Chapter 94

FELIX

I awoke the morning of the battle with a loss of feeling in my left hand, as always, but for some reason, it was significantly less than usual. More stiffness than anything else.

Next to me, Mila sat up in bed and reached for my hand. She started gently massaging it, as she always did to help me in the mornings.

“It feels better than usual,” Mila offered.

“It does to me, too,” I said. That made her smile, albeit shakily.

“Maybe this war has something to do with your curse,” Mila mused. “If it’s improving right before battle, maybe you just need a victory to break it.”

“Maybe,” I said doubtfully. “I suppose we can’t rule anything out.”

Mila shrugged. “Just an idea.”

We sat in silence for a few moments, both lost in thought. The idea of seeing my younger brother for the first time in weeks today made me feel nauseous, off-center. Charles was someone I was supposed to protect and look out for, and instead, I had failed him. I had allowed him to become a villain under my roof without realizing what was going on with him.

I could not fail Mila, too.

“How are you feeling?” Mila asked, as if she could read my thoughts. “I know today is… complicated.”

“I want to save my kingdom from an existential threat,” I said.

Mila looked at me curiously. “Yes, of course, that’s what Felix the prince is feeling. I’m asking about Felix the person. Felix the brother.”

I looked down at the bedsheets. “He’s struggling.”

Mila kissed me gently. “That’s okay.”

My voice was tight. “I am the future King of Fresonia. I should not be struggling with the idea of going into battle.”

Mila ran a hand down my arm. “It’s not natural to be fighting against one’s own brother. I know you’ll do what you have to, but that doesn’t make it easy.”

I turned to face her, a thought suddenly crossing my mind. “And where will you be during the battle, Mila?”

She blinked innocently. “I’ll be wherever I am needed.”

I stared her down. “You cannot join the fight, Mila. I'm serious. I’m not trying to be controlling, I’m trying to protect you. And our future. The curse is still active. If you die, I go with you.”

Mila sighed. “I understand. I promise I won’t join the physical fighting. But I can’t promise to just sit here on my ass all day. My nerves can’t handle that.”

I touched her face. “I know, sweetheart, I really do. Just try to keep yourself as safe as possible.”

Mila nodded. “That I can promise.”

My beautiful, stubborn, impossible wife. I made a mental note to ask Albert to assign a soldier to watch over her, just to make sure there was some sort of sword nearby to defend her.

Mila changed into loose fitting jogging pants and a tank top as I put on my armor. I looked at her curiously and she smirked.

“Last time Charles caught me, I was in heels and a dress,” she said. “I’m not giving him that advantage today.”

I took her into my arms, cherishing every beat of her heart against my chest.

“Stay safe out there.” Mila’s voice cracked as she spoke.

“I will,” I said, wishing I could promise.

“Come back to me,” she whispered.

I kissed her forehead. “I will always be with you, Mila.”

When I emerged from the tent, Albert, Nicholas, Lukas, Orlando, and Marcello were all waiting for me. My lifelong friends, now my fellow soldiers. I had never thought I would ride into battle alongside them, but I could not help but feel grateful for their presence.

Albert had a guard next to him–a large, burly man with a big sword. He tilted his chin towards the tent.

“I figured Mila could use someone to watch over her,” he said. “We were able to spare Daniel to guard her.”

Mila popped her head out of the tent and started introducing herself to her guard.

I smiled in relief. “Thank you, Albert.”

He nodded solemnly. “I don’t want you to have any extra concern about her. It is already a difficult day for all of us.”

I understood. We would each be fighting against brothers today–a pain that would surely haunt us for the rest of our lives.

“Thank you for being here,” I said finally. “May we all restore some honor to our families today.”

Lukas placed a closed fist over his heart. “May your dragons never falter.”

The battle blessing of the Dragon Knights. I repeated the gesture.

“To your dragons, then,” I declared.

Ignatius was waiting for me, huffing and pawing at the ground like some sort of impatient horse. Normally the sight of my dragon filled me with pride and awe. I had never quite been able to grasp that the majestic beast was all mine.

Today, though, I felt a small hollow in my heart. Ignatius was just one more thing for me to lose should things go sideways.

He nudged my hand with his large snout, clearly scenting my distress. I gave the dragon what I could only hope was a reassuring pat and strapped my helmet on before walking over to Igantius’s side.

I mounted my dragon and took to the skies.

My army stood proud and tall at the border of Fresonia, weapons flexed at the ready, prepared for whatever would be facing them. All around me, Dragon Knights fluttered in the air, hovering just under the treeline. The forests here were tall and dense, and I would try my best to keep the dragons a secret from the people of Barlow for as long as possible.

But the air was too quiet. Too still.

I flew over to Albert to check in.

“No sign of the army yet,” Albert said, shielding his eyes. “I’m not sure where they are. We know they must be close.”

“The air feels strange,” I remarked. As a fellow Dragon Knight, I knew he would understand what I was saying.

Albert nodded sharply. “The birds have fled. They sense something.”

I turned to face the horizon. Still empty. Still menacing.

“I’m going to fly a bit higher and see what I can see from that vantage point,” I said. “No point in giving them the element of surprise.”

Albert patted his dragon on the side of its neck and gave me a sad smile. “Let me know what you find.”

I urged Ignatius higher and we went soaring into the clouds.

From here, I could see the true expanse of my army. If I squinted, I could even make out the tent where Mila sat, waiting. I wished I had been more stern with her, had figured out some sort of way to send her back to the castle. But it was too late for what-ifs now.

I twisted my head in the other direction, looking south.

What met my gaze there filled me with dread.

The southern horizon line had turned black. The skies above it had darkened as well, marking the presence of dragons.

Charles’ army.

It was massive–far bigger than I was expecting. There was no way all of these soldiers were all envious second sons. What had Charles done?

I urged Ignatius forward, keeping us under the cover of the thick clouds.

As we drew closer, a banner from down below caught my eye. I narrowed my eyes.

I swooped back down to Albert as quickly as I could. When he saw my pale face, his own turned grim.

“What is it?” he asked.

“The army,” I managed. “It’s huge.”

“How?!” Albert demanded to know. “There cannot possibly be that many pissed off lesser nobles.”

I swallowed. “He has allied himself with Abernathy.”