It had also been used in a more calculated way. We’d tied Exalt’s name to it, made it known that both of them were members, knowing well that there would be blowback from the Light Fae Realm and that the Maven Coven would be forced to respond on behalf of River. Basically, we’d made it clear right out of the gate that we were making moves, that we had the means to do so without the power of the crown or a coven to bring such a thing about.
Since then, Octana’s father had pushed back by demanding she return home to answer for her“indiscretions and disgrace to the kingdom.”The harsh nature of that had initially had her reeling, but I’d talked it over with her, and explained thatshe held power she hadn’t allowed herself to recognize—that her father had tried all too hard to keep hidden from her. She was the oldest sibling, the only one fit, steady, and equipped to take the throne in his stead. He needed her. He’d just been operating for far too long in the opposite way and feeding her that narrative to keep her in line, under his control.
Instead of merely refusing to return, which would have been turned back on her as her needing more control and even him likely claiming that her disobeying was a threat to the stability of the Light Fae Realm, we’d done something else.
I’d reached out to some contacts I had in prominent diplomatic roles within the Dracoryn Realm and Octana had been invited for a cultural exchange symposium there—which, yes, coincided directly with her father’s orders for her to return.
Given that Exalt’s name was now out there, he’d know the game we were playing, yet he also couldn’t refuse and force her without causing issues with inter-realm relations between the Dracoryn Realm and the Light Fae Realm.
It was deeply satisfying, honestly.
And long overdue.
I’d begun to put things in place where the outlook on Winter was concerned. My people seeing him as death incarnate and my relationship with him as unfavorable, to put it mildly. It would assist that situation, but also far beyond that. I’d been documenting instances of Winter’s “saves” and “assists” around Loxley Academy, with Vaxan’s help, as he’d witnessed many of them right at the start of the year when he’d been observing Winter closely—alright, stalking him in his specific way. I was leaking that information, let’s say, strategically. And Vaxan was spreading it even further with his contacts, many who weren’t known to be directly connected to him, so when word did spread it wouldn’t be seen as one of Winter’s boyfriends just advocating for him because of that.
“I’m loving this,” River commented, now he’d finished reviewing the entire document—twice. He was very detail-oriented and extremely thorough. Octana was so similar to him in that respect, something they had in common without a doubt, but she absorbed things faster—sort of in a frantic rush, which made sense with her anxiety-inducing childhood and the way she was always on edge waiting for the next harsh move from her father or his court.
“What’s that?” I asked, not able to see with the angle he was holding the papers, as I was sitting opposite him and Octana.
We were having our meeting inThe Archive Annex, floating sleek black bookshelves surrounding us, marble tabletops and cozy black leather chairs furnishing the space.
“The Ledger. Building a private record of confirmed coercion attempts of heirs and those holding limited power, blackmail, political favors used to force proximity, other such access plays, underhanded dealings, illicit alliances.”
“A nuclear option?” Octana questioned.
“Always have something in your back pocket. Especially with the level of power play and stakes we’re dealing with. I think we’ve each felt the weight of that all too much,” I said.
A knowing, heavy look passed between us.
“No more,” River growled.
Octana nodded and held his hand on the tabletop.
“I’m sorry, by the way, Evira,” River told me.
I arched an eyebrow. “What about?”
“In the documents, justifying the need for Exalt, for us heirs to come together, you mentioned what was done to you. You kept a name out of it, but I’m guessing it was Keuric. A fucking predator who exploited diplomatic proximity and almost pulled off an illicit dynastic violation—an attempted bloodline seizure. That’s… it’s really brutal. Beyond abusive. And I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“Thank you.”
“Never again, Evira,” Octana said, beaming at me. “Okay?”
“Once this all gets going and it’s in full swing, there’s no way in fuck it’s gonna be ever again,” River said.
“Exactly,” I agreed. “The particular complexities regarding the power we hold as heirs invites some dangerous vulnerabilities. And that’s something Exalt will work to rectify.”
“Sovereign Strategists,” Octana spoke. “That’s us.”
“Love that,” I said.
River nodded. “Power outside the throne.”
Damn fucking straight.
That was it exactly.
“All right, we’ll go over Narrative Preemption for the rest of the session. We’ll wait on the Charter until all members are here. For the Sanction Ladder, which includes three stages: private warnings, withdrawal of access, and diplomatic friction, we’ll wait until Vaxan is here. He has some assets who will prove useful alongside ours. From there we’ll work out leverage statuses, and actionable items,” I said.
