Amanti turned her head then, meeting my eyes. Her gaze was sharp enough to cut. “No. It makes you herheir.”
“What if I don’t want to be the heir?” I asked, exhaustion lining every word. “You’re her sister. You have just as much a claim as I do.”
“You know I gave up all claim when I became one of the Aine,” she said.
“The Fates are gone, and so is your magic. You’re not Aine anymore,” I said and then immediately regretted it.
Amanti flinched. Her mouth flattened. “The Midnight crown is yours, Rydian. Whether you wear it or not. That’s how it’s always been meant.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, guilt pressing my shoulders down. “I didn’t mean it.”
“I am Aine,” she said quietly. “Until the Fates take my breath from my body.”
“You are. And I am the heir,” I said, shoving the words out.
“As much as it pains you,” she added quietly.
My fingers tightened against the armrest. I stared into the flames until they blurred, taking on the shape of the former Midnight queen. My aunt Winyra, third sister to Amanti and my mother. She had been a formidable and wise ruler who cared deeply about all fae. Until she was killed nine years ago and the weight of the crown had fallen to my mother. For now.
“And when Aurelia finds out what I am?” I asked.
“That depends,” she said, “on whether you tell her, or she learns it when her army of Midnight fae answers not just to her, their Chosen, but also to you, their future king.”
The hearth crackled, resin burning sweet and sharp. Somewhere outside, a nightbird cried once and fell silent.
The door opened, and cold rushed in, curling through the room like smoke. Slade stepped over the threshold, his cloak heavy with frost. His gloves were still damp from snow; his dark hair stuck to his brow.
“Any news?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Likely be a day or two before they make contact.”
“Where’s Daegel?” I asked, “And the others?”
It was too damn quiet in here, considering Amanti’s words. Usually, the others would have popped up by now to stick their noses in my business. Especially when it came to my crown.
“They went to do a perimeter check.” He removed his cloak and slung it over his arm. Snow fell, dotting the floor in wet drops.
“You mean they’re waiting until the worst has passed,” I said. “In case Aurelia and I killed each other or burnt the house down trying.”
“We didn’t think you’d kill her,” he said mildly.
I huffed a laugh at that.
But his humor faded quickly. “Are we going then?”
“Where?”
He shrugged. “Wherever she’s decided.”
“We’re not going anywhere, and neither is she. Not until we come up with a plan.”
He shook his head and turned for the hall where he kept a bedroom here.
“What?” I demanded. “You have something to say; spit it out.”
“She’ll go,” Slade said. “You know she will. You can’t keep her from it.”
“I can delay her,” I said. “Long enough to come up with a plan to keep her from doing something stupid.”
