Chapter 12 #2
“I miss him every day!” Now the thunder shakes the columns. Several people take a step back. My dead father’s heart crystal vibrates in my hands, hot enough to burn.
“So, seeking to stop the death cycle of kings, you yourself sacrificed King Cresian?” Castelis shook her head. “He’d be alive if it weren’t for your betrayal. Yet you argue you wanted him to live to his winter of old age? Nonsense. More lies.”
I shake my head. “The end justifies the means to you, doesn’t it? But now, people are going to die. People from the Winter Court, people from the Autumn Court, and you. Wardens.”
“Wait! Give me one last chance, King Rylian! Please.” They’ve grabbed Alred by his arms by now, but they stop to let him speak.
“You don’t deserve it,” I say flatly.
“Let me go out with the wardens. Defend the people from the danger I’ve caused. If I must die, let me die rectifying this mess I’ve made.”
“Just so you can stab them in the back? I don’t think so.”
“We can make him ride in front,” Jahan cut in.
I glance around, sensing the auras I can reach, gauging their expressions. Some show pity, others anger.
“The Winter Court can’t be far now,” Castelis whispers urgently.
My jaw tightens. “Go. I must use the crystal to repair the wards and strengthen our defenses. If he tries to defect, put an arrow in his back. And chain him to one of you.”
Nodding, the wardens drag him out with them.
I look to Castelis. “Is the king’s crystal done growing?”
“I’m not sure,” she says softly, “but I don’t know that we have any choice. Without it, I think the wards will surely fall.”
“But if the crystal shatters…” says another duke, “then we’ll have none left. High King Rylian can’t go on like this.”
“That’s exactly why I think we need to use it,” she reassures him. “If it matters… I think I used it. Twice now.”
“You! A human,” a woman in the crowd says, incredulous.
“I… yes. To bolster the power of the ward near where I was hiding. Twice, I think.”
The surge of energy just as I’d been about to fail two nights before… Now it made sense. Murmurs are sweeping through the crowd. I’ve released the dark hold I had over the room, and it’s returning to its more typical appearance. But energy buzzes through the court. And… excitement?
“I’d heard it was possible, but I didn’t think…”
“The power must have extended to her. Her? Gods,” says one man.
“She just saved us, shut your mouth.”
We glance at each other. “What are you all talking about?” I say.
“I knew it from the way he said her name,” one duchess is saying.
“You know what that means, don’t you?” says another man, elbowing the person beside him.
“What does it mean?” I demand.
“It means you’ve extended your magic to intertwine with her soul, her being,” says one woman, who looks delighted by the idea. “She’s bonded with you, and you with her. On a deeper magical level. I knew it from the way you knew her name…”
“She must be fae,” someone insists.
“I’m not,” Castelis mutters half-heartedly. “Really.”
“Only the queen of the court can do that…” says a duke.
“Don’t be silly,” Castelis starts, eyes wide.
I turn her gently toward me and take her hand. “I think they have a point, Castelis. Not only can no human usually use the crystal, but no fae other than I can use it either. What you’ve done is extraordinary. I have always admired you, and I know you admire me.”
She blushes again. “Was I that obvious?”
I’d love to say yes, but unlike Alred, I can’t lie. “No, you weren’t obvious. I’m just very observant. Perhaps they are right. Would you like to be my queen?”
She blinks. “Don’t you think perhaps you should save our people and reinforce the wards first?”
I grin at her. It feels like the first time I’ve smiled in ages. “Fine. After that?”
Of course, I’ve felt the wards naturally returning as all this has been going on, not that there’s not some fine tuning to do.
And the palace fortress’s defenses need to be mended.
I also haven’t forgotten about the two dukes who helped Alred escape his imprisonment.
They will all be dealt with—in due time.
She tilts her head at me, a lock of tea-brown hair escaping her ratty cloak. “Will I still be able to study the crystal…? And do my research?”
“As often as you like. Have your own workshop, even.”
“Well, if that’s the pay, how could I refuse?” And to my surprise, she stands on tiptoe to press a kiss to my cheek.
The Autumn Court erupts in laughter and applause, and even though spring is my least favorite season—for reasons that should be obvious now—I felt the joy of new beginnings humming in the air.
Thanks to Castelis bringing me the crystal, we will repel the wardens from the Winter Court.
We will survive this. One crystal as powerful as my father’s will be enough if we adjust accordingly.
And we will celebrate all that we have and hold it dear, defending it from those who seek to take it from us.
In the Autumn Court, we do not mourn. I hope, for a while, we won’t have to.
If you loved this story, check out MAGE SLAVE, the story of a shapeshifter named Miara who must kidnap an enemy warrior prince, whether she wants to or not. She’s never failed a mission and doesn’t intend to start now, but what if it turns out he’s actually a nice guy?