8. Chapter Eight
The castle was exactly as I expected it to be. It was grandiose, with vines racing across the limestone bricks. Flowers were budding off emerald green leaves, and every bush we passed was alive and healthy. This place was warm, always—even the breeze reminded me of a warm spring day rather than the frigid winter that danced across the barrier.
The dress was fitted at my waist, and each time I bent my arm behind my back, my fingers toyed with the corset laces idly. I wasn’t accustomed to this dress, but one had to look the part when presented to royalty.
That was something I envied about Eero. I knew he had years of experience with this very thing—discussing the fates of others, prisoners, commoners, lords, ladies. It was written on his face. At this point, I was convinced his shadow would negotiate better than me, especially considering the fate on the line was none other than my grating, womanizing friend who’d happened to share a bed with me.
Gods. I wanted to throw up at the thought, but the past was the past. I just hoped it didn’t bite me in the ass now as we discussed whether he deserved to die a traitor’s death. I picked at the fabric of my dress to ease my nerves, but it wasn’t working.
Sapphire led the way once we neared the entrance, the guards standing at the large oak tapping their staffs on the ground before pulling the large wooden doors open. As if on cue, the other guards inside twisted to face each other and pummeled the ground with the bottom of their staffs to the beat. My heart followed the rhythm, the ringing in my ears battling for dominance. It was the worst of symphonies, but eventually, they stopped.
When we made it to a set of curved stairs, the prince of the Spring Court had made it to the balustrade with a pleased smile. “Well, if I was any dafter, I’d say royalty entered my castle walls.”
I watched Evander descend the stairs, hands clasped behind his back, a glint sparkling in his eyes. He first glanced at me, then Eero, but when he caught Sapphire, his smile faded. It wasn’t in disinterest—instead, anxious doubt.
I sweated for her, poor girl. Sapphire bowed respectfully, strands of silvery hair covering the blush that raced across her cheeks. I couldn’t help but cock my brow. She was a mighty fighter—sassy, smart, and, more than anything, well-spoken. But that was lost as she chirped out a greeting to him.
Sapphire was nervous in every way. It was like a different person.
Prince Evander stopped just ahead of us. His lips twitched into a half-smile. “Sapphire,” he said softly. “Why don’t you show Eero and his betrothed to the throne room? My mother should be there already. I will be just a moment.”
Sapphire appeared as if she wasn’t breathing when she nodded once, eyes glittering up at him. When he nodded, he excused himself and ventured down the eastern wing. Sapphire breathed out, her cheeks still rosy as she twisted away and guided us down the main corridor.
“So you are trusted enough to venture the castle without an escort?” I muttered just loud enough for her and Eero. There were so many guards here. It seemed excessive. “How privileged.”
“Shush,” Sapphire hissed, though her lips turned up halfway into a smirk.
Eero tittered, and within moments, we’d crossed an outdoor walkway before venturing into a wider hallway. Eventually, two more guards announced our arrival before swinging large oak doors open to reveal the throne room. There were benches that raced toward the front, the rough stone laced with flowers and leaves like an oil painting. The ceiling, crafted of crystal glass, allowed rays of sunlight to cast upon the glistening throne.
And on it sat the queen.
Sapphire was the first to bow her head, curtsying and holding her position. Eero bowed deeply. Though I was out of my element, I did my best to show respect. The closest I’d gotten to a queen was when one arrested me and traded me to Novus.
“King Sólvon.”
An icy rush of shock coursed through my veins, spiraling around my spine and forcing me upright. Eero followed suit, a similar expression written across his features. Sapphire was the last to stand.
“Queen Evangeline,” he muttered quietly, respectfully. “You can call me Eero, Your Majesty.”
“Eero, aye?” she said with a low purr, brows furrowed. “King Eero has a unique ring to it. Anything to separate yourself from that tyrant brother of yours, hmm?”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach the eyes. “Aye.”
Queen Evangeline stood, her long fingers coiling around each other as she joined them over her abdomen. When her warm gaze danced over to me, I froze. As she descended the shallow steps, she hummed. “You are Aurelie, correct? The girl King Novus invited us to…woo?”
Another shudder, but I nodded once. “Aurelie Cane, Your Majesty.”
“Aurelie Cane,” she repeated, stopping but an arm’s reach away. Sapphire moved aside to create space, the guards nearest the throne staring at us with heat in their gaze. One wrong move, and our heads would be on a spike outside for all to see. “I must admit, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a mortal girl in our realm.”
