The Crown Prophecy

Chapter 16

P reparations for the wedding were well underway a week later.

Evander and I sat in the sunroom, taking some much-needed time away from our endless list of urgent royal tasks to tackle some of the planning together. Truth be told, I would have preferred we spend our time doing other things, but he insisted.

“Remind me again why we aren’t just taking the oath tonight?” I complained, looking at my hundredth fabric swatch of the day.

“Because, my love,” answered Evander with an amused smile, “I only get to marry you once, and I’m going to do it correctly.”

He kissed the top of my head, cajoling me. “Besides, this is a reason for the people to celebrate. I wouldn’t deny them that privilege, would you?” he asked, raising his eyebrows in challenge.

“The quicker we get everything taken care of, the sooner I can help you shoulder the burden,” I argued. “Wouldn’t it be better for the people to have their king in full health?”

“Already negotiating like a queen,” he laughed. “Really, I am doing better.” It was true that some color had crept back into his face, and though he looked like he might fall asleep at any moment, his spirits were high. Hope was a powerful thing.

I had been working on my own Wielding, too. Evander and I had officially hired Colette onto the staff to help me train, and he had even found a place for her father to stay as a groundskeeper until we could fortify the wards enough to keep the gates open for travel between the castle and village. That would be our first order of business after my coronation. I was so excited for Serena.

As eager as I was to take some of the weight off Evander, I had to admit that my control over my powers was weak at best. My Gift seemed to center around shielding, which Evander was optimistic would work well in supporting the kingdom’s wards, but I had yet to gain any form of mastery over it.

Now that I knew what magic felt like, I couldn’t believe it had taken me so long to realize I had been casting shields around myself my whole life. I was still subconsciously creating wards, and visitors to Evander’s chambers found themselves flung from the door on more than one occasion while we were occupied. Unfortunately, I still wasn’t able to cast one on demand by myself.

I could only hope something would settle into place during the tethering ceremony, which would be held directly after the wedding and coronation.

“Regrettably, I have a meeting,” Evander said, standing, “but I fully support whatever choice you make.” He gestured to the swatches, and I recognized a hint of the teasing tone he used only with me.

I groaned.

“Try to have some fun, Quinn,” he said. “It is your wedding, after all.”

He put his hands on the dark mahogany arms of my chair and leaned in to plant a brief, loving kiss on my lips. His eyes darkened as he pulled away a little too slowly.

“I’m sure the wedding will be wonderful,” I said, trying and failing to hide my blush, “but I’m much more excited for the marriage.”

“As am I, fiancée, ” he purred, his face only inches away from my own.

Gods, I loved the way that sounded.

“Say that again,” I whispered, somewhere between a plea and a challenge.

“You,” he kissed my jaw, the touch featherlight, “my fiancée,” his lips moved to the spot just behind my earlobe, giving me chills, “are going to be,” he nipped at my earlobe, “the most incredible queen.” He looked into my eyes, and I felt my soul shake with the sincerity of his words. “And I cannot wait to call you my wife.”

I reached up and laced my fingers behind his neck, drawing him in until our lips met again. Gods, the taste of him was the sweetest thing I had ever experienced. Every time he kissed me, time seemed to stop entirely, reduced to the smell of leather and ink and the feel of his stubble on my lips. That bond between our Gifts shimmered brilliantly, and I could almost hear an actual song whenever we were in the same room.

Though the kiss started soft and slow, they never stayed that way for long. There was too much need between us, too much desperation to hold onto this precious thing we had almost lost forever.

Lowering himself to his knees, he slid me from the chair into his lap. His fingers wound themselves into my hair at the base of my skull, gripping it and pulling ever so slightly–not enough to hurt, but enough to elicit a breathy moan. I felt him smile against my lips.

I pulled away, kissing down the strong column of his neck and just inside the collar of his shirt. “You’re going to be late,” I muttered against his skin.

“At the moment I don’t much care,” he panted, eyes closed, head thrown back in want.

