“They didn’t tell you anything?” I balk.
As she shakes her head into her hands with a whimper, I rub the ache in my chest. Fae don’t just die. We are essentially a force of nature. It’s why Gaia, our goddess, is referred to as Mother Nature by the humans.
“The Vaylors should have sent someone other than the Guardians to tell you,” I seeth.
We sit in uncomfortable silence until she looks up at me, her wet eyes now thinning. “How didyouknow?”
I wish it surprised me. She is actually questioning if I am a part of whatever happened to my twin, when she is the one who found me passed out on the floor.
I huff out a disbelieving laugh. “The bond, Mother,” I offer dryly. Her concern for my well-being seems to have passed, so I don’t feel the need to explain about the pain.
She stares at me with suspicion swirling in her eyes for a few more breaths. “The storm destroyed the festival grounds…” Her voice slows, and she seems to gather herself. “But the gala will still be held tomorrow night. I’ll have them send your dress.”
“You can’t be serious.” My jaw drops. “The Vaylors still expect us to attend the gala?” They want us to get dressed up right after my sister’s death and celebrate just like any other year?
My mother stands. The closed-off woman I know reappears before my eyes. Smoothing her dress, she rises to full height and lifts her chin. “You know what day it is and why it’s important for us to be there.”
The tremble in her voice is barely noticeable anymore.
Chapter
Two
NISSA
We approach the large gothic doors to the ballroom and wait for our ostentatious introduction. This is a formality that I’m accustomed to but have always hated. At least in the past I was able to enter behind Nova and slip off to the side. Today there is no Nova to hide behind, just my mother and me.
I take in the elaborate carvings at the heart of the wooden doors. An engraved intertwined sun and moon representing Gaia. Rays of her power stretch out to the four corners, pointing to each of the elements—fire, wind, earth, water. I snort at the irony as a pair of human servants split the image in two, using all their effort to pry the huge doors apart, the hinges groaning.
The uniformed male Fae stationed inside dips his head in respect at my mother and me. “Madam Navarro. Princess Nissa.”
Princess?
I jerk my head towards him. My lungs ache as my dress fights against the air I’ve inhaled. Ihavetohavemisheard.I’ve only left my flat once since my mother’s visit. I don’t know how manyin court have been informed of Nova’s death. He must have mistook me for her.
But he didn’t sayhername. He saidmine…
My heart is pounding in my ears, and I’m not sure I can take another breath. He ushers us forward, looking confused as he notes my shocked face. Like he has no idea that his introduction just stopped my whole world
“Daughter of Gaia, Princess… Nissa Navarro,” he announces to the ballroom. This time he says my name like a proclamation, giving me no way to deny that I heard him correctly.
How in the worlds hadn’t I realized that my twin’s death would mean they would expect me to replace her?
Of course. It makes sense. These are the same Fae who’ve only ever seen me as some backup that they could hide away until they needed me.And now they need me.
But somehow, I still didn’t see it coming.
The Vaylors were the ones who sent me away. I was never trained for this role, and now they expect me to step in as the Daughter or Gaia, the Princess of Castara. This has to be some kind of sick joke. It’s only weeks until our majority birthdate and the coronation. They can’t seriously expect me to replace Nova and become thequeen.
My heart pounds, my magic stirring at my finger tips, and I instinctively rub the empty ache that’s still pulsing in the center of my chest.
It isn’t that I don’t think I could do the job of queen. It isn’t hard to smile and be a pretty party planning accessory at the king’s side. Nova was eager to become whomever they needed her to be. Blowing in whatever direction they needed her to on a given day.
But I’ve never wanted this life.
It may have taken me a while to realize it, but sending me away from the Elite City may be the only positive thing theVaylors and my mother ever did for me. I’m thankful I grew up doing something useful, away from the petty pursuits that spread like a blight among the same Fae in the ballroom in front of me. Gossip and complaining grow like weeds among the Elite, even as their powers are growing weaker and weaker every day. But with all their chatter, no one is asking why the Goddess is attacking our power source. No one is talking about anything of significance. No one is asking why thetrueDaughter of Gaia is dead.
I don’t realize my feet are still rooted in the doorway until my mother’s hand pushes against my lower back. I stumble into the ballroom barely catching my footing on the polished floor before I embarrass myself. The entire Elite are watching, all eyes on me.
