Sleep was evading Queen Lily as best as it could, sending her too many worries to even be able to still her mind long enough for a nap. The castle she'd been raised in felt more like a trapdoor every day. She kept waiting for the floor to fall out from under her, the world to strip her of her powers, and the human King to slaughter her witches.

The Northern Wards on the boundary of the human lands were sending reports of huge bonfires and missing witches. One of Lily's best generals had gone missing just three weeks before, never heard from after a might night flight. It was very hard to kill a witch, but fire was one simple way to snuff out her life. Lily pushed away the parchment she'd been reading, rubbing her emerald eyes as she sighed loudly. Between the humans and the fae, witches were losing ground.

Witches had always been feared and misunderstood by humans. It was sad to think of all the years and struggles her people had to endure, simply because they were granted gifts from Minvera. Once upon a time, witches had been humans, and that was what made human betrayal even more sad. Witches had potions and enchantments, they could fly, and Lily's coven were trained to be expert fighters. Where Lily saw strong women, the world saw nightmares of independence and community.

"Our sisters are dying," Lily's second in command, Mary, continued giving a valiant speech to Lily, trying to convince Lily to send her to fight for their people.

"We don't have enough trained witches to send to defend the borders." Lily's voice cut through the room like ice.

Mary's should dropped, "But Lily-"

"We need to evacuate everyone here." Lily played with the edges of her cloak, which was keeping her warm in the wintry halls of the castle. "There is no other choice."

Mary peered over the tops of her wire rimmed spectacles, the dark coal color on her eyes making her look menacing. Mary had always been a fighter, always ready to go to war. It was bred into her, according to her late mother, who had picked a human commander to sire her. "We don't have enough war trained witches to protect The Wards in the event of a full frontal attack either, Lily."

Mary was right. They didn't have enough witches, not with the last generation so meager and slim in terms of capable witches. They were a dying species, no thanks to the humans burning them at the stake any chance they got. Or the Fae on the southern borders, who stole witch babes in the night and drowned them under full moons. Lily didn't know when witches had become the species that the world deemed disposable, but she was sick of it.

"What are we going to do?" A small voice piped up, miserable. "Just sit here and wait for humans or fae to kill us all?"

"Sitting around is not the answer to saving our people." Lily turned her gaze on the youngest witch on the council, Emmaline. "But bringing them here gives us a head start."

Emmaline had the prettiest blue eyes, something Lily admired every chance she got. They reminded her of Emmaline's mother, who had long since passed away. Lily missed the elder witch as much as she missed her own mother. They had ruled with force, but loved their daughters more than anything.

"How do we rationalize bringing our people to The Wards, only to be forced into another trap?" Mary tapped her long black nails on the table, "we are not safe, not anywhere on this damned continent."

"I know," Lily admitted, "trust me, I know."

"But you went to the young Fae King's castle," Emmaline said hopefully, "so he should come to pledge his allegiance soon, right?"

Mary stared at Emmaline through her wire frame glasses moodily. "You cannot force a fae king's hand, Emmaline, you must trick them into submission."

"You cannot trick a fae." Emmaline said, "they can sense lies."

"That is a unfortunate rumor," Mary snorted, "the fae are built on lies, Emmaline."

"There were no lies." Lily told her friends, "I simply told King James the truth, in the hopes he might understand where I was coming from."

Mary pushed her brown curls back, "do you really think he will align his kingdom with yours, Lily, after everything?"

Lily looked out the stained glass window to her left, watching as rain outside pelted the colorful mountains embedded into the frame. It had been a risk, asking their old enemy to form an alliance. Fairies and witches had long had their differences, but they also had a common enemy. And James was not just any fae Prince, he was a half blood, someone who'd brought change to his Kingdom just by being born. She shared that quality with him, seeing as she wasn't wholly just a witch. They both had sprites for one half of their bloodlines, James a descendent of a fire sprite…and Lily with water at her control.