“I’m willing to bet Finch will, though,” I teased, pulling away and placing one last chaste kiss on his lips as I stood up, offering him a hand.

“You’ll pay for that later,” he promised, winking at me as he adjusted his pants.

A saccharine smile lit up my face. “You started it. Now go! Let me finish this before I have to meet with Colette this afternoon.”

Evander chuckled and headed to the door. I returned my attention to the swatches, trying to distinguish the difference between “Hunter” and “Fern,” when I realized I could still feel him here, that cord that tied our magic together humming pleasantly at his proximity.

Looking up, I found him standing in the doorway, observing me with a serene smile on his face. He flushed slightly, as if he were a child who had been caught sneaking sweets from the larder.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said.

“Go!” I giggled, and he raised his hands in mock surrender, backing out of the door without breaking eye contact.

Looking out the window at the stunning gardens, I inhaled, holding the breath at the top before I let it come whooshing out, giddy. I wondered how long it would be before I stopped feeling like I might wake up at any moment.

Queen, he had said. I supposed that should’ve scared me more than it did. I had no experience leading and no education in diplomacy or politics, but with our Gifts dancing together, snapping into place like pieces of a puzzle, I felt like I could do anything. Deep in my bones it felt fated.

What I was less certain about was how my mother was going to react. I had foiled an assassination attempt, agreed to take on the throne of a country, and accepted the responsibility of protecting its people, but I still hadn’t told my mother about my engagement. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.

That’s a problem for another day, I decided for the fourth day in a row, and picked up a swatch called “Northern Blue.” It reminded me of Evander’s eyes.

I pinned it to the thick cream-colored card Georgette had given us to make our selection and tidied up the table before going to find Colette.

. . .

We met in the same ballroom where the contestants had practiced. How many times had I stood in this very spot, watching Freya sharpen her fire-wielding skills without suspecting a thing? The thought made me sick.

Schooling myself, I fought to remember that Freya was in the dungeons. She couldn’t hurt Evander, or anyone, anymore.

Now, this room was mine to train in. Not much had changed except the absence of the refreshment table. I stared at the space it once occupied and let out a small sigh. I was no longer working in the kitchens. A necessary adjustment, but one I still mourned every day.

Sometimes I snuck in to help Mellie between training and my coronation preparation duties, but it was never for more than a half hour at a time, and I missed the meditative practice of kneading dough, watching as it went from scraggly and rough to smooth and elastic under my hands.

Mellie had no qualms about ushering me out of the kitchen–queen-to-be or not–when she knew I had things to do, snapping a towel playfully at me if necessary. Despite my grumbling, I secretly loved the normalcy of it. Maybe I would sneak back in tonight and make something easy, something I knew by heart. Cookies?

Right now, though, I needed to focus. Colette hadn’t arrived yet, and I rubbed my hands together as I waited, willing them to cooperate so I could finally make some progress on my solo shielding today.

Sometimes I trained alone, and sometimes Evander was able to join me. The joint sessions were always more productive, his magic helping mine along and guiding it gently to where it needed to go. They worked in perfect harmony, a beautiful call and response that always took my breath away. Now that we had the answer to the prophecy, it seemed so obvious.

The sessions where I was on my own, however, felt like slogging through mud. I tried grounding my feet, imagining a beam of light, envisioning the ward I wanted to create, and two dozen other tips and tricks Colette, Evander, and even a disgruntled General Finch had given me, but whenever I reached for my magic, I hit a cold stone wall. But maybe today would be different.

Maybe today I would succeed.

“Good morning,” Colette sing-songed, chipper as ever as she floated into the room, her pale pink dress billowing behind her angelically. She and Vanessa were no longer hiding their relationship and Colette was practically glowing with happiness.

“So,” she began, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet. “Today we’re going to try something fun. ” She punctuated the word with a wicked grin that made me nervous.

“What did you have in–OW!” I massaged my arm where the leather ball hit me.

“Sorry!" Colette winced slightly. "But seeing as what we’ve been doing isn’t working, I thought we’d try something new. Do you remember helping me master vine blocking?”

