The five rulers and I stood in a large circle around the tall pile of bones, methodically picking up a few bones at a time and moving them to the outer edge of the cave. No one spoke. Our eyes were transfixed on our silent, disturbing duty to the realm, picking through the remains of the dead.
King Athon was not all right. Not at all.
My Fae-spark did not need to tell me that, either.
His rugged features pinched with grief, wretchedness in every move he made. The King of Shifters’ pride was long gone as he dealt with the destruction that previous rulers had failed to stop—all the dead souls that had never returned home, their loved ones never knowing what had happened to them.
I pulled more from the pile, the stench of decay overriding all other smells. I walked those bones over to the wall of the cave, set them down and then marched back for more bones.
“Do we even deserve this realm?” King Athon waved a hand at the bones so far above him, speaking for the first time since we entered the den. “If we let this happen… do we even deserve it?”
I stood quietly with a bone in each hand.
I did not know the answer to his question right now.
King Elon straightened. His hissing sigh was soft. “King Athon, I wish to give you advice. It is something I am sure you already know, but occasionally, we need to hear it again.”
The King of Shifters tilted his head back, gazing to the top of the pile. “Say what you wish.”
King Elon dipped his head respectfully, his shamrock green braids falling over his shoulders. “Your ancestors did not let this happen. Wicked beings will do wicked things—and no creature is exempt from that fact. As rulers, we fight for our people, but we do not always win. You cannot blame a previous ruler for failing in this act by the Fae. You must look at what they did to rise above afterward. We do not give up fighting for those who remain. And if you want proof of that, just look in the mirror. You honored your ancestors and your people tonight, King Athon.”
The King of Shifters closed his pure black eyes.
I stared down at the two bones in my hands. I cleared my throat, drawing the attention away from the shifter king—gifting him the privacy to collect himself. I stated softly, “We should finish this.”
I turned and set the bones down gently.
Then I returned for more.
The other rulers resumed their work, as well.
The King of Shifters nodded his head slowly, and then he opened his solid black eyes, continuing to work—at peace with his choice.
I bent at the knees and set aside a ribcage.
I paused at what I saw before me.
A lavish, heavily decorated crown bit into the skull of the original shifter. I quickly started moving bones aside that lay atop him until I revealed his entire skeleton. The Axe of Legend was gripped tightly inside the bones of his right hand, held fiercely even in death.
I stated solemnly, “I have found him.”
The rulers walked on heavy feet to stand behind me.
I gulped and leaned forward. With the utmost care, I used two hands to slide the Axe of Legend from his grasp. It was a mighty weapon. I held it tightly as I stood and turned to the rulers, my muscles straining to lift it.
I turned my emerald eyes to the shifter king.
His pure black gaze lifted from the original shifter to stare back at me with intense eyes. “Thank you for finding him, Princess Trixie. My people thank you, as well. His bones will now rest where they belong, at the royal arena.”
I nodded my head. “You are most welcome, Your Royal Highness.”
King Athon and I stared at one another a moment longer, and then we turned our attention to the silent rulers next to us. Both of us stared in bewilderment, the four rulers all with their eyes closed and mouth agape as if they were sleeping, standing up.
“Hello, King Athon and Princess Trixie.” A feminine voice said calmly from my right. “I wish to speak with both of you again.”
I snapped my attention to the speaker.
Ruiuen.
