Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Lady Ryderdim is right, you know.” I paced in front of the fire that roared and crackled in my parents’ private sitting chambers.
Evening had arrived, and the rest of our family had retired elsewhere in the palace for the night.
The only other fairy near us was my assigned Imperial Warrior, but my father had asked Royden to stay in the hall.
I paced more. “Given how quickly word has traveled on the attack, by this time tomorrow, I had no doubt the entire capital will know that I’ve returned to court with the full extent of my magic.
Fae will remember that my magic once created so much fear in our kingdom that someone sought to assassinate me.
And they’ll also know that the cuff I was wearing did nothing to curb my abilities then nor now.
” I sighed and stopped pacing. “So now what?”
Thankfully, my parents had reached the same conclusion I had about the cuff. They’d removed it earlier in the day, shortly after Lady Ryderdim’s tirade, but the damage had been done.
My mother sagged back in her seat. Her long brown hair hung around her shoulders.
“She’s right, Russem. It was foolish to ever put it on her.
Now, Lady Ryderdim is stirring up anger over our deception, even though our intention was never meant to trick anyone.
It was simply to allow Primelle’s return to court to be less difficult and less stressful on those who remembered her. It was supposed to cause comfort.”
He huffed. “If only Lady Ryderdim would stop trying to cause dissent.”
A reluctant smile lifted my lips. “I may have only just met her, but something tells me that’s not going to happen.
And honestly, I can’t help but admire her for it.
Even though she now despises me, it took courage for her to stand up to her king and queen.
It’s an admirable trait in a leader, and I can see why she heads one of the ten Houses. ”
My father grumbled more. “And consequently, she’s been a pain in my arse for more seasons than I’d like to remember.”
I canted my head. “Then why haven’t you removed her from power and assigned another House member to lead? Or removed their family entirely from one of the ten Houses and assigned a different family altogether?”
“Wielding absolute control of others can eventually backfire. Fae tend to fight back when kings have governed that way, and since she’s done nothing wrong, other than irritating me, removing her wouldn’t be wise.
” He sighed. “Besides, like you said, she’s a strong leader and has done many acts over the seasons that have increased our kingdom’s strength.
For all of her misgivings, Lady Ryderdim has been an asset to our great kingdom, and I will continue to honor that even if she’s intent on causing problems.”
Another smile tugged at my lips, and I was reminded of why I’d always loved these two fae.
Even though I was still coming to know them as my parents, I’d known the queen and king as individuals all my life, and the traits I was seeing now in my father were characteristics I’d seen previously when I’d thought he was Roosep.
I was relieved to learn it hadn’t all been an act.
I lowered myself to the floor, kneeling with the fire at my back. The soft magenta dress moved easily with me, and I tucked my legs beneath me. “May I please make a suggestion?” I gazed at them imploringly.
My father waved his hand. “You may always speak freely with us, Prim. As much as it looks like we’re trying to control your life, we don’t actually want to. We just wanted you to be safe and happy.”
I squeezed his hand. “I know, and I thank you for that, but we need to change course. I suggest we speak truthfully to the Houses at the next council meeting and share that my magic is not suppressed and never was. And let’s also reveal that I’ve been living among them, here in the capital, for many full seasons, yet I’ve never hurt or disturbed anyone.
” I scooted closer so I could also lay a palm on my mother’s arm.
“I’m not a toddler anymore. Timith and Gwenery taught me to understand my great magic, and perhaps they, along with others who have known me my entire life, can verify that.
And then there’s Nathaniel. Even he could be a witness to that fact.
In the previous months, he saw me frequently in the Whiteolf Academic Library, before my true identity came to light.
He can attest to the fact that I’m harmless.
” I took another breath. “Perhaps with enough character witnesses, the House leaders will see that I’m not to be feared. ”
My smile dimmed slightly, however, because it struck me that such a plan wouldn’t work on everyone.
It certainly hadn’t with Koraline. While I thought that there was a possibility that Lillith and I might find a way to move forward, I was no closer to developing a sisterly bond with Koraline than I’d been since we’d met.
Even though I’d been a child when I’d burned her, her grudge still held, and if anything, the events in the maze had only heightened her dislike of me.
Yet I brushed that worry aside and focused on the positive.
Most were likely to see reason and not hold someone accountable for actions they did as a small child.