I did. I scowled at her, suddenly making sense of the leather balls.

“You know, you actually asked me to do that,” I pointed out. “This doesn’t exactly make us even.”

Rather than replying, Colette lobbed another ball at me. I stepped out of the way as it swished past my left ear.

“Well, it defeats the purpose if you just step aside,” Colette pouted. “It’s not actually going to hurt you, you know.” She rolled her eyes in a manner very reminiscent of someone else I knew. Vanessa was a bad influence on her.

“So you want me to stand here while you throw things at me?”

“The way I see it, your magic automatically activates when it perceives you’re in danger.” she explained. “Maybe we just need to help it along a little.”

A third ball flew through the air towards me, and I forced myself to stay still as it hit my thigh.

“All right,” I sighed. I could see her logic, and at this point I was willing to try anything. Hopefully this would work. I refused to be crowned only to be useless.

“Another.”

. . .

An hour later, we were both tired and sweaty, slumped on the floor of the ballroom dejectedly.

“We’ll get it,” Colette said, but I could tell that even her constant optimism was fading.

I groaned and lay down on the tile, throwing my forearm across my face in frustration.

“How can something that’s supposedly fated be this difficult? What if this is all a massive mistake and I can’t do it?” The heels of my hands conjured stars behind my lids as I pressed them into my eyes.

“The moment you convince yourself you can’t do something, you’ve eliminated all possibility of growth, Quinn. You’ll just keep looking to prove yourself right every time.” Colette shook her head.

“But it’s like my Gift is deliberately ignoring me. Why?” And how could I get it to stop?

“Honestly, Quinn, I don’t know. Vanessa’s been in the library every day looking for historical documentation of another Wielder presenting this late, but we can’t find anything.”

I knew firsthand how much time Vanessa had been spending researching. It was quite inconvenient, as I had a lot of studying to do on Enorias’s political system before my coronation, and she and I still weren’t on speaking terms. We each gave the other a wide berth any time we were roaming the shelves at the same time. Still, I was begrudgingly grateful for any help I could get.

“Your Gift has been running wild for so long that you don’t know how to communicate with it,” Colette continued, “but you have to stop thinking of it as something outside yourself that you have to wrangle. It’s an innate part of you that’s been there all along, fighting to keep you safe. Try showing it a little more appreciation.”

“Or what, its feelings will be hurt?” I quipped. Stopping myself, I took a breath. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve me snapping at you.” The pressure was setting me on edge, but that wasn’t Colette’s fault. “I’m just scared. Time is almost up and I can’t get out of my own head.”

“It’s okay to be scared,” Colette said. “But we can’t let that fear freeze you. Acknowledge the feeling and let it go.”

“That sounds a lot easier than it is,” I grumbled. Planting my palms back on the cool, smooth surface of the tile, I pushed myself up to a seated position. “I do appreciate it, really. The magic. It’s saved my life on more than one occasion and without it . . .” I shuddered. “But it still feels so abstract. Surreal, even. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that it’s been with me my entire life and I had no clue. It’s . . . a lot.” I gestured vaguely with my hands.

“I know,” was Colette’s only reply. The seconds stretched into minutes as I reflected on her words. I was scared I wouldn’t be the leader Enorias needed, yes, but on a more personal level, I was also afraid of the ground shifting under me again. I hadn’t let myself get comfortable, lest I lose it all.

“Every night I worry that it will be gone when I wake,” I admitted. “It feels like an impossible dream that might vanish with the dawn.”

Colette squeezed my hand.

“You’re going to connect with it,” she promised with more resolve. “We’ll keep researching to find a method that works. You’re already making progress when the king is here, and the two of you will be holding the wards together. Everything will be okay.” As always, her determination and positivity made me thankful to have her as a friend. Even if I were struggling, at least I wasn’t fighting alone.

Colette got up and dusted off the front of her. “I’m heading to the library to join Nessa,” she announced. “Take a walk, get some fresh air. The most productive thing you can do right now is rest, clear your head, and figure out what you’re feeling.”

