Queen of Light (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, #3)

Twenty-One

"What do you mean there's a slight problem?" asked Matias.

"There's a solar eclipse tomorrow," said Akaljot.

"That means that our light magic will be weakened," Lucas explained.

"A solar eclipse on the summer solstice," Cal growled. "Amazing."

"Lucas and I are bringing our magic up, but we might be able to use it once each."

"Lucas and I also scouted Valon in Lucinean clothing," said Lance, "and Melania has Pyro castle heavily fortified. Troops patrol the battlements regularly and I have no doubt that the castle gates are locked."

"I would recommend using cannons on the gates," said Lucas. "Sending scouts out to rig it will not only be a suicide mission, it will give away our element of surprise."

"James is mine," Matias blurred. "I get to kill him."

The demon prince had taken control of his body and had screwed with his mind. James had to pay for what he did.

"Since we're making claims on who kills who, Melania is mine," said Cal, her voice as hard as steel.

Matias couldn't blame her. The Queen of Darkness had trapped her in iron and tortured her, taken her throne, and hurt her through her daughter and a demon.

"We're still sticking to the plan we made in Freidens,"said Akaljot.

"Then we attack during the eclipse," Cal declared.

—

The next morning, everyone prepared for the blood bath that was sure to come.

Cal secured the golden gauntlet to her arm and glanced over at Matias. He was fastening his sword around his waist, his body clad in iron armour. Heat flushed her cheeks when he caught her staring.

She felt a gentle iron clad hand under her chin. "I caught you staring," he muttered as she looked up at him.

Cal smirked. "Because you're so dashing in your armour. You look like a king."

His hand moved from under her chin to her other arm and secured the gauntlet. "And you look like a fearsome queen. A reckoning." He dipped his head, his hands on her waist, and brushed his lips against hers. "And happy birthday."

She smiled. "Thank you," she breathed against his lips. "Now let's go give them a reckoning."

They pulled apart and mounted their horses. Akaljot, Lance, and Lucas waiting for them at the edge of the forest. The sunlight turned golden and Cal looked up at the sky. The moon began to cover the sun, a black circle slowly moving across the fiery ball of light.

"Let's end this," she said. "Once and for all."