“You know that I can hear you,” Nox growls.
A protest battles behind my teeth, but I shove it down, coming to the same conclusion as Cass. Nox is fragile right now, in more ways than one. The last thing he needs is almost everyone he cares about leaving him to the whims of the council and the weight of his own guilt. “Fine, I’ll stay.”
“Excellent.” He clasps my shoulder. “Who else?”
“Obviously, I’m going, as the entire idea wasmine,” Elora says, standing up and brushing her skirt off. “It’ll be good to get my mind off of everything I can’t control here.”
Cass nods and then looks at Daje. “What about you?”
Daje’s eyes travel over his living room as he draws in a deep breath, letting his cheeks puff out before releasing it. “I’ll go on your suicide mission—”
“Dragon Quest! Glass Adventure!” Cass interrupts, pumping his fist in the air.
Daje rolls his eyes but adds quietly, “A change of scenery might be nice.”
So we begin to plan.
Chapter Sixty-Four: Bahira
Ialwayspicturedtheday my brother became king as one where the skies were blue and the sun was bright. There would be colorful flags decorating Galdr’s city center, birds chirping loudly as if even the animals could not contain their excitement, and everyone from around the kingdom would gather in celebration as they watched a man that I knew loved his kingdom receive his crown.
Reality, as luck would have it, is much more bleak.
There are no brightly colored banners of celebration, no birds rejoicing or sunlight warming us. The skies are gray, swollen rain clouds threatening to unleash upon us and the crowd of thousands that have gathered. While my wool coat keeps most of me warm from the bitter chill heavy in the air, my cheeks have gone numb. But I keep the soft smile plastered to my face as my father finishes up his last remarks on what it has meant to him being king. Over four decades of dedication have come to an abrupt end, all because of a council who believes that our father put his love for his family over his dedication to the realm. Maybe, to a degree, that is true. There are non-negotiables to Sadryn Daxel when it comes to my mother, Nox, and me. But if paranoia were manifested into something tangible, it would be the members of the council who act as if there is a threat that my father has refused to prepare for. While they’re getting what they want—a somewhat compliant Nox, at least from the outside, stepping into his role as king—it doesn’t come without a cost. One that only our family seems poised to pay.
Nox and my mother flank my father where he stands behind a podium that is centered on the stone stage of the outdoor amphitheater, the field where the Summer Solstice celebration was held not that many months ago. I stand to Nox’s left, keeping my gaze anywhere but on the first row where the members of the council sit, leering. I had managed to avoid them in the days since Daje, Cass, and Elora left for the Fae Kingdom, tasked with finding something that might not even exist. If Councilman Kallin is at all worried about his son’s life, he has yet to express it in any capacity.
Nox, however, has been more tightly strung in their absence than I have ever known him to be. His worry for Rhea is etched into every line on his face, his eyes taking on a dark glint and hands inadvertently forming fists at his sides—as if some sinisteridea has formed, and it’s taking everything in his power not to act on it. Every morning since our interaction in the hall, I wake up half expecting to find he’s once more snuck away to try and get to her and then feel an odd pang of concern when I find him attending the council meetings or having breakfast with our parents in the queen’s dining hall. He is in no condition to do anything until his magic is back, but the fear that’s gnarled its way around my stomach feels like a warning. Nox is biding his time, but only he knows the real reason why. And as much as I love and trust my brother, he has already admitted that Rhea is his top priority, no matter where the chaos of choosing her might leave the dust to settle.
Clapping and cheering draws my attention back to the center of the stage as my father steps to the side and Nox takes his place. He clears his throat, looking at the crowd of people that return his stare with a certain kind of awe that leaves a chill on my skin unrelated to the weather. Those close to Nox say they canfeelthe difference in Nox’s signature, how his magic has changed in the wake of Rhea’s disappearance. Can the people ahead of us feel that as well? Scanning their faces, I wouldn’t think so. Then again, there are traitors among us. My gaze lifts to the guards that line the crowd as Nox begins speaking.
“Thank you all for the lovely welcome,” he says, lifting a hand to silence them. I don’t miss the crease forming between his brows at the movement. He grips the sides of the podium he stands behind, knuckles drowned white beneath his skin as he looks out over the crowd, his expression unreadable. “Times of transition can be monumental. None more so than a shift of power from one leader to another. I have spent my life in preparation for this moment, and yet it doesn’t quite feel like I’m ready for it. The truth is, I’m not sure thereareenoughpreparations one can make when stepping into such a significant role. What I can tell you is that I love my home, and I will alwaysdo what is necessary to keep her safe.” The crowd shouts their approval, their love for my brother obvious. But Nox looks out to them with an emptiness that sinks my stomach.