I could only hope that I hadn’t hurt too many others when I was young.
If I had, it would be harder to convince the fae of our kingdom that I wasn’t to be feared.
Grudges might run far and wide for all I knew, but I would endeavor to find a way. Somehow, I would.
My mother squeezed my hand, then eyed my father.
“She’s right, Russem. We need to tell the truth.
If we don’t, the fear our kingdom once had may return, and then the council will demand that Primelle ingest potions to curb her power.
Now that she’s an adult, her growth and development will no longer be impacted.
We no longer have an excuse not to give her that. ”
I gulped. It was what I’d been worried about too.
When fae were extraordinarily powerful, and especially when it’d been proven their magic was dangerous, it wasn’t uncommon for the Supernatural Courts to rule that their magic must be curbed with potions, and oftentimes, such action resulted in not only a fairy’s magic being suppressed but their mind being dulled too.
However, such potions adversely affected growing children.
If I’d taken them as a child, it would have affected my growth and development, but now, they would merely turn me into a fogged and muddled fairy, no more capable of wielding magic than reciting my own name.
I curled my fingers into my palms. Just the thought of that . . .
It would be like living with a true cuff that actually worked on my magic, only it would be wrapped around my body, dulling my senses and reflexes and fogging my mind. I would be a shell of myself.
My father nodded. “Perhaps, but even the truth won’t guarantee Primelle’s safety, not from who’s after her. After what happened last night, that much is apparent.”
I took a deep breath, knowing they wouldn’t like my next request, but I had to try.
“I have one more thought.” I squeezed my father’s hand tightly.
“Let me hunt for answers too. I know that you want to keep me behind warded walls while others try to uncover what’s going on, but I’m quite good at research.
It’s possible answers lie in the academic libraries or even our private home libraries.
” I thought of my uncle Arnel and what he’d offered and wondered if my parents would feel safe if I went to his estate and was behind his wards.
“And Kole confirmed that the creatures only come out at night, so as long as I’m back in the palace behind the wards before sunset, I should stay safe.
Besides, I’ll still have an Imperial Warrior with me in the libraries, so I won’t be unguarded.
” I nodded toward the hall, where Royden waited, then my tone turned pleading.
“Please? May I help and start researching?”
My father and mother shared another troubled look, but my mother shrugged. “She’s right. They only come out at night, so if she’s back by sundown . . .”
A deep sigh came from my father, but eventually, he nodded. “All right, Prim. I suppose that’s reasonable. You can start researching, but Kole, or whoever is assigned to you each day, is to stay at your side always. And you must be within the palace each day before darkness arrives. Understood?”
“Yes, of course.” I squeezed both of them.
“And last, and I swear this is the last thing, but I’ve been meaning to ask about my best friend, Harrietta Blackthorn.
You’ve met her before when you were disguised as Opalin and Roosep.
Anyway, I miss her dreadfully. Is it all right if she visits me here, at the palace, and brings my galaxy nephew, Siam, too?
And she’s also offered to help in the libraries, so I could see her there as well if that’s okay. ”
My mother grinned. “Of course, Harrietta is lovely.”
My father chuffed. “Ah, yes, Harrietta. The redhead.”
I returned their grins. “So that’s all right?”
My mother beamed. “Yes, darling. We adore Harrietta, and she is most welcome here anytime.”
My father voiced his agreement too, and I jumped to standing, relief running through me that while I had to pick a suitable mate, I didn’t have to only pick friends of noble lineage.
“Thank you. Thank you both so much.” Impulsively, I hugged them.
They hugged me in return, and my father said quietly, “We just want what’s best for you, Primelle. That’s what we’ve always wanted.”
It was late by the time I left my parents’ chambers, but we’d come to a decision on several things.
We agreed that I would attend the next council meeting with the ten House leaders, and my father would call in witnesses from my neighborhood, my employment, and from schools I’d attended over the seasons to act as character witnesses.
And if that failed to appease the Houses’ worries, my parents would then consult fae they’d worked with previously who were skilled in political and public relations.
Because everything boiled down to how others perceived me.
If we could find a way to convince the fae of our kingdom that I wasn’t a threat, then my future would be brighter.
I could only hope that it worked, because if it didn’t, magic-suppressing potions were inevitably in my future.