Sesame dropped them at the closest entrance to the sacred grove.

The wall split open silently, forming a narrow doorway, and they slipped out one after the other, immediately lowering themselves into stealth as they took in their surroundings.

The sacred grove was dense with vegetation, ancient trees towering high above, their branches weaving into a natural canopy that dimmed the sunlight.

Lila leaned close to Alaric, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is where the Tree of Life stands. Only royalty are permitted here except for important occasions like the trial."

Alaric gave a short nod as they moved, keeping low, using the thick leaves and roots as cover. Their steps were light, and careful knowing Fae had sharp hearing. One wrong move and they would be discovered.

It was Hannah who broke formation. She slipped away without a sound.

"What is she doing?" Lila whispered, tension lacing her tone.

"Assessing the area," Taryn replied.

Not long after, Hannah returned just as silently, dropping beside them. She was slightly breathless, her eyes wide.

"Baron’s men are everywhere," she reported in a hushed voice. "I saw the Queen. She’s alive, but I don’t know for long. She looks badly injured and Baron’s putting on a show, talking about how weak she is and how the Free Fae need a better ruler. He’s holding the remaining Fae hostage."

Taryn’s gaze hardened. "Then all we have is the element of surprise."

Alaric pressed his lips together. "I’ll take down as many as I can."

Lila nodded, her voice firm. "Let’s get this over with."

Then they moved.

Alaric stepped out first. Immediately, Baron’s men spotted them.

"Hey—!"

It was too late.

Alaric stretched out his arm, closing his eyes as he surrendered to the power thrumming violently beneath his skin. When he opened them again, they were pure white.

The sky above darkened instantly, clouds churning as thunder rolled across the grove.

Lila moved at the same time, her hands turning in controlled motions as the wind responded to her call. A cyclone began to form, tearing through the grove, ripping leaves and bodies alike into chaos.

Taryn made his move as well. One moment he was standing, the next a massive lion tore through the battlefield, claws and fangs ripping into any Fae who dared get close to Alaric.

Even in his beast form, a flicker of pride surged through him at the sight of Hannah.

She was a blur of movement. Her daggers flew with deadly precision, each strike finding its mark as she cut down enemies with ruthless efficiency.

The tide began to shift and some of the captured Fae seized the moment.

Prince Lucien broke free first, twisting out of the grip of the blade held to his throat and striking back with lethal speed.

The common Fae began to scream, scattering in every direction, desperate to escape the chaos.

Thunder cracked violently overhead, lightning tearing through the sky in jagged streaks.

On the elevated platform, Baron stood with Queen Seraphira in his grasp, bound in iron, bloodied, and weak.

Even he felt the sheer power Alaric Storm was summoning.

He turned to Annequin. "What are you standing there for? Deal with them!" he snapped.

Annequin didn’t move. Instead, she turned slowly to him, her expression dark. "I don’t recall being your servant. The deal was to help you take the palace. I fulfilled my part."

Baron’s jaw tightened.

He had secured his army through her. In exchange, she was meant to rule beside him.

The Queen locking him away had been pointless. Asher had freed him, kickstarting their plan.

"Don’t you want to be queen?" Baron pressed, his voice rising. "Rule beside me? Take care of these pests and you’ll have the Free Fae at your feet."

Annequin lifted a brow.

"Isn’t that the same promise you made to Celeste?"

Baron froze.

Annequin’s gaze turned cold, and dangerous. "I was once a queen of a powerful kingdom. What makes you think I would share power with you when I can easily take it?"

"You!" Baron face fell when he realized Annequin had been playing him all along. He should have known than to trust her, unfortunately, he couldn’t resist the allure of having such powerful ally on his side. Moreover, Annequin would have made a suitable queen.

Static built in the air, buzzing, heavy like a storm about to explode.

Baron’s expression darkened. "Your men won’t survive this."

"Says who?" Annequin’s lips curved to the side. "Those are hired soldiers. I protect my own."

Shadows burst from her body. They moved fast, slipping into her men one after the other, swallowing them whole —and then they vanished.

And so did Queen Seraphira.