"The humans expect us to die fighting each other, and if that doesn't work they won't stop until we are all wiped off this continent." Lily said calmly, "if the fae King can agree to work with me, and we can find a few more allies, we might just beat the human King at his own game."

" If being the operative word." Mary said coldly, showing her disdain for the Kingdom of Lumos in her voice. "King James is only five hundred years old, barely old enough to rule."

"You say that as if six hundred years is a whole lot more," Lily teased her friend, crossing one leg over the other.

"I've got a hundred years on him." Mary said, "he's basically a child."

"You've got a hundred years on me," Lily reminded Mary, "so am I a child too?"

"You are young too," Mary said, "the youngest queen the witches have seen since Hesebah."

"Well, young as I might be," Lily said, "do you doubt I cannot do this?"

"Of course not," Mary snapped, "of course I believe in you-its just-the fae are wretched creatures."

Lily knew Mary's distaste for the fae came from an unfortunate run in with a couple fae bastards in her village. She had never been the same since the incident, when they'd tortured her in many ways that would make anybody sick. Mary had been found bleeding and naked outside her village, broomstick broke in half. Lily had killed the fae males, her first kills. She'd made sure to make them suffer for what they did to Mary.

"What about an alliance through marriage?" Emmaline asked, making Mary burst out laughing and causing Lily to falter her cool appearance. "Old kingdoms used to align through marriage, nothing is more finite, unless there's a mating bond."

"If I marry," Lily hissed darkly, "it will be for love, a mate, and not some stupid alliance."

"Mating bonds are for fae," Mary told Emmaline with a sigh, "I don't know why you're so obsessed with them."

"I think it's romantic to think there's a soulmate out there for everyone." Emmaline clasped her hands together and sighed, "maybe even witches have them, we just don't know because we're bound to the moon to procreate."

Mary sent Lily a look, "are we sure she's a witch?"

"Hey!" Emmaline lashed out, her magic rippling through the room.

Lily and Mary just laughed, the joke settling the tension in the room.

"Emmaline," Lily said kindly, "should you ever mate with someone, I will pay for your wedding myself."

Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open, a small witchling panting as she ran in. Lily stood up from her throne, pulling her long cloak over her red curls, and hiding her ears. Not many witches knew their queen was part sprite, and Lily intended to keep it that way.

"They refused to do a formal introduction, your majesty." The girl was breathless, "I tried to stop them."

"They who, child?" Lily asked, eyes narrowing as her fingers started icing up.

Suddenly, a tall male with black feathered wings rippling with fire strolled into the throne room. On one side, he was flanked by a large wolf colored white and brown. His other side was flanked by a larger, handsome male with a wide set of wings that lacked the same fiery glow as the one in the middle. Lily didn't know his friends, but she certainly recognized the King of Lumos immediately by way of his fire magic.

"Forgive us," James said conversationally as if he were discussing the weather over dinner. "We didn't want to cause a commotion."

"You came," Lily breathed, her heart-beat thumping in her chest.

James bowed low, his crown of antlers nearly falling off his head, "you sound surprised."

"I wasn't so sure you'd come." Lily admitted before motioning to her council of witches, "these are my council members, Emmaline and Mary."

"Oh," the male who had a wider wingspan looked at the two witches with interest, "witches have councils now, fancy."

"James, why don't you have a council?"

Lily gasped in surprise as the white wolf turned into a human before her very eyes. Mary actually looked scared, but Emmaline looked as if she had walked into a room full of candy. Lily had never seen a shape-shifter before, so she could understand Emmaline's awe. It was said that shape shifters came from a island far across the sea. She wondered how King James had gotten one to join his increasingly strange and unique court. She would imagine he'd be a coveted member of any court, thanks to his powers.

James was clearly unfazed by his phasing friend because he just rolled his eyes as he said, "that sounds way too official for you two."

The shape-shifted scratched at his ear as he replied, "that's rude."

"I didn't expect you to bring friends." Lily tucked her hands over her stomach.