I nodded. A walk in the gardens sounded nice.

. . .

Before making my way to the greenhouses, I went up to the third floor to change. While I had been spending most nights with Evander, this was still my official place of residence until after the wedding.

Seeing the stacks of boxes piled on the bed, I sighed. Georgette had gotten it into her head that I needed a more “royal wardrobe” and she would broker no arguments against it. I tried in vain to insist that I preferred my basic linen blouses and skirts, but she maintained that the people needed to see me as a queen, not a baker.

As a result, I was met with an array of pieces to try on every day. A slip of paper corresponding to each article was provided for me to detail my thoughts on the garments so adjustments could be made.

It seemed a trivial thing to spend my time on, but I supposed I’d burn out if I trained around the clock like I wanted to.

I opened the lid of a periwinkle box and was assaulted by the too-strong aroma of lavender.

Ignoring the tickle in my throat, I dove in and picked up a swath of fabric nestled within the tissue paper. To my surprise, it was unexpectedly lovely. The sage green dress featured a delicate floral print on the bodice, lacing that didn’t look too restrictive, and full skirts that were accented by a delicate line of floral lace around the bottom. When I shucked off my training clothes and slipped into it, I still felt like myself.

I did a little twirl in the privacy of my room, taking a moment to appreciate the way it managed to be beautiful without being ridiculous or show offish. Smoothing the skirts with my hands, I found a small slit in the side.

Pockets! I smiled. Maybe Georgette didn’t hate me after all.

I set out for the gardens, determined to give my mind rest from the constant worrying over what the next week might hold. Colette was right; I desperately needed a break.

The late autumn sun shone on my skin, and I turned my face toward it, basking in the warmth of its rays against the crisp chill in the air. As I walked along, I passed rows of white anemones with cheerful green centers and bunches of purple aster.

It was amazing what they could grow so late in the season. Colette’s father Damian had big plans for the garden paths, and Colette would talk about them with a dreamy look in her eye, no doubt looking forward to the day she could stop babysitting me and return to her passion for growing things.

My sigh masked the sound of footsteps behind me. A woman cleared her throat and I whirled around, thankful to see only Georgette on the path.

“Miss Parry, I wondered if I might have a word?”

“Of course.” Nervous, I followed her to one of the outdoor seating areas, where she had a bistro table ready with tea and cookies.

The formidable woman gestured for me to sit and waited until I was settled before taking a seat herself. Despite my best efforts to remain calm, I felt my pulse pounding in my temples as I stared back at her. If she was about to tell me I wasn’t good enough for Evander or the kingdom, I wasn’t sure I would be able to contradict her.

Georgette took a short breath in through her nose and closed her eyes only a fraction of a second longer than a blink before speaking her piece.

“I believe I owe you an apology,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Excuse me?”

Georgette reached for the teapot and poured two cups of what smelled like rooibos. A slight tremor in her hands prompted the sudden realization that she had to be in her seventies.

“You have to understand that my intention in warning you away from the king was born out of care for Evander and his well-being.” I didn’t miss that she, too, used his first name.

“You don’t need to apologize-”

“I do,” she said, her tone unwavering and resolute. “I’ve seen the change in him over the last week, a change that has occurred even before having the full burden of the crown removed from his shoulders, and I want to thank you. I’ve cared for Evander since he was an infant, and when I saw how distracted he had become by your relationship this autumn, I was frightened. I knew he needed to focus on finding a partner that could support him, and I did not think that you were that person.” Her gaze cut to me and I felt a pang of shame and embarrassment. Of course she didn’t. Who would think an apprentice baker could be a part of the prophecy?

“But,” she continued, “I realize now that I should not have spoken to you as I did, whether you were the future queen or not. Being someone that Evander deems worthy carries weight with me, and I lost sight of that. I am sorry, truly.”

I resisted the urge to dismiss the apology again, settling instead on a simple thank you, which Georgette accepted with grace.

“I'm ashamed that I only realized my error after his proposal brought about such a transformation. I’ve never seen him with so much confidence.”

