Chapter 32
“Hello, Aerona,” I respond.
Silas shuffles his chair near me, and I see worry flash across his face.
“I’m sure you have heard, Mother, but it was dire we spoke with you today,” Silas cuts in.
Aerona peels her gaze away from me and settles back into the large couch. Her emerald green dress flows to the floor, and her long, straight hair is perfectly tamed. The pendant she wore the night of the dinner hangs delicately around her neck, and the dark stone glimmers in the light.
Silas and Fenmore clearly inherit their looks from her. I allow myself to relax for a moment, knowing that Silas is taking over the conversation. The room seems to pulse from the anticipation that fills it, and no one truly knows how to act.
I look at Larkin, who sits perfectly still and poised in his chair. I sometimes forget that he is before royalty in these situations and must act with respect—not to me, but certainly toward Aerona. He winks, noticing my gaze, and my cheeks turn a light shade of pink.
Fen remains stone-faced in her chair, not fully listening or aware of what’s going on. After learning everything about her ability and potential future, I know that she is deep in thought.
“Fenmore and I are tethered to the vessels of the Great Wiitches, Rohhit Harte and Briar,” Silas says, his words strong and concise. Not a hint of doubt escapes his lips. “I’m sure this is no shock concerning me; however, I was not aware that we both had this ability.”
Aerona stills.
“I will ask you this only once,” Silas threatens. “Your family passes this down, yes?”
She looks at Fen, and a wave of sadness washes over her eyes. “Yes, my grandmother was a tether. I don’t know much, but I am aware of the ability. I never dreamed it would happen to both you and Fenmore.”
“I thought so,” he bites back. “Anything else you would like to share with me and Fen before I continue?”
He’s testing her.
Giving her an opportunity to come clean about Malachi, and I hold my breath, waiting for her response.
“Silas,” I say in my mind.
“She will lie to me,” he responds.
“Be careful asking things if you aren’t prepared to know the answers.”
He doesn’t look toward me, but instead keeps his gaze glued to his mother’s, waiting for her answer. Silas’s jaw tenses as Aerona takes a breath.
“No,” she shakes her head. “There is nothing else I’m withholding.”
“Very well,” Silas responds, casually, even though I know he just took a strike to the heart.
I exhale sharply and look at Fen. She’s gone pale, knowing that her mother just directly lied to her face about something so huge.
“Malachi is gone,” Aerona speaks, and Fen flinches. “Isn’t he?”
Silas sits taller. “Yes, to our understanding, he is gone.”
“I see,” she whispers.
I watch her intently, trying to see if I can spot any sense of relief or grief, but her face is as hard as Silas’s. No emotion shows behind her eyes, and that scares me, because the one thing I was hoping for was shock, which did not emerge from behind her eyes.
“Tell me what happened,” Aerona speaks again, her tone much harsher this time.
Silas stands and walks to the fireplace, momentarily lost in thought. I can’t blame him for taking a second. How could anyone comfortably explain this?
“He disappeared shortly after murdering Yara,” Silas blurts out.
Gods, so much for taking it easy.
Silas cuts his eyes to mine as Aerona pales.
“As you know, Mother, Malachi is a monster. How you’ve managed to deal with him for so long is something I will never understand. I am not here to sugarcoat things for you. I know you are also aware of Yara and her relationship with him.”
Aerona fidgets, making me think it’s due to embarrassment. “Your father had many suitors during our marriage. Their names blur together after a while.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Mother,” Silas says, turning to face her directly. “I don’t blame you for making sure he was well entertained to give you a break.”
She lowers her head, as if the weight of the memories forces her gaze down.
“I want you to know what he did. You need to know. I need you to understand who we are dealing with.”
Aerona lifts her gaze, and a pain moves through my chest. This is her life, and these are her children. She may not be perfect, but she is still their mother.
“Malachi made Yara slit her own throat, and we were there.”
Aerona pales, but her gaze doesn’t drop. “Stop, Silas.”
Silas pushes to continue, “We witnessed the entire thing.”
“Stop,” she repeats.
“He believed Yara betrayed him, and being who he is, he reacted the only way he knew how, which was by murdering someone he claimed to care about.”
Aerona abruptly stands. “He didn’t care for her, and I know who we’re dealing with, Silas.”
“Mom,” he rasps. “I just…”
“I am your mother. Don’t speak to me as if I’ve been blind my entire life.”
This is going great.
