He shakes his head. “I’m sure she’d have gone straight to you if she were back.”
He’s probably right. As soon as I saw her last night, still obediently guarding my bedroom like I’d commanded, I ordered her to go immediately to Lunar with a message for Nyxia. I bite my lip, eyes going unfocused.
Aspen’s expression turns serious. “Why? What’s wrong?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I didn’t just send her to relay what transpired last night. I also had her request that Nyxia call an emergency meeting of the Alpha Alliance at once.”
“That’s probably a good idea. Now that we’ve confirmed the weapons room exists, we must find a way to protect it.”
“That’s not all.” My stomach sinks. He hadn’t been in the best state last night for me to tell him everything that occurred. All he knows is that the human was able to enter the room and that I killed him before he could use the Chariot to escape. He has no idea about the strange orb, the final threat he made about the humans coming to destroy the fae.
He has no idea this is so much bigger than we’d thought.
So I tell him.
17
It’s terrifying how quickly the charred husk of a human being burns entirely to ash beneath my powerful flames. Almost as fast as the assailant’s life was snuffed out, all that remains of him is contained in a bucket. My stomach churns as I haul it from the weapons room. Even once I reach the stair past the dungeon, the stench of burning flesh lingers in my nose, tickling the back of my throat. In addition, every step I take is haunted by what I left behind—the mysterious golden orb the human had tried to steal.
I’m so wrapped in my thoughts when I reach the atrium, that I almost miss the figures lingering at the far side. I pause, catching Fehr and Foxglove deep in conversation. Foxglove stares up at the much taller djinn, his smile brighter than I think I’ve ever seen it. They’re too far for me to hear what’s being said between them, but Foxglove laughs in response, covering his mouth with a demure hand. I’ve rarely gotten to see Foxglove so sweet and uncomposed, but more surprising is Fehr. Not only is the djinn rapt in their talk, but his eyes are crinkled at the corners, all traces of the resentful servant gone.
I feel like my heart might melt out of my chest, and I’m unable to tear my eyes away from the contented couple. However, I’m very much aware that this moment isn’t meant for my eyes and my presence could shatter—
Fehr’s eyes flash my way, and just like that, their sweet exchange is over. As they both straighten and offer stiff bows, I feel not like a queen but an interloper. I hide the heat that warms my cheeks as Foxglove excuses himself and scurries away.
Fehr approaches me, expression returning to its hard, familiar state. “Your Majesty, might I take your burden and dispose of it?”
It’s then I remember the bucket of ash I carry. I extend it toward him, trying not to wrinkle my nose as the ash shifts with the motion. “You may.”
He takes it from me and moves to step away, but I stop him with a word. “Fehr.” Seeing him interacting with Foxglove has softened my heart, and I’m eager to be on better terms with my new steward. Or, at the very least, to understand him better.
He narrows his eyes. “How may I serve?”
“Why did my grandfather, King Caleos, bind you to the palace? You said it was a punishment, but what was the crime?”
The djinn purses his lips, jaw shifting side to side before he answers. “It was long ago. Long before humans came to the isle. Long before we knew humans existed. Our world was bigger then. Vast. My kind—the djinn—sought to control it.”
His words send my mind reeling to comprehend what he could mean. There are so many new questions, so much fuel for intellectual debate, but I still my eagerness and force myself to focus on the singular question I began with. “The djinn tried to take over the entire realm of the fae?”
He nods. “We were the most powerful of the fae, and we were tired of sharing rule with lesser kings and queens. We fought to overthrow those who tried to wrestle power from us. We refused to acknowledge those who’d obtained the blessing to rule over us by the All of All, so in essence, we fought the gods as well.”
“And…you lost?”
He lets out a bitter laugh. “Indeed, we did. Very few of my kind remain, and those who survived were punished with eternal slavery.”
“Even after all this time?”
“To the fae, time isn’t forgiving, regardless of how long.” He squints at me. “But you know so little of time, human that you are.”
I know he means it as an insult, but I lift my chin higher. “I am part human, but I am also part fae, not to mention your queen.”
He glowers, eyes locked on mine for an uncomfortable, endless moment. Then he averts his gaze with a resigned sigh. “Yes, the palace recognized your power. You are my queen and I am here to serve you.”
“You aren’t happy about that.” It isn’t a question.
“My happiness is of no concern. I do my duty without fail.” He winces. “And yet, I failed to protect the weapons room last night. You may punish me.”
I recall him saying the same thing last night. “Thanks for the reminder.” My words come out with a sarcastic bite. “How might I best punish you?”
