But there wasn’t time for that, and I couldn’t afford to go backward.
“Breathe,” Kade whispered beside me. “Just breathe, Illiana.”
His shadows caressed the back of my neck. My chest loosened, warming at his voice, his touch.
I am Illiana Dresden, and I am stronger than the darkness within me.
Ian jogged up the pathway, nodding. “The nobles are coming.” His face betrayed his slight disgust. “Most were in their homes, drinking and eating as if there hadn’t been evil taking over the city.”
“They’ll listen or they’ll lose their standing,” I said harshly. While I’d be diplomatic, the time for acting as if they were untouchable simply because magic burned stronger in their veins ended now.
This marked the start of our new kingdom.
From the upper area of Ellevail, the nobles strode forward, observing the other Fae gathered in front of me, making their way to the front of the group like they belonged there. Entitled assholes.
They better get used to mingling more, or this will be a very uncomfortable life for them.
I spotted Storm, moving forward through the crowds. He bowed his head as he approached.
“I swear if you bow one more time, I’ll throw my magic at your head,” I whispered under my breath.
He smirked. “I have to show you respect, whether you like it or not. Everyone is watching.” He glanced over his shoulder. “This is all the Fae we could find in the streets. Tommy and some of the others helped on their end of town as well.”
“You’re up, Lan.” Ian nudged my shoulder with his.
I sucked in a sharp breath and took a step forward. The murmurs of the crowd faded, silencing as they waited for me to speak.
“I know many of you believe I fled after the trials,” I started. “That I ran away when Brookmere needed me most.” Swallowing down my anxiety, I stood straighter. “This is not the case. I was taken against my will, though I know now it was for my own protection. Since I left, I’ve been gathering information on the darkness spreading across our land. Andras lied to you.He manipulated his role as advisor and used his mind magic against our king and queen. He murdered them.”
Kade flinched next to me, but what I spoke was the truth. If it hadn’t been for Andras, my father wouldn’t have been ill and been faced with the decision to die rather than allow his magic to be stolen by Andras in his quest for power. Andras killed my father—not Kade.
“He is not the mastermind though. A thousand years ago, our ancestors trapped a Fae named Thames in a void between our worlds. Brookmere stood beside a kingdom called Mysthaven, both kingdoms making up our true world, Atheria.”
Gasps spread through the crowd as voices picked up. I raised my hands and they all fell silent. “Thames is the one behind Andras’s rise to power. We have captured Andras, and he will be held accountable for his crimes. However, Thames is still out there with one goal: to take over and destroy our world. He will spread the darkness you’ve seen taking over our neighbors and lands and use it for his own gain.”
I inhaled. “A brave group of Fae has been working inside the city walls to try to overthrow Andras. It is because of them we were able to succeed in capturing him.” Kade’s shadows curled along my palm as if holding my hand. “Now a greater battle is upon us. A war not just for our kingdom but for our world.
“We’ve been gathering those willing to fight for our home. Those who will stand against Thames to defeat him once and for all, but we need more of you. We need to be one people, standing together in the face of evil.”
“Why should we believe you?” A noble toward the front of the group sneered.
Kade’s shadows tensed by my side, but Ian was the first to question the man.
“Why should any of us allow you to stand here alongside those loyal?” Ian growled. “Tell me, when Andras forced peopleto become infected with darkness, where were you? Drinking? Gorging yourself in the comfort of your homes?”
The noble brought a hand to his chest. “We believed the advisor as we should have.”
“Wrong,” I snarled. I shifted, laying a hand on Ian’s shoulder to tell him I could do this. “There’s a reason the lesser Fae were targeted and you were left alone. You go along with whoever gives you the most power. I’m telling you now, that ends today.”
The noble’s lip curled.
“We’ve lived for too long ranking people based on the strength of their magic, but I have seen an entire army of lesser Fae build forges, homes, and take back a castle from a man sated with stolen power. I have worked alongside Fae who showed more loyalty and heroism than an entire arena of nobles.”
I stared the man up and down, letting my anger shine.
“From now on, Atheria will be different. Fae will be judged by their contributions, by their character,notby the amount of magic coursing through their veins.”
Rage-filled shouts came from the nobles.
