."

His shoulder sag, "I argued it a few times, I didn't like it, but you know what King Maddox can be like."

"I do." I nod, "and I don't blame you, not at all."

He smiles brightly, "I'm glad to hear you say that, I didn't want there to be any trouble between us, I am your protector, I was never supposed to be the one to punish you."

I sit on the bed, pulling Miya with me, "come sit down." I tell him, "We were just talking about Maddox and Ryker's plans for the rebellion. Maybe you can help us clear some stuff up."

He drags the armchair across the room, "I'll help where I can."