“You understand now.”
Aspen’s eyes continue to burn into his brother as Cobalt grins back at him. “We must select the mediator,” Aspen says.
“Queen Melusine,” Cobalt proposes.
Aspen lets out a cold laugh. “I think not, brother. I agree the mediator should be unseelie, since we are both seelie, but our mother is not a neutral party.”
Cobalt’s expression falters for only a moment. “Queen Nyxia.”
The vampire in the black suit steps forward with a feigned gasp as she brings her slim white fingers to her lips. “Me? I’d be honored. I’ll need ink and paper, of course.”
Aspen’s eyes lock on one of his guards. “Go.” The guard leaves, and the council fae return to their seats.
I can’t help but shudder as I watch the vampire stroll to the middle of the balcony, stopping in front of the two thrones. Leaning toward Foxglove, I ask, “Should I be worried?”
He ponders before answering. “I think the Queen of the Lunar Court will serve well as a neutral party. She’s never had love for either of the siblings.”
“Yet she must have agreed to Cobalt taking Aspen’s throne.”
Foxglove adjusts his spectacles, grimacing. “That she did.”
The guard returns moments later with ink, quill, and two pieces of parchment. He marches between the seats of the council and hands his materials to Nyxia. The vampire then makes her way to Cobalt’s side of the balcony, where he and Amelie stand. My sister dabs at a cut above Cobalt’s brow, a worried frown tugging her lips.
“She has some nerve,” Lorelei says with a glower, coming up next to Foxglove and me. Hurt and rage mingle in her eyes as she watches my sister.
“Come,” I say, swallowing my own hurt, “let’s go to Aspen.” We make our way to his side of the balcony, and I try to ignore the stares of the council watching every step I take. The guards sneer and hiss as I draw near but don’t stop me as I approach Aspen. His expression softens when he meets my eyes. I want to reach for his hand, but the sharp looks the sea fae give me make me hesitate.
The council erupts in whispers, and I turn to see Cobalt taking one of the papers from Nyxia, then writing something with ink and quill. Once finished, she waves the parchment in the air to dry the ink and then folds it into a neat square. Then she turns on her heel and comes our way.
“The battle has been set in ink,” Nyxia whispers as she approaches, holding Cobalt’s folded sheet of parchment. She then hands Aspen a blank sheet of paper. “Write the name of your champion, if you are to use one, then sign your name.”
“Think hard, brother,” Cobalt calls from the other side of the balcony, tone mocking. “Are you strong enough to fight your own battles? Or will you need a champion?”
Aspen grumbles and turns toward the balcony rail. He spreads the parchment over the top of the rail, then extends his hand toward Nyxia for the ink and quill. I look from Aspen to Cobalt and back again. Cobalt looks so certain, so confident. There isn’t a doubt in his mind that he’s going to win. He knows Aspen would never name a champion. He knows he’ll easily win over the council with a presentation of factual debate.
Ignoring the hisses of the sea fae guards, I race to Aspen’s side before he can press the quill to the paper. “Choose me,” I say. “Choose me as your champion.”
He pauses and meets my eyes. His expression shifts from worry to resolution. “No. I won’t have you involved in this. This is between me and my brother.”
“But you know he’s going to choose debate.” My voice is a furious whisper. “The council has already accepted his word. What can you say to change their minds?”
“I have no need to change their minds,” he mutters. “If they fail to see reason after I’ve said my piece, then the council can be damned, with all of Faerwyvae with it.”
My hands ball into fists. “I can help you. You know I’m good with words. Name me your champion and we can wipe that grin off Cobalt’s face.”
He reaches a hand to my cheek, brushing his thumb along my jaw. “No, Evie. This is my mess. I’m going to clean it up on my own.”
“But you’re not alone anymore. You have me. I can do this.”
He leans forward and brushes his lips to mine. “No.”
I tense, and my lips don’t respond to his. Anger flushes my cheeks as I glare at him. He can’t just kiss me and tell me no. He can’t just make this choice as if it has only to do with him. This isn’t just his throne to lose. It’s mine now too, and we will both suffer if this goes badly.
If Cobalt wins, Aspen dies.
I won’t lose him. Not after we’ve come this far, fought this hard. Not when we were finally becoming somethingmore.
“Aspen.” The word escapes my lips, cold and powerful. Energy hums around us, as if the air between me and the king is sizzling, charged with lightning. It startles me, reminding me of the way I felt after we exchanged names. Again, I imagine a bridge, and we are the two cliffs it connects. In my mind, I cross that bridge, aware of the jagged rocks waiting hundreds of yards below. I don’t know how I know to do this, but I do. “By the power of your true name, I order you to name me your champion.”
