CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Nithroel’s anxious face hovered over mine, gently rousing me awake.
I jerked upright in confusion, noticing it was still dark outside.
“What’s going on—” I started to ask for an explanation, but she silenced me with a soft hush and a finger to her lips.
She beckoned me out of bed, still not saying a word, though each furtive glance she cast at the door spoke volumes.
She pointed to my clothes, folded on the bedside table.
Hastily, I dressed. She pointed again toward my new cloak.
Were we headed outside? Why did she want me to take everything with me?
My confusion deepened. Had King Filvendor instructed her to kick me out of the palace in the middle of the night?
I racked my brain for some offense I could have committed since our last conversation.
Obediently, I grabbed my pack, making sure it contained all of my belongings.
Nithroel approached one of the framed paintings in the room, and shortly afterward, a section of the wall swung open.
She waved me onward with palpable urgency, disappearing through the wall.
Even so, I hesitated before following her into the newly revealed corridor.
Presumably, it was a secret corridor used by the servants to get around the palace quickly.
But, that didn’t mean it wasn’t also the most convenient place in the palace to murder me and hide the body.
She returned, poking her head back out of the corridor impatiently, beckoning me to follow her with even greater urgency.
I supposed if her ultimate goal was to commit a late-night, clandestine murder, then she would have already killed me while I slept.
It wasn’t exactly a comforting thought, but it allowed me to take a step forward, mustering up the courage to follow her into the corridor.
The wall swung shut behind me. I gasped, earning another hushed finger to the lips from my silent guide.
I trailed her down a series of empty hallways, feeling like a ghost in the night, sticking close behind her so as not to get lost. Eventually, Nithroel did speak, her voice a soft whisper.
“My older brother just passed,” she told me, caressing the braided grieving knot around her neck.
“It is my honor to hold vigil for him. He lived a long and interesting life. He was always looking after me. And he always said that the years he spent serving on the Midnight Court were some of the best years of his life. While I mourn him, more than ever, I wish for my actions to honor his memory. For this reason, I have brought you here to listen. It’s what he would have wanted.
” She pointed toward another panel in the wall.
“The Midnight Court?” I echoed, but she had already disappeared back down the corridor.
Cautiously, I approached the wall, realizing if I pressed my face close, I could actually see into the throne room. And hear the sound of voices speaking.
King Filvendor sat on his throne, though I did not have a good view of whomever he was addressing.
I pressed my ear to the panel, straining to make out his words.
“The girl seems amenable enough. Perhaps we will succeed where the Spring Court has failed. I think we can all agree the Realm of Olayra would be better off without the Midnight Sovereign meddling where she doesn’t belong.
Once we convince her to give us the island, we’ll raid anything of value and put an end to the position for good.
With her abilities, I could see Elvira eventually becoming a valued member of our spy network—”
The second voice was too soft-spoken to make out. I pressed closer still, wishing to hear more.
The wall panel swung open, and I went tumbling into the throne room.
King Filvendor’s voice rang out authoritatively.
“Come on out, Elvira. Why are you sneaking around so late at night? Was your room not comfortable? Did we not offer you every hospitality?” He sighed loudly.
“Were you eavesdropping? It’s a shame you had to hear our conversation without its full context.
Come now, let us clear up any misunderstanding between us. ”
Having little choice but to do what he requested, I picked myself up off the floor and walked slowly into the center of the room, gazing upon King Filvendor, still sitting regally upon his throne, and the Fae woman standing silently by his side.
Her face was obscured by the hood of her long cloak.
Even so, I caught the deadly glint of steel poking out from the scabbard around her waist.
“I wished to give you more time to consider my offer, Elvira. But I do believe this turn of events warrants a change of plans. I’m afraid I must ask you to tell me now—do you wish to join my household?
The Midnight Sovereign is no more. You will never be as powerful as your predecessors.
The women before you these past centuries have been weak.
Don’t you want a chance at family? For a place where you belong?
