“Do exactly what Ryc did,” Fenryn answers. “Hold him accountable. HeassaultedVes.”
“We don’t know how his innate works. It’s not that simple,” Rowen counters, lifting his glass to his lips. “We do not police other innates in the same way. We cannot single him out.”
As Rowen downs the amber liquid, Fenryn retorts, “So we’re to keep making excuses for him? That’s our answer?”
Lowering his glass, Rowen stares into the empty bottom of it. And for a moment, I pity him. Centuries of leading a council filled with powerful fae, each with their own loud and varied opinions and thoughts.
I couldn’t do it.
Or rather, I couldn’t do it as patiently as Rowen.
“We could wait for another blood tithe and leave him without either eye,” Darin laughs.
I blink, stunned as I swivel my stare to Ryc over my shoulder.
“Youtookhis eye?” I ask, bewildered.
The corner of his lips twitch, hinting at a smile.
“You need to protect your thoughts, your mind. Else I’ll be inclined to tear out a fine pair of eyes.”The threat he made months ago rings all too clearly in my head.
Fate has paired me with a nyraphim unafraid of stepping into shadow.
“Take Eloric’s tongue, too, while you’re at it,” Fenryn adds with a dry, huffed laugh. “Then the council will finally feel united.”
“Jokes aside, there are other issues likely to rise as a result of today,” Rowen says, and smiles throughout the room fade.
What other issues?
Ryc steps around the bar, tucking himself behind me. His hand finds my hip, drawing me against his chest, an unspoken reminder I’m not alone.
“Vestaris’ actions were witnessed by the council,” Rowen says, glancing about the room. “Despite significant distress, she did not lose control of her innate. It will reaffirm Vaelyn’s words should he share her innateless state with other kings.”
Fenryn scoffs. “We’ll say she has impeccable restraint,” he argues.
“She assaulted you and her own Captain of the Royal Guard,” Rowen counters. “I wouldn’t call that restraint.”
“Innateless?” Darin repeats, his face pinching with confusion ashe pitches past Rowen to look at me.
The speckling of freckles across the bridge of his nose reminds me of Cora. But now is not the time for remembrance. Tucking thoughts of her away, I force myself to listen to Darin speak.
“I wondered what in the nine hells happened—everything fell to chaos so quickly. You’re not able to raise a mental ward?” Darin’s brows furrow.
I suck in a deep breath. “It’s complicated.”
My stomach turns itself into a tight knot.
Yet another Sovereign King now knows I wield no magic. At this rate, the entire council will knowbeforeVaelyn visits them.
“Furthermore, I imagine the coming weeks will be spent fielding questions regarding your ascension.” Rowen glances at Ryc and me. “My advice? Ascend sooner rather than later. You’ll reduce the chance of Vaelyn tempting kings, and Vestaris will be granted access to her second innate.”
I would get a second innate?
“Ascension would solve more than one problem,” Fenryn says with a shrug.
“We’ve already set a date,” Ryc says and Rowen’s brows lift. “Ashdown.”
“Interesting choice,” Rowen says with a soft laugh. “Another message, I see.”
