Chapter 10
Forgive them.
Henley
The next morning, when Parker and I leave our room, my heart races.
Today is the day that I have to stop avoiding this conversation with my uncle. We’re going to have to talk about my parents.
Parker squeezes my hand to offer his support as we head into the dining room for breakfast. Uncle Ferno is already sitting at the head of the table. He’s looking at something on his tablet, but he locks it and sets it down as we come in.
“Henley, Parker, good morning.” He takes a sip of his coffee.
My guards don’t follow us into the dining room but stand at both entrances. There are also guards stationed outside, by the windows.
Is this what it would be like living here? Would guards always follow me around, even in my own home?
Would it really be a bad thing to have guards protecting you? Parker asks through our bond. You’re constantly in danger because you’re a phoenix. I know that I can protect you by myself, but having extra guards will only help protect you.
Of course Parker would say that. He’s overprotective because we’re mates. I wouldn’t object to him having guards if his life were in danger.
“Good morning, Uncle Ferno,” I say, deciding not to dwell on Parker’s words for the moment. Instead, I grab a biscuit from a platter and pour gravy over the top.
“Did you enjoy last night’s festivities?” he asks.
I dip my head in thanks to the woman pouring my juice before answering. “Yes. Other than on a trip to King Basilicus’s castle, I’ve never gotten to fly with anybody else. I’d never admit it, but dragons don’t make good flying companions. They’re too stoic.”
Uncle Ferno’s eyes seem to dance with light before he chuckles. “Only somebody as powerful as you would be brave enough to say that about a dragon.”
I choke on my drink of juice. “Excuse me? I’m not powerful.”
He narrows his eyes. “You’re powerful enough to share your magic with your mate.”
I look at Parker, and he shrugs.
What is Uncle Ferno talking about?
“I was told that your mate perished in a battle and your magic brought him back to life,” Uncle Ferno casually says. “Is that not true?”
“It is,” I say slowly. I try not to think too much about that day because it hurts too much. I take a bite of my food.
“That isn’t normal.” He steeples his fingers together as he studies me.
Wait… it’s not normal? So Parker is only alive because of… whatever this is. Me being a princess. Me being the future queen. Me being… born of royal blood.
It’s difficult to continue hating my biological parents. It was easy before… I thought they had abandoned me. But now, I think leaving me at that hospital might’ve been a last resort for them. Their final act before they perished.
“Will you tell me about them?” I ask, lowering my head. I don’t bother to clarify who.
Uncle Ferno freezes.
“I want to know everything.” I look up and hate seeing the grief in his eyes.
He gives me a curt nod. “I will tell you everything I know. After breakfast, meet me in my study.”
“Can—” I begin.
He cuts me off. “I would never ask your mate to stay behind. He may come,” he says, correctly guessing what I was about to say.
The room goes quiet for a full minute before anybody says anything. It isn’t until Blaine and Will walk into the room that anything is said.
Blaine is beaming, his blue eyes bright with excitement as he takes a seat at the table. Will, as always, is glowering.
“It’s a beautiful morning.” Blaine sighs as he pours himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the table.
Will grumbles something under his breath too low for me to hear.
Blaine chuckles. “Cheer up, Will. There are plenty of single phoenixes for you to bond with.”
He rolls his eyes. “I don’t need to meet my soulmate. I’m only eighteen. Unlike the lot of you, I’d like to not be a teenage father.”
This time, Uncle Ferno chokes on his coffee. “Henley, are you pregnant?”
My cheeks grow warm. “No. I’m taking birth control, though I’m aware it doesn’t always help when it comes to wolf shifters.”
He sighs in obvious relief. “You won’t get pregnant until you’re ready. You don’t need birth control. Your body naturally does it for you until you make up your mind that you’re ready for a child.”
“Really?” I sit up straighter.
Parker and I have always known the risk, but I want to be married to him more than anything. But neither of us is ready to be a parent yet. He hasn’t outright said it, but every month that I get my period, he’s relieved—as am I.
“How does it work?” Blaine asks. “Which one of their children will be heir? The firstborn?”
“No,” Uncle Ferno answers. “I was born before Henley’s mother. Magic chooses who will be the heir. And I imagine that since Parker has alpha blood, one of their children will too.”
Parker nods.
“Royal blood and alpha blood,” Uncle Ferno says, slightly shaking his head. “I imagine the two of you will produce very powerful offspring.” He pauses before adding, “Hopefully not for many years.”
Parker and I share a grin.
“I want to enjoy having Parker to myself for a while,” I admit.
And possibly get used to being a freaking princess too.
After we finish breakfast, Parker and I follow Uncle Ferno into his office.
It’s a cozy room with a large wooden desk.
He has a computer monitor sitting in the center of the desk and a keyboard, but other than that, it’s clear.
He sits down in the leather computer chair and motions for Parker and me to sit across from him in the padded leather chairs.
