Perhaps… after she’d heard of the assassination of her family, the princess had hidden her daughter…?
“Fuck,” I breathed, chest constricting. The weight of this realization crushed me, because more and more of what I’d seen in Izzy made sense. Her features — even masked by her nymph’s morphosis — resembled enough of her mother that I should have seen it. And her grit… only a true royal would have the backbone to spurn Saldrea like Izzy had. But mostly her spirit. I’d sensed how strong in spirit she was, though Vyns’ insight had been more acute than my own. Izzy’s presence was a burning star, which had drawn so many to her. That had always been something the Anadendyra family possessed. They were true blooded royals, blazing with Titania’s heritage.
But if this was true — and I couldn’t deny it now — then I’d been serving a false crown all this time…
Bile rose, burning the back of my throat.
Blessed Skies! The things I’d done for Saldrea. She was a pathetic and disgusting creature, unworthy of the crown and I’d always known it. But I’d still devoted myself to her just as much as I had to the Anadendyra family. No, I’d beeneven moredevoted, fanatical, because long ago I’d been lax in my duties and that had led to the death of the royals I’d served prior to her. So, I’d redoubled my dedication while serving Saldrea…
But Izzy was true royalty, which meant I’d been aiding an enemy of the crown.
Self-loathing rose like a beast within me. I’d been such a fool!
But I wasn’t dead yet.
I had life left in me, life I’d dedicate to therealqueen. I’d help her, serve her, save her from… Skies Above! Saldrea was plotting vicious and potentially deadly vengeance on Izzy right now. I alone probably couldn’t stop her, but I had to try.
But first, I needed tofindIzzy and tell her I knew who she was.
Though as I rose and raced out of the archives, I began to wonder why Izzy hadn’t claimed the crown, claimed her heritage.
Unless… she didn’t know?
That realization stopped me in my tracks.
More and more clicked into place.
Izzy had been raised in the human realm,by humans. And Neyalim had said Izzy had a binding to protect her form. If her mother had bound her to a human form, then passed away… Izzy would have been trapped as a human and perhaps never known who her mother had been.
Blazes!
I had to tell her now. She needed to know. She needed to be unbound from her limiting form and discover her true power and heritage…
…before Saldrea killed her!
I raced up the steps, sending my spirit out to seek Izzy’s blazing spirit-form. What I found instead was another blazing spirit right ahead of me.
I turned a corner and nearly bowled down Vyns.
“What are you doing here?” I hissed. “If Saldrea finds you… no… that’s no longer important. Wait… Did?—”
“I need you to take me to Elysial,” Vyns said, stoic, as I pushed on, talking over him.
“—you know about Izzy? Is that why you left?”
He blinked. “Sorry? Know what?”
He didn’t know.
“Izzy’s a royal! She’s the fucking lost princess’s fucking daughter!” I had to keep my voice down but found it hard with my emotions running so hot and high.
Vyns gaped, eyes wide, then a rather heady flush colored his face.
“Skies Above! Did you fuck her?”
A silly grin was all the response I needed.
I slapped him… lightly. “Get in the game.”