You could have that here. Be smart. You will never be a true Midnight Sovereign.
No one would blame you for stepping aside.
Your mentor Kaylin couldn’t teach you how to use your powers.
I can. The bedchamber we prepared for you is just the start of what your life here could be like.
You’ve been given an impossible task to maintain that island all on your own.
It takes wisdom to know when to let something go.
Do not cling to what is long past, child.
Not when you have the chance for a real life here in my household—all it will take is for you to bow to me right now. ”
King Filvendor’s winged lion prowled into the room, taking a seat next to the throne with a guttural snarl.
A tear ran down my cheek. Not from fear, oddly enough.
But from the sad realization that if I’d never left the island, I might very well have accepted King Filvendor’s offer without a second thought.
How close I had come to losing everything, had he only invited me a few moons prior.
How a smile and a kind word might have been… enough.
What a difference a few moons could make.
Because he was right; the day of Kaylin’s funeral, I’d felt like I may never have what he offered.
And maybe it was foolish to set it aside now.
Maybe I really could make a life here instead.
But what would I be giving up? And did I really need a family that wished to see me fail?
A few moons were a blink of an eye for such a long-lived Fae.
He did not anticipate the change a few moons could wrought.
While he sprung his trap, he’d expected me to sit still, but I’d been busy exploring the realm.
And I’d learned a thing or two. And met people who believed in me.
Right now, I could see only condemnation and superiority in King Filvendor’s eyes.
Such a contrast. To the gentle encouragement, to the steady belief, that had shone in Corvin’s eyes when he told me he thought I’d become the strongest Midnight Sovereign the land had ever seen.
King Filvendor was right. Kaylin never could teach me much about our powers.
I’d never seen her perform magic, but she’d never lost a mother or her baby in childbirth, and sometimes I thought there might be some magic in her touch and encouragement.
She might not have served the realm, but she served the people she could reach.
“It turns out that you’re a little too late.
You thought you’d find me lonely and afraid still, but you were wrong.
You see—I don’t feel so alone anymore. You’re right about one thing though.
The Midnight Sovereign has weakened. But the women before me persevered nonetheless.
And that…that takes strength too. Not knowing and still doing their best. They persevered.
Dedicated their bodies, their time, and their magic to the position.
The line is unbroken. And the Midnight Sovereign does not bow to royalty. ”
King Filvendor let out another disappointed sigh at my words.
“This really isn’t how I wanted things to go.
All our preparations—wasted. No matter. I could make you bow, you know.
” The threat hung in the air between us, but I knew, I knew there would be consequences if he broke his vow not to hurt me.
I turned and started to walk out of the room.
His voice was deadly calm. “Not so fast.”
I whirled back around, accusation in my voice. “You promised. Swore a binding oath. That I could leave of my own free will.”
“Yes, but—what if that will belongs to me?” And then he continued speaking, his words infused with magic.
“Elvu Veera Minuvae. Your secret Fae name. Spoken to you at birth by your mother on Solaris soil, though you do not remember. The orphanage named you Elvira Hallwell. The kids there called you Grasshopper on account of your green eyes. Patronless, feared by the citizens of Dewwick Village. Apprentice to Kaylin Blackburn. The latest Midnight Sovereign. An office known by several names. Let me list them now—Mistress of Midnight, Moonstone Maiden…”
My knees started to bend. And a terrible realization filled me—I made a mistake coming here.
Nix had been right, and I should have listened to his advice.
King Filvendor’s hold on me tightened with each name he uttered.
Panicking, I tried to think of a different name.
Anything that he might not know. That his spies would have been unable to ferret out.
I was an orphan, and that was a liability.
My secret Fae name lost to me. Not yet old enough to remember my mother’s voice, whispering it in my ear.
And it was tragically easy to learn all the names of someone who had such few connections in the world.
So few relationships. It made me vulnerable.
A vulnerability King Filvendor was now exploiting.