Parker sits beside me but remains quiet. We both look at Uncle Ferno, waiting for him to tell me about my parents. I can tell it’s a tough subject for him, so I don’t push him.
“Your mother was the most powerful phoenix that ever existed,” Uncle Ferno begins. He looks around me like he’s looking at my aura instead of me. “A lot like you, actually.”
I swallow hard.
I’m not sure that I like being called powerful. King Basilicus—whom I would consider the most powerful supernatural in existence—called me powerful. It’s a terrifying thought. Being powerful makes me a target.
“You will continue to grow stronger. Twenty five is when we hit our peak of power, which is why you aren’t allowed to take your throne until then,” he explains. “And judging by how powerful you already are, I imagine you’ll be even more powerful than she was.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “What happened to her?”
He sighs, leaning back in his chair. “Like I said, your mother was exceptionally powerful. By the time she was twenty one, she was powerful enough that other supernaturals could track her aura. It was so bright that one could see it from far off. A small group of rogue supernaturals attacked our island one night, and they killed a small child. Your mother felt it was her fault, so she and your dad left to protect everybody else.”
My chest aches at his words.
It doesn’t seem fair that other supernaturals would try to attack us. We haven’t done anything wrong. They just hate us because they’re taught to—because they think we’re a threat. But all we want is peace.
Parker grabs my hand and squeezes it, and I cling to the bit of comfort he offers.
“She called me every couple of weeks to check in, and she told me when she got pregnant with you. She was so happy.” He pauses, his eyes glancing off in the distance.
“That last time I heard from her, she was a few days out from her due date. I kept waiting for the call—to hear that you were born—but it never came. I knew, deep down, that she was dead. I assumed that you were, too. Had I known, I would’ve looked for you. ”
My heart pounds harder against my chest. It’s a deep ache—the ache of never knowing my parents. I spent eighteen years resenting them for leaving me. I was in so much pain, and I thought they had just abandoned me, but they never had a choice.
The ache in my chest lessens a bit. I’m sad I never got to know them, but at least now I know that they loved me. And I can forgive them. Because I know that they left me to protect me. And then they died to do the same.
They didn’t just leave me with anybody either. They left me where they knew my dad would find me. They knew he would take me in and raise me. It’s because of their sacrifice that I’m alive. And it’s because of them that I met Parker.
Parker grabs my hand and squeezes it gently.
“I’m glad you’re here now, Henley.” Uncle Ferno blinks as a tear runs down his cheek. “I’m glad that you’re safe. I thought that the royal line died with your mother, and I’m glad that isn’t the case. One day, you will make a fine queen.”
I blink as I look at him. “I don’t know the first thing about being a ruler. I don’t see how I’m going to be a good queen. I don’t feel… qualified.”
“Of course you don’t, but I will teach you.” His leather chair squeaks as he adjusts his position. “Did you think I would really leave you to figure it all out on your own?”
I guess I did kind of think that, but I should’ve known better. He’s been king regent for all these years, and it’s clear that he loves the phoenixes.
I take a deep breath before addressing my uncle. “Parker and I talked last night. I’m still not sure how I feel about being queen, but neither of us wants to go home at the end of summer. We will stay, and you can train me.”
Uncle Ferno smiles widely. “I knew you would make the right decision.”
Parker squeezes my hand, offering his support.
“I’m not saying I want to be queen,” I say again. I give him a stern look, making sure he knows where I stand.
His smile doesn’t dim as he studies me. “You’re too much like your mother for me to believe you’ll do anything but rule. She sacrificed everything to protect our people. You might think you don’t have it in you, but I saw you last night. You were enjoying yourself.”
I nod, not denying it. “Yes, but I still have Parker to think about. He’s an alpha, and he needs a pack, and he has his family. My dad is still in Montana, too. He needs me.”
“I heard about your dad’s engagement,” Uncle Ferno says.
I swallow hard. “Can we just take this slow? And maybe not talk about the whole queen thing for a little bit? Let me get used to the idea first. Let me get to know everybody and try to figure out what my life here would look like.”
He chuckles. “You can pretend all you want, but everybody saw the crown of fire last night.”
The crown of fire…
I hold in my groan.
I wish magic would’ve consulted me before it decided to announce to the entire world that I’m a queen. It doesn’t seem fair that I shouldn’t get a choice.
“Nobody has a choice,” Parker quietly says, reading my thoughts. “I was born an alpha, as was my father and his father. We didn’t get to choose. It’s in our blood, as it is in yours.”
Right.
Queen.
The word makes me feel sick to my stomach, but Parker is right. Magic chose me, and fate doesn’t make mistakes.
I take a deep breath before turning to face my uncle. “I am happy to be here. And I’m excited to get to know everybody. Thank you for allowing me to come here.”
“You’re going to make an amazing queen, Henley. Even if you don’t like the title. This is what you were born for.” Uncle Ferno looks at me with what I can only describe as pride in his eyes.
A freaking queen.
Well… what am I supposed to do now?