"Sorry," James offered her a delightful grin, "these two have terrible separation anxiety."

"Prat." The shapeshifter mouthed off.

"Remus," James introduced the wolf-man, "my friend who advises me sometimes ."

Remus bowed at Lily, "your majesty."

"I don't really go for formal titles." she admitted as he stood back up.

"My apologies." and then Remus turned into a bird before their very eyes. He fluttered around the room, before landing on Emmaline's shoulder, tweeting and singing to her. The young witch stared at the shapeshifter as if he was going to turn into another wild animal at any moment. Emmaline wiggled her fingers in the air, the golden band of her healing magic wrapping around him, feeling his magic out.

"He's such a show off." The handsome second to James said under his breath. "Why'd we bring him?"

"This is Sirius," James motioned to the dark eyed stranger, "he is also someone I listen to sometimes, but with the more official title of Lord of the Winds."

"Are you able to control the winds?" Lily asked, surmised, since he looked full fae.

"No," Sirius chuckled, "I come from The Winds, a city not far from Lumos castle. I am James' commander, and his second."

"Nice to meet you," Lily motioned to Mary's seat, "this is my second, Mary."

Mary said from her seat where she was watching the darker fae warily, "I'm the one Lily listens to the most."

"So, don't get on her bad side," Sirius guessed.

"You guessed right," Lily said, cutting in before Mary could speak, "and that's Emmaline, she's new to the council, fresh out of training."

Emmaline stopped inspecting the bird on her shoulder and curtsied. "Pleasure."

Mary kicked her feet up on the table, ignoring Lily's glare at the disrespect. "Curtsies are for people you respect , Em."

"I think it's cute," Sirius drawled, making bedroom eyes in Emmaline's direction, "most females don't bother being so polite."

Emmaline blinked owlishly, "why?"

Sirius licked his bottom lip before saying, "they're normally on their knees, for me."

Em flushed red and sat back down, the chair scratching against the floor. Lily and Mary snickered, both of them knowing Emmaline was far from the ferocious witch she should be. Everything in Emmaline's world was sunshine and rainbows, nor had she ever laid with a man. Lily often believed Em was out of place in the rainy and cold northwest, her heart was as pure as a golden ray of sunshine. It was one of the reasons she had stood out so much in her training, because of her healing magic. Most witches could control wind, could brew a wicked potion, or could fly. It was rare for a Wiccan like Emmaline to exist after almost one hundred years without one in their court.

"Forgive Sirius," James placed a hand on his chest, "he left his manners at home."

Lily motioned to the table where her friends sat, "go ahead and take a seat, I'll have the witchlings bring up some food and wine for us."

The witchling who had barged in got the hint and scurried away, likely to grab things from the kitchens. Lily pulled her hood back down and let her hair fall around her shoulders as she took her place back on the throne. The seat was cold as it pressed into her back. She felt so lonely up there, but it was customary of the Queen to sit higher than her court. She had no idea how her mother had sat there so so long, all alone, without a partner to share the burden with.

"So," Lily's voice echoed over the room, commanding attention, "what did you think of my proposition, fyre fae?"

"Well, I come with not so great news." The King settled into one of the backless chairs, his massive wings draping behind him like a robe. "One of our northern towns, Gryffindor, was butchered in the middle of the night."

Lily leaned forward on her throne, blood draining from her face. "Butchered?"

King James, for all his might, looked tired as Hell. "Every fairy, murdered by ash."

"Women and children?" Mary's nails scratched the wood as her fist curled.

"Dead." James confirmed, "and there was something else too…"

Sirius pulled something from his crossbag. Lily, Mary, and Emmaline all stood up when they recognized what he was holding out for everyone to see. A wand, a witches wand, was in the hands of a fae commander. It was sacrilege.

"Drop that wand," Mary ordered Sirius, "it does not belong to you."

"Breathe," he cooed at Mary like he was talking to a kid, "I didn't steal it or anything."

