Chapter 35
Breaking out of her trance, Thea turned to me and tilted her head in the direction of the dance floor. “Let’s go enjoy the festivities, as we’ve been commanded to.”
We made our way back to our previous spot at the edge of the dance floor, with the royal garden once again situated at our backs.
I looked over my shoulder at the darkened gardens.
They felt off. Everything in this room had felt different since our return.
The air was heavy. As if everyone present was holding their breath, waiting for the weight of anticipation to be lifted off them.
My arcana and nerves were on edge, and my body was tense—like a large box of tinder, ready to ignite at the smallest hint of provocation.
I turned to Thea. “Is everything all right with you? What happened when we entered the ballroom? You looked like you were somewhere else entirely.” Something was off with Thea, and I couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense that it was connected to what I was currently feeling.
She turned to me, face devoid of emotion. “Are you going to share what happened in the powder room?” She raised her eyebrows at me. “Trust me. It was nothing. We’re going to be fine.”
“What does that—” My interrogation of Thea was interrupted by the growing volume of gossip and commotion.
We both turned our attention to Sterling as he made his way toward the dais, shoving angrily through the crowd of dancers and revellers.
He made it to the top in three large steps and stalked toward Thalos.
A sickening thud echoed throughout the ballroom as Sterling hit the captain of the royal guardians with a thunderous right hook in front of the now silent, awestruck court.
Thea looked at me, her eyebrows almost touching the top of her small forehead. “Do you think he did that for you?” she asked excitedly.
“I … maybe. I don’t know. I didn’t ask him to,” I responded.
Thalos remained stationary on the dais, dutifully taking the verbal lashing he was receiving from Sterling.
King Julian stood up to intervene on Thalos’s behalf.
Before Sterling could storm off the dais, King Julian grabbed his arm and whispered something in his ear.
The prince sat down on his throne reluctantly, keeping his eye on Thalos the entire time.
“May I have your attention?” King Julian called out, interrupting the festivities.
The music cut out, and like before, all eyes were on the king.
“I wanted to take a moment to share my gratitude for my son’s safe return to us from the most unlikely of sources.
For years the Obsidian Court has tried to drag us down and break us, but despite it all, we have persevered.
Their latest attempt was the callous abduction of my son, your prince, Sterling. ”
Shocked gasps rang out among the crowd as the truth about what had happened to Sterling had finally been spoken out loud.
“Thanks to the bravery of one human-woman, our beloved prince was saved and returned to us. I would like you all to raise a glass to Aurelia. Come, dear. Come here and let everyone cheer for you,” King Julian called out, waving me to come forward.
The dance floor parted as everyone in attendance looked back to catch a glimpse of the prince’s saviour.
Thea gently nudged me forward. “You do not want him to ask you twice. Just go.”
I groaned at Thea as I slowly made my way toward the dais. Looks of shock, disgust, and confusion were planted on the many faces I passed. Cautiously taking the steps up the dais, I could feel Sterling’s fiery gaze on me. I smiled painfully at the king and queen and turned to face the crowd.
“Everyone, raise your glass and give thanks to the heroics of this incredible human-woman.”
As ordered, the guests raised their glasses and gave various uninspired mumblings of thanks.
“Aurelia, if you could step aside, I’d like to bring out a gift for our dear Sterling.” The king smiled at me intently.
I stepped down off the dais and stood on the bottom step, uneasiness crawling through me as we waited on the arrival of Sterling’s gift.
“Captain Evergreen, if you could,” the king gently ordered.
Thalos, still rubbing his jaw from Sterling’s show of discipline, nodded and exited the ballroom.
He returned moments later, accompanied by the sound of chains clinking together.
I turned toward the door and watched in horror as Thalos brought in three women, battered and bound in chains—Maria and two of her helpers.
I turned to the crowd, trying to find Thea.
I scanned the back, where the dance floor exited into the royal garden, and couldn’t see her.
Panicking, I tried to pick her face out of the crowd and couldn’t.
My heart was in my throat. Something bad was about to happen, and I didn’t know what to do.
