By the time she finished, Talthis’ expression was troubled.
He exhaled. “And you’re certain,” he said slowly, “that what she took from Concordia’s throne could be taken from ours as well.”
“Yes,” Aurelia said.
I stepped in before he could argue. “She’s not guessing,” I said. “Whatever the gods left in that throne, Heliconia stole it. And now she wants more.”
His gaze sharpened. “And you know this how?”
“Because I spoke with a Furiosity before I left this camp,” I told him quietly. “And he confirmed it.”
I could feel Aurelia’s gaze burning into me, not to mention Callan’s, but I didn’t let myself look. Instead, I held the Spring fae’s gaze while he studied me, considering it all.
“Assuming all of this is true…” Talthis rubbed his jawline thoughtfully.
“It is,” I cut in.
He ignored me. “My queen is cautious. We protect our borders. Our people. Our throne. We do not go courting trouble.”
“If you don’t go to her,” Aurelia said, “she’ll come to you.That isn’t a threat. It’s just where the path leads once she fails to retrieve Callan.”
Talthis stared at her a moment, then tilted his head. “And what exactly are you offering, besides warnings and doom, if my queen chooses to involve herself?”
I bit back a snarl at that. He was a diplomat, I reminded myself. He couldn’t help it. Everything was a trade to him. A gain and a loss.
“An alliance,” Aurelia said.
“With what army?” he asked, blunt now. “Summer is cursed and out of reach. Autumn has just lost its king but gained a usurping queen. Midnight is… whatever Midnight is these days.” His eyes flicked between us. “You are three fugitives with no army and no allies.”
Heat crawled up my spine. Not anger. Something colder. Sharper. And then the words were out before I could decide if it was wise to utter them.
“Three fugitives we may be,” I said. “But we are also three crowns.”
Talthis frowned. “I count two; am I wrong?”
Aurelia shot me a frantic look. She knew what I was about to do. Callan, on the other hand, stiffened at my side.
I met the emissary’s gaze head-on.
“I am the son of King Duron of Autumn—and Queen Cadira of Midnight,” I said. “Rightful heir to the Onyx Throne. And I pledge the full force of my armies to this fight.”
Silence fell like a stone.
Talthis stared at me. Then at Aurelia. Then at Callan.
Callan’s expression closed so fast it might’ve shattered something behind his eyes. “You’re joking,” he said flatly.
“I speak the truth,” I told him.
“When,” he asked, voice dropping, “were you planning to mention that little detail? Before or after we all spent our lifetime thinking we knew you at all?”
“I told Aurelia,” I said. Not apologetic. Just honest.
“You toldher,” he said. “But not your own brother.”
I met his anger without flinching. The old guilt was there, yes—but it had teeth now. I’d lived too long with secrets carved into my bones to pretend they hadn’t kept me alive. That I wouldn’t do it all again the same way. For the people who needed me.
“Duron cared only for the power he could gain from me,” I said quietly. “Telling you would’ve painted a target on your back long before you were ready to see it.”