She gazed into the gardens with a faraway look on her face before continuing. “I think a part of Evander didn’t truly realize that he would be king one day. His parents were so beloved, and Evalina hid her decline well. At the very least, he thought he would have more time. To see him grapple with his new role as well as the absence of his mother the past few months has been nothing short of heartbreaking.” Her face gave away none of the emotion she referenced, but her voice was clipped as she stirred her tea. “Something about you makes him feel ready to step up and lead, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.”

I wasn’t sure I could take credit for that, but I appreciated her candor. “I’m grateful to know that Evander has someone in his life who cares for him so deeply,” I said. “That is truly a gift, and one I know he doesn’t take for granted.”

Georgette looked down at her teacup, blinking her eyes to will away any moisture. It was clear she loved him very much.

“What was he like as a boy?” I asked.

“Full of mischief, that one.” The corners of her eyes crinkled as she chuckled at the memory. “I never knew whether I would find him with his nose in a book or up the tallest tree in the courtyard. He and Vanessa were always staging practical jokes on the noblemen. They once set General Finch’s coat ablaze trying to light a firework under the table in the great hall. Finch was a Colonel then, mind you.”

Her smile lingered for a moment before turning into something more reflective. “He was always very attached to his mother. Wanted to be just like her. His father, Roland, instructed him in matters of diplomacy, but Evalina was the one who helped him hone his Gift. I worry about him without her. I never thought I’d live to see the day he got married without her there.”

My heart sank at the thought. We’d hoped she’d wake by now, but the healers hadn’t reported any progress.

“I can’t even imagine what this must be like for him.” I said. I’d tried to talk to him about it, but he avoided the conversation whenever I brought it up, eyes going misty.

“Will your family be attending?” Georgette asked. I hadn’t been expecting that question. My delicate porcelain teacup served as a shield, hiding my discomfort as I brought it to my lips.

“My father is away on business and likely wouldn’t be here in time even if I could get the news to him. I’ve sent a letter, but I have little hope he’ll be in attendance.” It broke my heart, but I knew he would understand. And there would be plenty of time for him to get to know Evander when he returned. He’d never have to work again if he didn’t want to. “My mother . . .” I shrugged. “I’m not sure if she would even want to come.”

“If I may give you one last piece of unsolicited advice,” Georgette said, “I’m sure she would be very grateful if you gave her the choice. I don’t know the specifics of your situation, nor do I need to, but I can’t imagine she would want to miss her daughter’s wedding, whatever unpleasantness may be in your past.”

At a loss for what to say, I took another sip and turned the conversation to more pleasant topics.

. . .

Later, as I headed up to Evander’s chambers for the evening, Georgette’s words echoed in my ears. I wasn’t sure how I could simultaneously want my mother at my wedding and not want her anywhere near me, but my heart managed it nevertheless. More than anything, I yearned for the abstract concept of my mother, the one I imagined I might have by my side if things were different. But Wilomena was not that woman.

By the time I arrived at our rooms, I found myself wrapped in too many feelings to name. A decision needed to be made soon, but I couldn't extract one line of thinking long enough to follow it to its conclusion. It was all too muddied by emotion. And I needed to speak to Evander about it. After all, it was his wedding too.

I opened the door and his eyes widened at the sight of me, the passion in them starting to churn like wind picking up on a once-calm sea.

“You look–” His voice was honeyed and full of longing.

“Not too much?” I asked, looking down at my dress self-consciously. I had all but forgotten about it.

“Never. Never too much of you. Never enough of you,” he said, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling his face into my neck. I took a moment to breathe in the sweet, unhurried normalcy of it.

“One of Georgette’s picks,” I said. “It showed up this afternoon in my chambers.”

Evander straightened up and rolled his eyes at the words. “ These are your chambers, you know. I will be a very happy man when I don’t have to sneak you in here to keep up this facade of living separately until the wedding. It’s ridiculous.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you,” I muttered into his chest, “but I do see Georgette’s point.” Pulling away just enough to look up at him, I met his eyes. “I had a chat with her today.”