“She’s not entirely mortal, Queen Evangeline,” Eero said, his smile fading. There was the hint of something riddled in his tone.
“Mortal enough,” she snapped back, yet her voice never rose. It didn’t so much as crack. “And that is a very good thing.”
Evangeline faced the silver-haired halfling next. She reached for her, cupping her hands over Sapphire’s affectionately, but something about it was cold. Untrusting. Sapphire didn’t let that faze her, though—she smiled at the queen.
“I will not consume your time, King Eero,” she said quietly before letting go of her hold on Sapphire. She turned back to the throne and approached it slowly. “We have held your prisoner for more than an acceptable amount of time. It is time we discuss his fate.” Evangeline sank into her seat, arms strung across the armrests lazily. “I fear violent foes will make a spectacle of his absence.”
My throat tightened. Had they not already made a spectacle of this entire situation? Had they not burned their library and homes to the ground in the name of vengeance?
And that was before Julius had been taken prisoner. I cleared the lump in my throat before wetting my dry lips. “I believe they’d make a spectacle of your neutrality with or without a prisoner,” I said. A wave of realization slapped me across the face when the queen’s lips parted. I bowed my head and quickly muttered, “With respect, your Majesty. I question whether the Spring Court is safer with or without Julius.”
The queen remained quiet for a long while. I kept my gaze down, my heart pounding so loudly in my ears that I felt it might implode. It wasn’t until Eero’s voice commanded the room that my body calmed. “Have any of the guards been able to speak with Julius, Queen Evangeline?” A pause, then he added, “I understand there are many unknowns regarding his motivation and what caused him to be plagued by the stars in his eyes. I’m confident that if we understand those things, we will know whether he is truly an enemy.”
When I lifted my gaze, Evangeline was still staring over me. Her fingers were curled over the armrest so tight, her knuckles had turned white. “Sólvon—”
“Eero,” I said, the snap in my tone evident. I wasn’t sure if I was protective over the identity Eero had created, or if the name bore a resemblance to one of my nightmares. Despite my disrespect, Evangeline’s smile glittered.
“King Eero, you know better than most that our court takes a pacifist approach to war. We do not want to be involved—especially to the degree we were when your crown was stolen.”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to bark at her that she was being a coward. War wasn’t something I’d ever pretend to be well-versed in, but it was something I knew waited not for the weak nor the peaceful. It loomed over us, and when it was ready to strike, it would go for the kill.
The Spring Court would suffer from her cowardice.
Eero’s mouth opened, but we both jumped out of our skin when the guards smashed their staffs into the stone floor once more. It echoed around us, commanding us to silence.
“Crown Prince Evander, heir to the throne and first-born son.”
I turned my attention to Sapphire, her body nestled in one of the benches to the right. Her head remained angled to the ground, jaw clenched, a sour look on her face. I couldn’t tell if she was disgusted by my regard for her mate’s mother, or if it was something else entirely.
Evander’s steps echoed behind me; slow, methodical, and powerful. If I had to guess, he was sauntering forward with his arms politely tucked behind his back, his chin held high, shoulders straight. His carefree presence reminded me of the courtship ball Novus forced me into enduring.
If he hadn’t stepped in, I don’t want to know what would have happened with that wretched Autumn King.
“Mother, have you not grown tired of chastising our guests?” Evander purred, slowing to a halt next to me. “They have a point, you know.”
“I am so pleased to know that my son, the future king, decided to eavesdrop instead of joining us promptly.” Evangeline bent her arm and curled a fist beneath her chin. “Tell me, Evander, how do they have a point?”
Evander sighed and let out a soft chuckle. “Well, to start, none of your interrogators have gotten through his thick skull. Whatever curse he’s stricken with, it cuts deep. We have somebody here who was once close with him. Why sentence him to death or exile when he can be a valuable asset in uncovering Sólkon’s vile secrets?”
Evangeline was consumed by silence as she stared down at her son. I heard Sapphire chortle so quietly, it could have been missed. The prince, however, remained quiet—patiently awaiting the queen’s response.
“If you’d allow me, I’d love to speak with him,” Eero said slowly. His hesitance resonated through me. It shook in my chest, an omen of my worst-kept secrets and regrets rearing its ugly head. I wouldn’t ever hide anything from Eero, but Julius was an intimate guilt that riddled my bed for most of my adult years. He wasn’t asking for my permission, though.