"You bitch!" Baron roared, spinning around wildly. "Get back here!"

Nothing answered him.

Then the sky broke.

Lightning came down like roots from the heavens, striking the battlefield in violent succession. Screams tore through the air as Fae were caught in its path, bodies convulsing under the raw force.

Baron barely dodged, dragging a Fae in front of him as a shield.

The lightning twisted, alive, and hunting. Lila’s cyclone accompanied it, surging higher, catching those who escaped the strikes and flinging them violently across the grove.

It was quite a terrible sight.

The storm died slowly. Thunder rolled across the sacred grove one last time before fading into a low rumble, and the lightning that had once split the sky began to thin, its violent brilliance dissolving into scattered sparks.

Bodies littered the ground, burnt, and unmoving. The scent of charred flesh and iron hung heavy in the air, mixing with the earthy dampness of the grove.

To their relief, most of Baron’s forces were down. The rest were retreating, fleeing blindly into the forest, abandoning the fight entirely. Others backed away more cautiously, dragging their injured comrades along with them, unwilling to face whatever power had just been unleashed upon them.

Still a few remained, loyal to the core or simply too foolish to know when the fight was no longer on their side.

They charged again but this time, the field was equal.

Taryn tore through one of them with brutal efficiency, his massive lion form slamming into the attacker and sending him crashing into the roots of a tree.

Alaric lifted his hand, lightning crackling along his fingertips as he spotted another Fae lunging toward Taryn from behind.

He moved to strike and felt great pain. It hit him like a blow to the chest. Alaric gasped, his body seizing as the lightning fizzled out, his knees buckling beneath him.

He collapsed.

"Alaric!" Lila shouted, rushing to his side, dropping beside him as panic seized him.

"What’s going on?" she demanded, grabbing his shoulders, trying to steady him.

But Alaric wasn’t looking at her. He wasn’t seeing any of them.

His hands clawed at his chest as if something inside him was tearing him apart from the inside.

"Violet..." he rasped.

The name came out broken.

"I can feel it..." he choked, his voice trembling. "She’s—she’s in pain—"

Lila’s brows furrowed in confusion.

"What?"

A shadow moved behind her as a Fae lunged but before the blade could reach her, it dropped.

Hannah had taken care of the sneaky bastard. She didn’t even look at the body, eyes on Lila.

"This is seriously not the time for this," she said, exhausted.

"Something is wrong with Violet!" Lila snapped back. "It’s affecting him!"

"Well then get him the fuck out of here!" Taryn roared, slamming another attacker aside as he shifted back partially, placing himself between them and the remaining enemies.

"The Queen and Baron?" Lila shot back, her voice tight.

"They’re gone!" Hannah snapped. "Both of them!"

"Fuck," Lila hissed under her breath, frustration and urgency colliding. This wasn’t the plan but Alaric was losing his mind.

"Violet..." he whispered again.

Lila froze for half a second as something else catch her attention.

The Tree of Life. Her eyes locked onto it.

"Taryn!" she snapped instantly. "Cover us!"

Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Alaric, hauling him up with effort as his body fought her every step of the way.

He cried out but she didn’t stop.She ran across the battlefield, straight to the tree.

By the time she reached it, her breath was ragged, her arms burning as she lowered him carefully to the base of its massive roots.

This was a sacred tree. Only royal Fae were permitted to use it. But Alaric was bound to Violet.

Lila swallowed. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Please," she whispered, clasping her hands together as she bowed her head. "Great Mother, take over."

For a moment, nothing happened, only for the roots to move. Luminous vines crept out from the base of the tree, wrapping around Alaric’s body, pulling him in, cocooning him completely in their light.

The tree came alive, it’s branches and trunk shimmering with ancient and powerful energy.

Lila stepped back, watching with bated breath. She could no longer hear him and hoped to the gods, she made the right decision.

Time stretched. Then the roots began to

loosen, slowly releasing him. Alaric’s body dropped back onto the ground, still as a statue.

Then his eyes snapped open, and for a brief, terrifying moment, they flashed purple.

His lips parted, and when he spoke,

his voice was not his own.

"It’s done."