My heart races as another chilling thought creeps upon my awareness.
Melusine knew this would happen.
I put my hand to my heart as I sink into the back of the couch. “It’s my fault,” I whisper.
Foxglove and Lorelei exchange a glance. “Why would you think that?” Lorelei says.
“The day the letter came, after the explosion and the attack on the coral caves, she came to me while Aspen was still fighting Cobalt’s fae. She told me she feared for her life, begged me to petition Aspen on her behalf. With everything that happened after, I never gave her request a second thought. I...never said a word to Aspen.”
Foxglove’s eyes turn down at the corners. “That doesn’t make it your fault.”
“I may not have killed her like the council thinks, but her death is on my hands.”
Without a word, Lorelei refills my glass with more Midnight Blush.
I down it as quickly as I can. “Let me guess what happened next,” I say, voice hoarse. “Cobalt ruled in favor of himself on behalf of the Sea Court and became King of Sea and Autumn in a single day.”
Foxglove nods. “It created a violent divide between the council. The unseelie held their stance that making Cobalt King of Autumn was the worst kind of blasphemy against the All of All and deemed the council disbanded. The meeting ended, as you might imagine, with bloodshed.”
“Was anyone fatally wounded?”
He returns to wringing his hands. “Guards, mostly, but none of the royals. Aspen made the call for his allies to retreat, although it pained him greatly to leave his household staff behind. But with Cobalt ruling the Sea Court, Bircharbor had become too vulnerable for him to try and stay. We fled in the night and came here to Lunar.”
“Are those in the throne room Aspen’s only allies?” I ask.
“For now,” Foxglove says. “They were the royals firmly against Cobalt. However, some of the neutral seelie might be persuaded, like the Earthen King was. It will be a challenge to convince all the neutral seelie to join the rebellion, though, when it would mean fighting for the Old Ways to return, for with that comes the end of the treaty and the dissolution of the Council of Eleven Courts. And war.”
The final word chills me, but my attention snags on something else. “I’ve heard the term the Old Waysbefore. What does it even mean?”
“The Old Ways were how Faerwyvae operated before the war began. The Council of Eleven Courts was only established to mirror the humans’ efforts at the start of the war. When the treaty was forged at the end of it, the fae council was solidified in turn, and the Old Ways fell out of favor.”
“And the Old Ways state Aspen can rule as Unseelie King of Autumn even though Cobalt has claimed power?”
“Yes,” Foxglove says. “Long before there was ever a fae council, the All of All chose its rulers by blessing an alpha during a show of dominance. When humans came to the isle and fae started taking on seelie forms, there were often two rulers in each court, a seelie and an unseelie. Of course, that was when seelie and unseelie lived in balance and both agreed to follow the Old Ways. But simply declaring a return to the Old Ways isn’t enough to bring that balance back. Not with the remaining council fae determined to maintain their authority at all costs.The rebels must overthrow the council. Aspen will have to take down Cobalt.”
“It sounds like the fae are at civil war.”
His expression turns bleak. “They are. Not everyone knows it yet, but there’s no turning back now.”
Anxiety tickles my chest. “What does this mean for the treaty? Do we know for sure that Cobalt secured it? Are the rebels considered a threat to it?”
“As far as the humans are concerned,” Foxglove says, “the treaty is secure. Nyxia’s spies have confirmed that Cobalt performed all three steps to secure the pact. The spies say the humans are aware of the unrest amongst the fae royals but have been assured the threat will be dealt with.”
“So, my mother might be safe,” I say under my breath.For now,I add, the contents of Amelie’s letter hitting me like a blow to the heart. “This is a mess,” I whisper. “Not only are the fae at civil war, I have my own personal matters of life and death to deal with. If Amelie doesn’t come to the trial, my mother will be executed. I doubt my willingness to attend will count for much, as Mr. Duveau assured me my sister’s presence is vital. Even if I show up, they...they’ll kill me alongside my mother.”
Lorelei puts a soothing hand on my shoulder while Foxglove leans in close. “You have one option,” he says. “I know about the offer Nyxia gave you.”
My eyes go wide. “You think I should make a bid for the Fire throne? Nyxia will have me paired with her brother for it.” I say this last part with disdain, although that doesn’t reflect my true feelings about the matter. In all honesty, I like Franco. As a friend, at least. But do I like him enough to make him my mate? I can’t imagine the termmatebelonging to anyone but Aspen. Then again…
My chest squeezes as my argument with Aspen echoes through my head.
“Evelyn,” Foxglove says, tone gentle, “you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Nyxia is a clever fae. She will support her own cause in any way she can. In this, she is simply trying to secure an alliance between her court and yours. I have no doubt she would support the Unseelie Queen of Fire regardless of mate, and if so, those allies you saw in the throne room would be your allies too. I wouldn’t underestimate that kind of backing.”
Unseelie Queen of Fire.I shudder. “How would that help my situation?”
A spark of excitement lights his eyes. “If you were queen of your own court, you would have a say alongside the other royals. You could use your influence to temper the most violent whims of the unseelie. Your position would give you the means to protect those you love and shape the future of the Fair Isle. If you wanted, you could strive to maintain the treaty after the rebels win the war against the council fae.”
My pulse races at the last part. If what he’s saying is true, there’s a chance I could prevent a second war with the humans. Still, there’s something missing. “I don’t see how that saves my mother.”