He finishes his remarks, the words clearly practiced and without flare, and then Councilmen Kallin and Borris join him, Hadrik following behind and holding the ceremonial crown that will be placed upon Nox’s head to signify his ascension to the throne. It sits on a red satin pillow, the gold gleaming despite the clouds overhead. At the center is the sigil of the Void queen, a crescent moon of glittering black gems and a flaring sun of brilliant white diamonds. Smaller diamonds and onyx gems alternate around the crown, and the sight of it being placed on my brother’s head fills me simultaneously with pride and dread.
The crowd cheers as Nox turns to face them, Borris clipping a deep navy velvet cape lined with white fur and embroidered with gold thread on the matching tunic Nox wears. Kallin bows to Nox, Hadrik and Borris following suit as do my parents and I. The mages in front of us pound their chest three times before raising a fist in the air, shouting in unison “Long live the king!”
“It is such a momentous day,” Kallin says from the podium. “For a new king has been named, one of the most powerful our realm has seen since The War Of Five Kingdoms!” Applause rings out, and I watch as a few of the guards that wait at the edges of the stage subtly shift their positions a few steps closer. I turn my gaze to the opposite side, noting those guards are closer as well. “There is more good news to be shared!”
Confusion furrows my brows as I look at my parents, both of whom bear the same expression of uncertainty. Nox stands completely still, his face hidden behind a cold mask of apathy.
“As you know, who the king picks as his queen is a matter that cannot be taken lightly. The role deserves to go to someone who has shown that she will supportyourking,herking, inensuring that he upholds the vows he takes when that crown is placed upon his head.”
Movement draws my attention to the side of the stage, to a woman with dark blonde hair and flowing pink gown. The rise of my anger is immediate, my fingers curling in towards my palms.
“Though her name might come as a shock, given thepreviousbetrothal announcement, her face is one you will recognize. She is a devoted daughter to the realm, a woman whose entire life has been in service not only to the crown but also to you, her people. Sometimes, it takes making a mistake in order to see that the right choice has been in front of us all along. Therefore, it is my absolute honor to announce the newly betrothed couple, King Nox Daxel and Lady Haylee Valen!”
I clench my jaw to keep my mouth from falling open, a dull ringing taking residence in my ears as I watch Haylee cross the stage in a floor-length gown, the fabric clinging to her curves and flowing elegantly in the wind as she passes me. Her eyes connect with mine, and I wish could say it is fear or uncertainty or, fuck, evensorrowthat I find in them. Instead, her expression mirrors those of the council. Contentment. Peace.Entitlement. Gods a-fucking-bove, sheknewthis was going to happen. Those flooding the amphitheater gowild, their applause deafening as Haylee stands next to my brother. She attempts to wrap her hand around his forearm, but even in his apathetic stupor, he manages to adjust the cape so that it covers his arm and she has nothing to grasp.
I expect rage. My body tenses for it, preparing to leap in front of my brother should anyone dare to attempt restraining him. But for all the gusto with which he defended his love for Rhea mere days ago, it’s gone now. My eyes leap from him to our parents, both of whom watch the situation unfolding with barely reserved shock, before they finally land on Kallin, and it takes everyounceof control I possess not to leap across the stage andsend my fist directly into his jaw. He smirks, as if he can see the murderous thoughts I’m holding back.
We walk off the stage in a procession, the crowd’s cheering discordant in my ear as I watch guards surround Nox and Haylee. I wait off to the side for my parents before I continue walking to the line of carriages that are waiting.
“What was that?” I whisper, keeping my gaze forward and my shoulders back. The council walks behind us, Hadrik somewhere in the mix. I need to speak with him about accessing the archives again, sure that the rest of the journals explaining the connection between blood and magic are there. Hopefully some regarding the creation of the Mirror as well. But with the chaos of Nox’s ascension to king and his own descent into someone I don’t recognize, focus on my research is scant.
“A show of strength,” my father answers just as quietly, my mother dipping her chin in agreement. “By announcing it as he did in front of the kingdom, it’s setting a different kind of precedent.”
“But you said Nox and Rhea announced their engagement at the Autumnal Ball,” I counter, watching as Haylee leans over to say something to Nox ahead of us. “The only precedent this sets is that Nox can apparently propose to two women.”
