I didn’t hear most of the commotion as people started to recognize me, but I didn’t have to weave my way through tight spaces anymore. People moved out of my way and my magick raked across my skin in case any thought to lunge for me.
Auster finally found my cold stare promising death. Dark fury flashed across his hazel eyes before his hand hovered over his sword. I stood right in front of him now, the crowd parted completely, separated only by a stretch of path toward the portico.
“Any crown placed atop your head would slip with madness beneath it,” I said, loud enough for him to hear in the tense silence that had fallen. “It’s only a matter of time before everyone sees it.”
My fists kept tightening with my loathing, weaved with heartache, to be face to face with him now. Vengeance for what he’d done clashed with fondmemories that flooded over from the past. Our long history of growing up together, bonding as great friends before anything else. There would always be a part of me that ached deeply for what we’d become.
“Seize her!” Auster bellowed.
Even his own soldiers hesitated. When they did act to his demand, my magick flared to life in warning, creating sliver threads weaving over my palms and a warm swirling wind. More space grew around me as people tried to gain distance.
“This is between you and me, Auster Nova. Or are you too afraid to face me yourself?”
“You’re bold to come here,” he said.
“I’m not afraid of you,” I challenged. “I won’t hide while you foster fear and lies about me in the minds of my people. And I won’t let you hide behind the villain you’re trying to make of me either.”
“It is your actions that have caused devastation to this realm, Maiden,” Notus said.
Murmurs of agreement around me rattled my composure.
“Where is your Bonded, Astraea?” Auster goaded. “Where is the monster you chose over your own people and duty to protect the realm?”
I realized he was trying to make me stand trial in front of the gathered city.
I said calmly, “You don’t fear him for what he’s capable of. You fear him for the mirror he shows you.”
Gasps echoed and my marked skin glowed a little brighter.
“Why did you come?” Notus asked.
I didn’t dare glance at Zephyr, but I knew he stood tense beside them, likely wondering if I’d lost all sense of self-preservation in being here.
“You’ve been looking for me. Well, here I am.”
“You’re alone,” Auster said daringly. He unclasped his cloak at his shoulder; someone took it from him as he stalked forward. Then he removed his circlet. “Did you come to fight me?”
“If I win, you let Eltanin go and leave Vesitire,” I said.
His smile sliced cruelly and viciously.
“And if I win…” he said, hanging a pause for his delighted suspense. “You’ll stay with me. I’m not beyond believing our Maiden can be reformed. That I can bring you back to righteousness.”
His vile delusion broke awe through the onlookers. How merciful it was for him to find forgiveness after all I’d done.
He was good at this, I had to admit.
Maybe there was some truth in the new perception of me as the villain he was painting in the minds of my people, because while he was masterfully composed, I was ready to burn this city to the ground to reclaim it.
“Fine.”
I was sure Drystan would be cursing me if he was watching. I hoped he was rescuing Eltanin beneath the library right now.
“I admire your will,” Auster said, his voice growing closer as he came down the castle steps. More space was created around us, but all that existed to me was him.
Auster and my simmering fury.
“I can’t say the same when yours has always been spineless.”