“Oh?”

I hadn’t told Evander about her earlier warning and didn’t think it would accomplish anything now. Adding tension to their relationship seemed unnecessary. Instead, I took the opportunity to tease him.

“I asked her what you were like as a boy,” I said, mouth already curling into a smug smile.

“I’m sure she had a fair few embarrassing stories to tell you.” He tried to play it off, but I could see a hint of genuine self-consciousness on his face.

“A few,” I said, laughing lightly. “But she also told me about your mother and how close you two always were.”

That hadn’t been what he was expecting. In the span of a heartbeat, he went rigid under my hands and the hard set of his jaw told me he had been doing his best to avoid thinking about his mother’s absence.

I understood that, but I also knew the kind of partner I wanted to be, one who would check in with him even if he said he was fine. If he didn’t want to talk about it, I wouldn’t force him, but I did want to give him a chance to have the conversation.

When he didn’t say anything, I pressed on. “I know how important she is to you. Are you all right?” A silly question. Of course he wasn’t.

“Yes,” he responded too quickly. After taking a moment to process what I had asked, he burrowed his face into my hair. “And no," he added. "I always thought she would be here for this, but I know we’re running out of time.”

“Do we need to postpone?” While I didn’t like the idea of him continuing to live on the edge of burnout to stabilize the wards, not having his mother at our wedding might hurt him even more. Maybe we could find another way.

“No.” His tone was firm and resolute. “Of course I wish she could be there, but I have a duty to the kingdom, to myself, and to you,” he said, his voice getting more tender with each word.

“You know I would wait,” I said, searching his eyes for any doubts. “I would wait as long as I needed to for you.”

“But you don’t have to,” he reassured me. “We’ll celebrate with her again when she wakes.” Though his voice faltered, I could tell he was sincere.

“You know you don’t have to be strong about this, don’t you?” I asked, searching the gold flecks within the blue of his eyes. “I want you to feel safe with me.”

“I do,” Evander promised. “I just don’t know how to process it all. The unknown is . . .” He shook his head. “I feel like I’m mourning her while she’s still here.”

I wanted to fix it. To take everyone and everything that had ever hurt him and lock them far, far away.

“That’s heartbreaking,” I managed, wishing the platitude could be more helpful but knowing there were no words that could rectify this wrong.

“What about your mother?” he asked. “Have you decided whether you’re going to invite her to the wedding?”

“No.” The admission was heavy on my tongue. “Georgette thinks I should. She said that she should have the choice, but–”

“No,” Evander cut in emphatically. “Your mother lost her right to a choice the moment she laid hands on you. If you want her there, it needs to be for you. This is your decision, Quinn.”

Shooting him a thankful smile, I started to think out loud as I walked. “If she’s not there, I have a feeling I may regret it later. And not only because she’ll hold it over me, which she will. I also know I’d spend the whole day feeling guilty, and that’s not what I want for my wedding.”

“What if we invited her, but minimized the contact as much as possible? You wouldn’t even have to speak to her if you didn’t want to.”

I considered the suggestion and felt my shoulders relax.

“Honestly, that sounds ideal. Does that make me a horrid person?”

“No.” Evander interrupted my pacing and smoothed my hair, gently tilting my chin up so my eyes met his. “It makes you far nobler and more forgiving than she deserves.”

I nodded, tears in my eyes for the second time today.

“If you don’t think it would drain you too much for me to move through the wards, I’ll take a trip to the village tomorrow. I need to tell her in person.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Evander asked.

It was tempting. The thought of having his support and protection made the outing significantly less frightening. Mother wouldn’t dare criticize our marriage in front of the king himself, would she?

But my gut told me I needed to do this by myself. If I were going to stand a chance as queen, I needed to find the courage to take charge of my life and move past my history.

“I’ll be fine.” The bluff was more for my own benefit than his. Evander would support whatever decision I made.

“You will,” he said, sounding far more confident than I felt. “But I want you to know I’m here for you either way.”

I did. And that alone gave me the confidence I needed.