Finally finding a familiar face in the crowd, I locked eyes with Everett, who for the first time tonight seemed to notice me.
The shock at my appearance was evident on his face.
He was trying to mouth something to me, but I was unable to sort out what he was saying.
I looked to his side and saw his date standing steadfastly at his side, unblinking.
How was she not freaking out right now? Her friends were chained and beaten up. Why was she so calm about this?
King Julian gestured for Thalos to bring the women forward. I looked at Sterling and saw an unmoving stone facade where his face had once been. Whatever this was, he was clearly unbothered by it. My stomach sank, and a sharp pain pierced my heart. Why was he sitting there doing nothing?
The king continued his nauseating diatribe.
“Through the tireless efforts of our guardians and the support of our community, we were finally able to pinpoint the ones behind Sterling’s disappearance.
We’ve always known the Obsidian Court was behind it, but until recently we could not locate the culprits themselves.
” He gestured to the broken and bloodied women on the stage.
“These women plotted, planned, and executed the abduction of Prince Sterling. We have eyewitness testimony from a brave human-woman who used to work with these creatures.”
I sharply turned my head to Everett’s date.
A look of shame spread over her face. Unwilling to make eye contact with those she sentenced to death, she stared at the floor while Everett whispered reassurances to her.
Clenching and unclenching my fists at my sides, I forced myself to take a deep breath.
Fury flowed through me as I watched the cowardly woman stand there while her friends were being sentenced to death.
“Her accounts confirm the use of dark arcana, and more horrendously, the resurrection of a dead infant.”
Horrified gasps echoed throughout the ballroom.
I furiously looked through the crowd, trying to find Thea, but I could not locate her.
I had to do something. I had to try to help these women.
They were being wrongfully punished for something I had done.
A wave of sadness overcame me as I realized what I had to do and what that would mean for the few I had love for in this realm.
I closed my eyes and hoped that Nocturna and Astra would forgive me, that they would be able to make it out of here with Thea and live a more peaceful existence without me.
“For these crimes, these women will all be put to death. Tonight.”
The crowd cheered as King Julian provided the verdict for these completely innocent women.
He turned to Sterling. “That is my gift to you, my son. The death of those who plotted against you, against our mighty court, and have the audacity to think they can win.”
Chants for justice began to ring out. My breaths became shorter as the raucous crowd grew louder.
I looked at Sterling, making eye contact with him.
The look on his face was one of confusion.
I took in whatever parts of him I could, as it was likely to be the last chance I’d ever get to.
Sadness filled me, and I hoped my unspoken apology for what I was about to confess was understood.
“STOP!” I screamed as loud as I could. “STOP! PLEASE STOP!”
My chest began to rise and fall rapidly as I struggled to compose myself, fighting off the tears of frustration threatening to make themselves known. My vision narrowed, and arcana surged. The comfortable, welcoming pressure of my power built in my chest.
“STOP!” My voice rang out louder than I had ever heard it before.
The sound reverberated off the glass windows and shook the room. All the cries for justice stopped, and the crowd became silent as the vibrations passed through them.
“This is wrong. These women had nothing to do with Sterling’s disappearance or the resurrection of a dead baby.” My voice trembled as I prepared myself for what was to come next.
I looked at Maria and saw her slowly shaking her head, as if disappointed in what was about to happen.
Confused and a little hurt, I continued anyway.
“These women do not possess the power to do what happened to Prince Sterling, nor do they possess the ability to open ancient portals that have been sealed for hundreds of years.” I turned to the king.
“You told me that no one could open those portals. Not you, not any fae, but we are to believe these two non-arcana-possessing women and the healer were more capable than you?”
Hushed whispers filled the ballroom at the mention of the portals.
So much of what had happened with Sterling had not been shared, and it was clear why.
The lack of transparency had allowed the king to continue in his unchecked persecution of humans, all on the excuse that it was somehow tied to Sterling’s disappearance and the Obsidian Court.
Without proof of that, what else could he do?
The king’s face was a mottled shade of red now as visible anger built within him. “Take her and shut her up!” he commanded.
Guardians started mobilizing toward me.