"We found it amongst the dead." James explained as Sirius placed the wand on the table in front of Mary.

Lily's brow furrowed, "are you suggesting my people did this?"

"No," Sirius' voice actually cracked, as if the memory had broken him. "We're not suggesting that at all. In fact, we were hoping you might know who it belongs to, because she died trying to protect a small schoolroom of fae children."

Lily sucked in a breath as she imagined a witch standing up for the very creatures who had spit upon her very existence.

"Mary," Lily nodded at the wand, "can you help with identification?"

Mary surveyed the wand with her black magic, fingers of black smoke covering the wand. "The wood is oak, which tells me it's from one of the Zauruk witches, but there's no way to find out who. The last spell was a shield. A protection charm."

"This Northern town," Lily turned her attention back to tired King James. "How far is it from where Lumos interacts with The Wards?"

James shrugged, "not much more than a half a day's walk."

"What I want to know is why there was a witch living in a fae village." Sirius said, crossing his arms, "does no one else find that odd?"

Lily flashed daggers in his direction, in the form of icy raindrops. He just ruffled his feathers, making the water splash to the floor. Next time, she'd drench him from head to toe. James watched the entire encounter with a sparkle in his eyes, almost as if he were thanking her for keeping his loud soldier in line.

"Back before the Dark Times we used to live together," Lily said, "it can be done peacefully if prejudices are set aside."

James motioned around the room, "Which is why I come offering what support I can, but at a cost."

Lily tilted her head, "I'm in no mood to bargain, fyre Fae."

"A blood bond," he shrugged, "that's all."

"A blood bond?" Lily thought he might be mad, "you honestly want to use witch magic to stick together this alliance."

"I'm with the witch on this one," Sirius crossed his arms, "a simple treaty would suffice."

"I want something a little more permanent." James stood up, the flames of his magic flickering off his skin the same way water danced around hers. "I want you and the rest of your witches to join my court, effective immediately, only then will we help you."

"Join your court?" Lily asked in shock, "are you mad? You think I could just leave The Wards defenseless?"

"We don't expect you too," James said swiftly, "which is why I've granted Sirius troops to hold onto your borders should King Marvelo make it over the cascade mountains."

"And if the borders fall?" Mary asked furiously. "What then? You abandon us, leave us to be burned by his people?"

James looked annoyed by Mary in the same way that Lily was annoyed by Sirius. "No, then we evacuate everyone into Lumos."

"Give up The Wards?" Emmaline's sweet voice cut through the tension, "but our homeland was a gift to the witches from Minerva herself."

"Goddess gifted or not," James said softly, using a gentle tone with Emmaline, "The Wards are too close to King Marvelo, it will be the first place he tries to take down."

"We don't need your help." Mary lied, her eyes switching to Lily, as if to plead, "do not make a foolish blood bond with this boy-King, Lily."

"Look, let's not beat around the bush," Sirius said gruffly, "we know you witches don't have the defenses to hold back an entire human army, but we do, and right now we could really use another ally."

"Your people burn our witchlings alive." Mary spat, "forgive us for not jumping at the chance to join you."

Lily rubbed her temples, "this is never going to work if all of you start bickering, so shut up and let me think."

James chuckled warmly, sending a spark of joy up her spine when she caught his amused eye. Lily turned her cheek, desperate for him to not see her lips curve in response to his. There was something about him that drew her in, probably his looks, if she were being totally honest. King James was a fine sight better than most males she knew.

Granted, she knew very few.

"King Marvelo would never expect us to form an alliance." Lily said, her voice echoing through the chamber, "but if he makes it across, and he will one day, he will destroy The Wards just to make it uninhabitable for witches."

"And then come for my people next." James confirmed. "But an alliance could boost our survival chances should war cross our borders."

"What of the Sprites?" Lily asked James, "have you asked them for help in any of this?"

The little bird that had been fluttering about was now lounging on a chair as a man again. "The Sprites are wild and no longer answer to a king or queen."