But now was not the time to curse old Fae magics. I needed to think.
What had Kaylin called me when she grabbed me from the orphanage?
Her sunshine. The magic was unfazed, continuing its slow constriction.
It had never really been my name had it?
She called her daughter the same—had transferred her hopes and dreams for a family to Adriel when she was born.
Another tear ran down my face. I needed to think of a name that belonged unquestionably to me.
One that the king could not possibly know before he controlled me completely.
Consort of the Moon. Fiere’s melodic voice echoed in my mind. A title spoken to me in thoughts. Never uttered out loud. The magic lessened ever so slightly, but I could feel my knees shaking from opposing the magic’s desire to make me bow.
Nix. He called me Little Moon. The first nickname ever given to me by a friend. Not the most flattering. A reminder of my ineptitude as much as a sign of affection. But it was something. I held the name in my mind. The magic slowed, but it did not stop.
Another name rose to the forefront of my mind.
Moonflower. Corvin’s hand, gently brushing my hair, as he placed a moonflower into my braid.
A name that had a piece of my heart, even if I didn’t yet know what that meant.
And most importantly—something new—that King Filvendor could not possibly have learned.
Spoken on my island, wrapped in protective enchantments, safe from his spies.
Moonflower—blossoming under the light of the moon.
A beautiful beacon in the night. What I was becoming.
Who I wanted to be. I called to my powers, silvery rays of moonlight streaming in through the throne room’s windows.
The moonlight was subdued, the waning moon harder to reach, to call upon.
But it was there. It was on this name that I staked my claim, pushing back against King Filvendor’s magic with all my might, trying to break his hold on me.
But…what about my other titles? Did I really intend for him to have them? He was threatening my very autonomy, but perhaps…perhaps he was also providing me an opportunity. To claim the names that belonged to me. To refuse to let anyone or anything take them away from me again.
Nix’s voice rang through my head: Names are powerful; reclaim them while you still can.
Then, another voice. My own. Rising up to say—you have reclaimed them.
Tears cried. Pain endured. Bones broken.
Blood spilled. Time dedicated. Sacrifices made.
I’ve reclaimed them. You cannot have them, King Filvendor. THEY DO NOT BELONG TO YOU.
He was mistaken if he thought I would give them up without a fight.
If he thought I had no claim to them myself.
That he could find out all the names bestowed upon me and take them for his own.
Use it to control me. Bind me. NO. I would not let him.
For every ounce of care I’d poured into the island.
For risking my life in service to another after a moonstone bargain.
For those actions, and more, I claimed the title of Midnight Sovereign.
Would it be enough to break his spell in time?
Indeed, he seemed to be wrapping up, the last name on his tongue.
Before he could speak it, I resisted his magic with everything I had.
Looking him directly in the face, I spoke with conviction.
“Didn’t anybody ever tell you—midnight is my domain.
” Moonlight swirled all around me, a pearly sheen coating my skin.
“Do you stay up each night until the bell tolls midnight? Have you felt the motivations of someone in need, flowing through your very being? Risked your life in service to another? NO. Because those names are not yours to claim. THEY. ARE. MINE. They are the names of the women before me. They are the names uttered in quiet on my island as hope dwindles. I am the Midnight Sovereign. You cannot have my name; and you have not earned my office. I will not give them up to you. They belong to me. I discard my birthright to Solaris in favor of who I have become. Elvu Veera Minuvae died with my mother, and I lay the name to rest in honor of her memory. You may be sun-kissed, but I am the only one here who knows what it’s like to commune with the moon. It comes down to this King Filvendor—”
“You don’t know everything that I have been.
” I pushed against the magic now with all of my willpower, felt his hold on me shatter, as the spell faltered in the face of my resistance—the power of those names I still claimed, all my own.
I unbent my knees, standing as straight as possible.
“And you certainly don’t get to tell me what I have the power to become. ”
When I turned and left the room—it was of my own free will.