“I don’t think you are blind. I know you’ve witnessed his horrors. But so has Fen, and so have I. Malachi is gone, and I pray to every God listening that he never fucking returns.”
She huffs and turns her back for a moment, placing her trembling hands out of sight.
Even though I hate this man, I can’t help but feel sorry for Aerona.
Malachi, believe it or not, was her husband, someone she spent many years with, and I would guess at one point, she thought he loved her.
It’s heartbreak and betrayal all in one.
“Did Malachi say anything to you before he left?” Aerona asks, with a shaky breath.
Silas glances at Larkin, Fen, and me, as if silently telling us to keep quiet. It isn’t my news to tell so, I sit back further in my chair. She notices my expression and gives me a cautious side-eye.
“No, nothing of importance. He was frantic,” Silas sharply responds.
“Did he speak of me?”
Silas hesitates and whispers, “No.”
She sighs. “Where is the girl?”
Silas stands and steps toward her. “Warrick made sure that her body was given to her family.”
“Gods damnit, Silas,” she swears under her breath. “Do you know how this looks?”
“I know exactly how this looks. I want Andorwood to know.”
Aerona snaps her head toward him.
“Malachi got away with this countless times before, but never with a true innocent. I hope this spreads like a disease throughout the town. I hope they hate him more than ever before, because I need them to.”
She looks at him through hard eyes. “Why?”
“Because, I don’t think you realize that I am now the King of Andorwood.
I have a kingdom to protect, I have people to protect, and I need every single fucking rebel on my side to fight what’s coming—to fight for our future, the entire realm, and for what’s right.
The time of evil is over, and I’ll do whatever it takes to end it. ”
Her eyes widen as she processes the volume of Malachi’s departure. Silas is king and will start acting as such. He only needs to tell her to put it into motion.
“Oh, Silas,” her hands fall to her sides.
“I am prepared.”
I glance at Silas, and see nothing but determination settling behind his green eyes.
Aerona takes a long breath. “Tomorrow, you will meet with the kingdom. You will be introduced as the king. Whether they decide to fight with you is up to them. They are not easily controlled, royalty or not, Silas. You know this.”
Silas nods.
“Prepare for everything.” She walks back over to the sitting area and sits down again. “Including disappointment.”
“I can absolutely handle them.” Silas follows her with his stare. “Briar and I will stand together tomorrow and convince them to join us in the fight. I am not concerned.”
Aerona’s eyes shift to mine. “You— I can’t help but think this chain of events has absolutely everything to do with your arrival.”
Silas steps closer to where I sit. “Careful, mother.”
I lean forward. “I do believe that some of these events were because of me, Aerona. I will not sit here and pretend that I am not to blame for some of this.”
Silas snaps his head to me. “Briar!”
“She is right, Silas.” I stand next to him.
“Many things have brought me here, have led us all here, so I don’t think it benefits anyone to ignore the obvious.
I came to Andorwood desperate for help. The events that have unfolded are horrific, and I’m here to stop a war from happening, if possible.
Carobon has fully possessed the Prince of Eddris, Rohhit Harte.
Every day that passes, Rohhit becomes more lost. Anything we can have against them is going to help us. ”
Aerona watches me as I begin to pace. I can’t help but look at Fen, who looks as if she’s in pain hearing the name and state of her vessel.
“Calia Thornfield and Nolan Harte brought Carobon forward after the final trial was complete with the resurrection stone. She and my father had these plans in motion for many years, although she made a fool of him in the end. Nolan is their child, my half-brother.”
Her brows shoot up, and I continue.
“They plan to rid the realms of all Shadow Wielders if we don’t stop them. I know you are aware of the tales about what the world was like when the Great Wiitches freely walked the realms, and I know you don’t want that to happen.”
She toys with the necklace around her throat.
I lean forward. “I believe we can stop them, but I’m here to ask you about what you know regarding the Forgotten Archives.”
She flinches at the name, and for the first time, I see panic flood her. She doesn’t want to talk about the Archives, her experiences there, or what she was doing.
“I need you all to leave.” Aerona stands, nearly tipping over the furniture.
Silas laughs. “We are not leaving, mother. You need to tell us what you know, because believe it or not, we have the Rigil to enter tonight during the crimson moon, and we are going to do it with or without your help.”
Fear drenches her, and I notice a slight tremor move through her.
“Everyone out,” she shouts. “I am still queen of this kingdom for another day, and I demand you leave.”