The silver around Maxon’s eyes burns brightly as he stares at me. He stares and stares and stares before finally speaking. “What else did she say to you?”
It doesn’t slip my notice that he hasn’t answered my question. “Nothing of importance. I only care if my friends are in danger.”
“The queen can open the gates, but she won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Maxon moves past me and unclips Storm’s bridle, lifting it from his head. “I just know. Lavina is all bark, no bite.”
“I don’t think we see the same thing when looking at her. Or you do, and you just won’t admit it to yourself. Otherwise, why would you barge into her chambers to rescue me yet again?”
Maxon flashes me a hard look over his shoulder, his jaw clenching. “I’m not blind to her ways. I will make sure the gates are guarded. No one will leave this realm and hurt your friends.”
“Why can’t I leave if the gates can be opened?”
Maxon’s body stiffens.
“I know, because you need to know how I managed to stumble into this realm.” I roll my eyes. “Kian said something to me today about the old druids and the prophecy.”
Maxon's hands pause on Storm’s buckles. “You have questions?”
I have plenty of questions, but no one seems to want to answer them. “Why were they killed?”
Maxon releases a deep sigh as he lifts the saddle off Storm’s back and puts it aside. He grabs two brushes, tossing one at me. I catch it and step forward to help him brush down Storm’s coat.
“The Seelie Queen, Anwyn, heard the prophecy first from a Seer. And in the beginning, she wanted this child for herself, wanted the druid princess to marry her son. The Druids refused this offer. After all, no one knew when this would come to pass. When the druid king and queen at the time had a daughter, the Seelie queen once again tried her luck, but the king and queen stood firm in their decision. Their daughter would marry whomever she wanted. This provoked Anwyn, causing her to veer off in another direction. If she couldn’t have the powerful druid on her side, she would turn all others against them, scaring the fae folk with outlandish tales about how this druid would be powerful beyond what has ever been. The seelie king and queen deemed the druid's powers too dangerous to leave unchecked and opted to eliminate them, thereby extinguishing the royal bloodline. It then became a race to see who could capture and kill the druids.”
Maxon pauses, his gaze dropping to the ground before his haunted eyes peer over at me.
“My father was against it at first, but somehow, he was persuaded to help them in the hunt. My mother tried to stop him, but someone was whispering in his ear, and he wouldn’t listen to reason. Following my father's death in battle, my mother's health declined rapidly, and she passed away soon after. At the age of only five, I was deemed too young to take the throne, and thus, my father's sister was appointed to rule in my stead until I came of age. It basically comes down to power and who holds it.”
The despondency in his tone is like a physical blow to my heart. I stop brushing Storm and turn my attention to Maxon, laying a comforting hand on his arm. “I’m sorry you lost your parents. I lost mine, too.”
Chapter nineteen
Maxon
We walk silently back to the palace, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air, suffocating and thick. Everly, lost in her own world of thoughts, appears distant. My mind spins, reeling from her remarks about my aunt and the lingering questions about the druids. Memories of the past flood my consciousness, long forgotten until now. The absence of the druids has caused the prophecy to fade into the background like a distant echo. Why does it seem like her questions had a deeper meaning, and why would Kian have disclosed a prophecy that had long been forgotten?
By the time we reach the stairs, her legs are trembling, and I offer my hand for support.
“Thanks.” She smiles up at me, her eyes sparkling like stars, and it steals my breath. “Kian sure got me working muscles today I didn’t even know existed.”
“I’m surprised you wanted to learn.”
“I won’t be defenseless anymore.”
My muscles tense at her softly spoken words, but it's the determination in her eyes that has my heart swelling. “I will help you train when I can.”
“Thank you, but I think you’d be more of a distraction.” She chuckles.
Kian is waiting outside her door as we approach, and I nod in acknowledgement. Everly's eyes lock with mine as we get closer to her door, with a mix of warmth and uncertainty.
“Thank you for taking me out today. It was beautiful.”
Stopping at her door, I reach up and tuck some blonde hair behind her ear, smirking when her breath catches.
“Anytime, Stóirín.”
