Chapter 10 #2
I smile softly at her, admiring her instant acceptance of this new life. She’s not holding her tongue around the princes of Lumathyst.
“Quite,” Pierce says. “Too many, in our opinion.”
“Then why haven’t you done anything about it?” Layce asks, more curious than malicious.
Right. They don’t know.
“We would if we could.” Kal is the first to answer.
“Our search for a mate wasn’t just because we wanted to secure the throne and appease our mothers’ wishes.
Our powers were depleting with our offerings to the goddesses in order to keep their protection.
Only finding a true mate would unlock the full force of our powers, tilt the balance, and allow us to ascend the thrones. ”
“Wait.” Ivy tilts her head, looking at Jax. “You said you gave your powers to Rylee.”
“We did,” Jax answers. “It was the only way to save her.”
“Aren’t they going to hurt her?” Layce asks. “The full force of your powers? Isn’t that meant for part-gods?”
“She’s immortal now,” Kal argues.
“Still . . .” Ivy shakes her head. “It seems dangerous.”
“It feels dangerous,” I admit. Even now, I can feel the weight of all four of those powers threatening to crush me. “But there wasn’t any other way.”
“Okay,” Layce says. “So, the goddesses told you the elixir wasn’t meant to harm you. Let’s pretend that was the case and you didn’t die—”
“Which, by the way, who the fuck tried to kill you?” Ivy cuts her off.
“We’re working on that,” Pierce answers.
“Let’s pretend,” Layce continues, “that everything went according to plan. They get their full powers unlocked. You become immortal. You have the ability to balance them out like the goddesses intended. The Kings’ List would still occur?” She taps the invitation.
“They’ve had this planned since our mothers set forth the Choosing rules,” Pierce says.
“Now that they’ve brought it to light, it makes sense.
They have no insight into what actually occurred at the Athanry, and we need to keep it that way.
If they knew we were vulnerable . . .” His voice trails off, and it’s all I can do to stop the racing thoughts at the possibilities.
“Had everything gone to plan, they still would’ve made us earn the Royal Authority Council’s vote before we ascended the thrones. ”
“If everything had gone to plan”—Jax’s voice is icy—“we’d challenge them and kill them all to take the thrones.”
“You don’t mean that,” I say softly, leaning into his shoulder.
“That’s an option?” Layce asks.
“It’s always an option,” Axl answers.
“But we wouldn’t,” Kal says. “Regardless.”
Ivy tilts her head, a silent question of why not.
“Beyond the fact that I’m not keen to murder my father, what trust would that instill in our people, if we start our rule of Lumathyst in a puddle of prior rulers’ blood?” Kal asks.
I shiver.
“Okay, fair,” Ivy says, taking the invitation from Layce and tapping it. “This section about the tasks needed to earn the thrones is incredibly vague.”
“No doubt intentionally so,” Pierce says.
“Whoever this Royal Authority Council is could ask you to do anything,” Layce says. “This magically binding contract is not written in your favor.”
I swallow hard.
“And a season is six months, right?” Ivy asks.
Kal nods.
“What about the ascension? What does that entail?” Layce asks.
Pierce nods. “The ascension consists of a ceremony of sorts. One where the kings pass the crowns to us. They’d retire to their chosen city or travel but would take up the annual donations of power to the goddesses so ours, as kings, wouldn’t be depleted.”
“Does anyone else’s brain hurt?” Layce asks, rubbing at her temples.
I laugh. “Yes.”
“Good, I’m not alone.” She chuckles, and I revel in the levity.
Ivy brings us back to reality. “But you don’t have your full powers. Rylee does. And so, every test meant to prove you four are worthy will now be that much harder because you don’t have any.”
“Most likely.”
A weight sinks in my stomach.
“I have to find a way to give them back to you,” I say.
“We’ll figure it out,” Pierce assures me.
“But while also dealing with all this royal task stuff, you’re still expected to be the Legends. You’re still expected to handle the Faders.” Ivy is stating these things, not asking.
“Yep,” I say.
She leans back against the couch. “I’m only a bystander, and I need a nap.”
We both laugh at that.
“Now you know everything,” I say after the room has gone contemplative and quiet.
“Not exactly,” Layce says, eyeing Ivy.
They share a silent conversation, and I swallow hard when I understand. I nod, giving them a look that says, it’s up to you two.
“It’s quite uncomfortable not understanding that.” Pierce motions to the three of us. There’s wonder in his eyes. The Mind is so accustomed to knowing everyone’s thoughts, should he wish it.
“Since we’re all in this together,” Ivy says, shifting off the couch and heading toward a potted red chrysanthemum sitting on one of Kal’s bookshelves. “And we’re not keeping secrets . . .” She blows out a breath. “If they throw me in the dungeons for this, I’ll never forgive you.”
I laugh at the audacity of that statement, then remember she doesn’t know the princes like I do.
She curls her fingers, and the crimson petals stretch and flutter, a new pod spiraling out of the potted soil to join its fully bloomed brother.
“Holy shit,” Axl says.
“Fascinating,” Pierce adds.
Layce snaps her fingers. A spark of lightning dances on the tip.
“Goddess, girl,” Mirren says after my friends silence their powers. “Do you collect demis?”
I shrug. “I guess you could say we collect each other.”
She sucks her teeth. “We’ve had them in the palace for an entire week. What if someone discovers them?”
“No one will,” Ivy says. “We’ve been in hiding our whole lives, thanks to their fathers.” She motions toward my mates.
Mirren holds Ivy’s gaze, and I’m not sure whose stubbornness will outlast the other’s.
In the end, it’s Layce who breaks their stare-down. “When is the first task on the Kings’ List?”
“Tonight,” Jax answers, his tone cold and low.
“Tonight,” I repeat, nerves tangling beneath my skin.
“It’s a royal ball,” Kal offers. “We’re all invited, though ‘obligated’ sounds a bit more like it. They told us they’d announce the events to the nobles, and the season will officially begin.”
“Shit,” Layce says.
Shit is right.