No, of course not.
He was asking the queen.
And it looked as if it enraged her. Had she expected us to come here and agree on an execution or exile date? An agreed-upon exit of this realm, permanent or temporary? No. Julius was many things—and even if it pained me, I acknowledged he may be a traitor more than anything else—but he would never be undeserving of a fighting chance.
“I think our queen can organize that for you, Eero,” Evander said quietly. When I finally turned to look at him, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes hardened on his mother. “It will be supervised, but perhaps you and your betrothed can find a way through his…ailment.”
A long, defeated breath echoed through Queen Evangeline. “You have one hour, Winter King. If he is as vegetated as he is now, you will return to me for a proper discussion on his judgment. I owe you that for saving my court from those soldiers. I do not owe an inch more.”
My entire body had stilled, but relief lessened the weight on my shoulder. This was his fighting chance—and it lay in the hands of my lover, who, though he’d never explicitly tell me, wanted nothing more than to drive a blade through his chest. I was no fool.
Eero had harmed men for far less.
But I didn’t have to tell him how important it was to give him a chance, even if he wasn’t worth it. Even if his betrayal had the potential to break my heart into a thousand pieces in ways only childhood friends and family could. For the thousandth time, Eero sacrificed his innate desire for revenge.
For the thousandth time, he’d kept my desires in the front of his mind.
I sighed when we exited the room, grabbing hold of Eero’s arm to stop him from following Evander. He looked at me with a knitted brow.
“Thank you,” I mouthed just loudly enough for him to hear. “I know you want nothing to do with him.”
His face softened. “Aurelie, I rarely believe somebody does bad things because they are evil or cruel. That sort of bias exists for my brother and my brother alone. Julius may be a victim in this.”
“And if he isn’t?” I asked quietly, chewing on my lip to keep from blabbering.
After thinning his lips, Eero shook his head. “Let’s not worry about what-ifs right now, witchling. Let’s worry about the answers.”
I nodded slowly, allowing him to lace his fingers through mine and guide me ahead to catch up with Prince Evander and Sapphire. What Eero said was right—wondering about the what-ifs could be fatal to my sanity.
But hope was waning, replaced by the aching desire to wonder whether or not my oldest-standing friend and former lover had a hand in my demise. Was I ready for the answer?
No. No, I was not.
Prince Evander had pulled Sapphire aside and commanded a few guards to guide us toward the dungeon. The queen hadn’t occupied us with more useless rules, and the guards guided us without a word. They were going to let us interrogate this prisoner—one of my longest-standing friends—however we saw fit.
My heart raced in my chest. Eero slowed, lacing a finger around mine to capture my attention. “Are you sure you are ready to face him again?” he asked lowly. “You know you can always trust me.”
I sucked in a breath and turned to face him. “I feel like I need to, Eero. This is a guy that I grew up with. Won’t I regret it if—”
My voice choked. I snapped my lips together and sighed through my nose, gritting my teeth together before letting go of his hand.
“If the queen determines he isn’t worthy of a peaceful transfer back home.”
It was a statement. Any ruler of sound mind would execute somebody of such risk. Eero’s lips thinned, and he cocked his head. “I will do everything in my power to ensure he is treated fairly, Aurelie…but do not forget what he’s done to you.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. I imagined facing Julius and hearing the venom behind his voice as he explained what he’d done to me, the betrayal he’d chosen to live with. I could have broken down then and there—maybe Eero was right. Maybe I wasn’t ready for the truth. The full one.
“What are you going to ask?” A pause. “To do?”
Eero’s eyes flashed something between gray, calm anger, and bewilderment. “Get answers, witchling. The one thing you deserve most.”
I blinked in awe. “Then do it.” I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “If…if he talks…I will come down. But I…I-I don’t think I can see him without knowing—”
“Aurelie,” he said quietly, nodding once. “I promise to get you your answers…closure, if necessary.” Turning to one of the guards, he gave him a once-over before swaying his head from side to side. He was measuring his worth. “Watch over her. I will call for you two if it’s safe for her to come down.”
The guard nodded. I brought the tip of my nail between my teeth and chewed on it as he descended stone stairs after the other guard opened the locked door, their steps echoing into the darkness.
And then I was left, questions buzzing around my head like a swarm of bees. I was trying not to call myself a coward, but part of me yearned to face Julius and demand answers.
The larger part, however, told me to sit on the bench and trust Eero.
So, I sat. I waited. And I wondered.