"Who rules their land then?" Lily asked incredulously.

James picked up a pen and swirled it before he answered gruffly, "warlords and ruffians."

Remus folded his hands on top of the table. "The sprites' last king, Albus, died without an heir. Naturally the last 300 years have been spent in civil war, which has ended with their lands in ruin."

"Are you a sprite?" Emmaline asked the short haired man bashfully.

Remus sent her a wolfish grin, "I don't have pointy ears, do I?"

"No," Emmaline said, "they look normal to me."

Remus had a bit of a darkside to him, that flickered in the shadows. Lily wondered if there was more to his magic than just turning into animals on a whim. The magic trickled off of him in waves, the same way it did for Lily and James. Such raw, uncontained power was rare in this day and age.

"Remus comes from a land across the sea, where even humans have magic." James said, as if reading Lily's thoughts.

"Humans have magic?" Mary gasped in disbelief, "how?"

Remus shrugged as he threw his arms behind his head, "my people say we were cursed by a goddess, thousands of years ago, and the curse turned us into magical beings."

"A goddess curse," Emmaline looked at Lily with wide eyes, "can you believe it?"

"I believe more and more these days." Lily replied before turning back to the shapeshifter, "do you think your people might sail across the seas and aid us all?"

Remus looked like he might pity her after she spoke, "oh no, it's a small island, and no one leaves."

"Except you," James said fondly.

"Yes," Remus agreed gently, "I'm the exception."

Lily's curiosity got the better of her and she blurted out, "why did you leave?"

"I was exiled with my family when I was just a child, barely eleven," Remus said, "my mother did what she could to get us a new life, but I ran away."

"More like flew away," James joked, "as a dragon."

Remus chuckled as if he fondly remembered it, "yes, I did."

"And you came to be in Lumos' court by chance?" Mary questioned, eyes sharp.

Even she noted how rare of a courtier he was, especially for a young fae court so newly established. Most Kings didn't already have a loyal arsenal of assassins and powerful shape shifters when they took hold of the throne. Everything about James' court was impressive.

Remus told Mary, "I owe king James a life debt, so I remain by his side until it is paid."

Sirius sneered at the young witch when she didn't remove her steel glare from Remus. "I get a distinct feeling you don't trust us, witchling."

Mary sneered as she faced the snarky winged warrior, "Call me witchling again, feather brains, and I'll make you wish you never came into The Wards."

"Ohhhh, she comes with fangs." Sirius licked his lips sensually, "bite me, witchling."

"Enough," James snapped at Sirius.

"Stand down, Mary." Lily told her second, when Mary clutched a knife in her hand and went to stand up.

James shot one more deep glare in Sirius' direction before turning his gaze back upon Lily. "you are part water sprite, do you know if any are willing to come to our aid?"

"No," Lily said honestly, "the water sprites have become almost extinct due to human pollution and encroachment."

James cursed, running his fingers through his black hair, "we need more magic folk to join our cause, or we're done for."

Lily shifted in her throne, playing with droplets of water that flirted through her finger tips. James was right, they were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. Humans had short lifespans that allowed for lots of reproduction. They were giving birth to new armies as the magic folk in the south struggled to regain their numbers from the dark days.

"The clear answer is to go southeast, to the wilds." James ruffled his feathers, "try and find sympathetic fighters who wish to grow our worlds together."

Lily perked up, "to the wilds?"

"We would never make it a day," Mary argued, "sending anyone down there is a death sentence."

Lily turned her green eyes on James again, "you said it's ruled by warlords and ruffians, right?"

"We haven't had an emissary from the wilds since before I was born, nearly 600 years." James told her, "what I know, is only what my parents knew, and they knew very little."

Lily's water turned to shards of ice that bounced around in the air like little spears. It was a risk, but she looked like a sprite, and had their magic. There was a chance she could make it through the wilds in one piece, and with a united front.

"I will go," Lily decided, "I will travel to the wilds."

