“The Great Queen has returned,” he said simply, and then he placed Tabitha in my arms and took a step back.
Still staring at him with what was no doubt an expression of complete shock, he then bowed to me as well, and I had no fucking idea how I was supposed to react. It wasn’t like this used to happen to me before I fled from Faerie. Back then, they’d all mostly taken my role for granted, and I’d never had much reason to interact with the regular fae. I’d just hand out the stones and disperse energy, and they went about their business.
This was different. As they’d bowed, I saw their expressions: grief, happiness, relief, terror. The fair folk werefeeling a lot of feelingsabout my return, and it seemed that maybe for the first time they truly understood what they’d lost when I disappeared.
“We already feel the new strength,” Queen Glendriel said, as she walked toward me through the silent, bowing fae. I hadn’t noticed her until now, the other fae stealing my attention, but when I turned her way I noted how regal she looked today, her silver cloak longer and adorned in jewels, the silver and reven crown across her brow even grander.
Glendriel meant business, and I was here for this kind of queen energy.
Len was the only one who rose from the bow when his mother approached, shooting me thatproud as hellsmile that had butterflies dancing in my stomach. “We realize how much we took you for granted before,” Glendriel continued. “Now that you, and the power of this world, has returned, we remember how it was. We won’t make the same mistakes again.”
I appreciated the gesture, but I wasn’t here to be worshipped. “Rise,” I called, since they appeared to be ready to stay bowed all day. “Thank you for that greeting.”
I switched to Faerie after that, the knowledge of our language mine once more. “We have much to do to rebuild Faerie to its previous strength, but rest assured, we have already taken the right steps. The energy is pure that fills our land, and I will be distributing more power to the royal houses. As soon as we deal with those in our midst who do not want to play by the rules. Power is not to be hoarded or corrupted for personal gain. It’s to be shared for the greater good.”
During my speech, most had risen, their gazes locked on me. Not just me, but also Tabitha, who was an obvious miracle since my kind couldn’t normally have offspring.
“Together,” I continued, “Faerie will be stronger than ever.”
A cheer rang out, and I sighed as Len’s strength and energy settled in behind me. Falling back against him, I released another long breath. We stayed like that until the cheers died off, and then it was time to enter the building.
55
SAMANTHA
When we attempted to enter Parliament House, the stones that scanned us malfunctioned, until Len neutralized their alarm. “They’re not sure what to do with your power, Storm.” He shot a slow smile my way. “Faerie will never be the same, and I, for one, couldn’t be more grateful.”
“Me either,” his mother said. She was holding Tabitha, cuddling her close, and it was clear the two had bonded during the time we were in the Deep. “I’m one blessed fae this day.”
We were all counting our gifts. Me more than any.
“Why are you smiling?” Len asked, watching me closely as we walked through the building.
With a shrug, my smile grew. “I’m happy,” I said simply. “Happy in a way that’s hard to explain. It’s almost beyond words.”
His eyes brightened. “I ask for nothing more than your happiness.” He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “Well, that and a few more hours to contain you in my shower.”
Gods. I swallowed roughly, pressing a cheek to my heated skin. “I can agree to that,” I replied in as low a voice.
The look he shot me was wicked, and I had to work extra hard to not pant as we made our way into the courtroom. The last time I’d been in here, I had been in a comatose state, but today I saw it all. My stage looked the same, along with the seats spanning out around it in an ascending stadium style setup.
All of the royal houses fanned off into their sections, most filling quickly as hundreds piled through the door. The other kings and queens took their spots on the stage, one of the bigger changes since I vanished from this world.
It was fine by me. I didn’t want to be their Great Queen any longer.
Everyone had moved on from that role.
Len led me to the silver section, where we were given two seats in the front row. His mother handed Tabitha to us before she made her way onto the stage. There were eight royal houses up there, and they remained silent as they waited for the final two to arrive—the two who had taken it upon themselves to cut the Great Queen’s line, to cut off Faerie from their energy.
The two who’d near destroyed this world and possibly others if it had been left to go on.
Fredrick was led into the courtroom a few minutes later, looking disheveled. Four guards were on either side of him, even with him wearing magical bands that bound his powers.
He bore no expression, the blankness of his face unnerving, though his eyes were filled with icy disdain. The guards brought him right to the stage, where he faced the eight royals.
“King Fredrick of the Metallic Meadows, you have been charged with treason of the highest order,” one of the kings said, anger filtering into those words. I didn’t know all the leaders now, some of them different to when I’d walked in Faerie. A reminder of how long I’d been gone. “We are here to determine the punishment befitting a fae who almost destroyed the Great Queen and sent Faerie into darkness.”
All eyes turned my way and I pretended not to notice, focusing on the stage like it was the only interesting part of this room. Len leaned in close to my ear. “That old bastard, Fernando, would have voted to cut the line no matter what, but will now act as if it was his idea all along to reject Fredrick’s proposal.”