Her friends sat up in their seats and said in unison, "no, Lily!"

"Hush," Lily raised a hand at her girls, before meeting the eyes of the young fyre fae king. "You will come with me."

James nodded, but his court immediately protested. Sirius especially seemed against the suggestion.

"You're more fae than you are sprite," Sirius gripped James' elbow, "the second they see your wings, they'll cut them off."

James moodily swiped at Sirius' hold, "I will go, and you will stay here to guard the witches with Lily's court."

Mary made a rude sound, "I don't need him or his soldiers hanging around our women."

"You will do as I command," Lily said sharply, reminding her second who ruled with a shower of rain. "Mary, you shall stay here with the King's Lord. Emmaline, you're with me."

Emmaline sucked in a breath and Lily knew she was scared, but Emmaline needed to get outside of her comfort zone. She needed to learn to fight, or she would find herself drowning as the incoming war crashed against them like waves.

"Sirius," James turned to his feathered friend, "bring five hundred troops to The Wards to protect this castle and dispatch more to the borders. You're to respect the witches in their home. Do not let anything happen to Lily's court."

Sirius looked miserable at the thought. James turned his gaze on his shapeshifter.

"Remus—I know you're likely wanting to remain at Lumos' court, but I wish you to come to the wilds with Lily and I." James pulled his crown off and tossed it on the table. "Perhaps the more different that our traveling party looks, the stronger chance we have at making it out alive."

Remus nodded without a break in his serious features, "you know I'd follow you to the ends of the earth and back again, James."

Lily brushed down her gown, trying not to look at the wobbling features of her friends. "Then it's settled. We will leave at first light."

James nodded tersely at Lily, "my men and I must fly back to Lumos first, to arrange some things. Will you meet us there?"

Lily pulled her hood back over her ears, "at least allow us to mark our alliance in blood, before you go fyre fae."

"Wait," Mary stood up, protesting, "Lily, no, that bond is unbreakable."

Lily pulled her sleeve up her arm, "that's the point."

She stepped down from the dias and showed her arm to James. "Have you ever done a blood oath before?"

"No, but I know how to do one."

Before she could ask for a knife from Mary, James was already grabbing a knife on the table, slashing it across his palm without question. The room seemed to stand still, everyone watching with bated breath as James wrapped his bloody grasp around her forearm. The blood was hot and stuck to her skin. His hazel eyes stared down into her green ones.

"Normally the witch offers the blood." She murmured as the blood dripped down her elbow, and sank into the stone floor.

James held her stare, "Do you swear loyalty to my court, my life, and the future of your own court as my ally?"

Lily felt his fire start dancing across her skin and she welcomed it with the cooling sensation of her icy rain, "I swear loyalty, unbending, to my death."

"And I swear," he recited the words like he'd heard them a thousand times, "that by the blood bond, I will be bound to you forever, protecting you under the guidance of Minerva and the spirits of old."

Lily narrowed her eyes at him, wondering who taught him the ancient witch spells. He chanted the bond incantation, until his blood was sinking into her forearm, coloring her with a birthmark of ancient writing that bound her loyalty to him. When he opened his palm, no fresh blood remained, but the glowing words that matched her markings looked red hot to the touch.

"I think you should've just gotten married," Emmaline said, breaking the silence, "at least that less honor bound than a witches bond."

James remained smirking down at Lily, his wings ruffling, "I wouldn't rule out a wedding."

"In your dreams," Lily said, "but witches don't marry fae."

"Well," he chuckled, pushing back her hood so her pointed ears appeared again, "it's a good thing we're both half sprite."

Her face was still bright red as the fae took their leave. James didn't glance back at her as he left, but she swore she felt a tug of warmth in her chest as the door closed. It was like someone squeezing her hand reassuringly, or like a friendly hug. Wondering if the bond had done more than they planned, Lily looked down at the words etched into her skin. She was bonded to him through a war-struck bargain, forever.

Usque ad ipsum finem.

Until the very end.