Ivan nods slowly. “I’m sorry you had to find all of this out this way, Mae.”
“I’d rather know all of this than continue to live in the dark,” I say truthfully. “I’d still like to go see her today.”
“Of course. We can arrange that. I’ll have Luca and Elle escort you.”
“Thank you,” I say. I hesitate before asking, “Why do you think she kept all of this from me? I mean, I have no idea what kind of powers I have. That feels…cruel. I feel like I’m in a race, and my starting line is a mile away from everyone else’s.”
He shakes his head and rubs his jaw. “I don’t know. I can’t decide if she didn’t know how to teach you or if she wanted to keep you from this world. Willa is High Fae. Not part Fae, not Fae, but High Fae. Her power is a little different from yours, but I can’t imagine it would have been difficult to find someone to help you with your magic. Your father even offered to help, but she didn’t accept any help from him, obviously.”
He shakes his head again. “I’m sorry, Mae. I won’t deny that you’re behind other people your age regarding your magical abilities, but we’re going to work on it. We’ll need to train you. You must be able to defend yourself, but I also feel strongly that it’s a fundamental right to be able to know how to yield your magic. I’ve already arranged for Holly and Elle to train you on using your magic starting tomorrow.”
I blink in surprise. This is all happening so fast. I nod in consent anyway. What choice do I have?
Ivan clears his throat and straightens in his chair. “Also, you should know the funeral is in a few days. I don’t want to say you have to attend, but it’s strongly encouraged that you do.”
“Of course. I’ll be there.”
He stands up and claps his hands together. “That will be all for today. We’ve covered quite enough. You’re free to roam the grounds unescorted, but please take someone with you if you decide to leave the grounds. As a reminder, we don’t know if you’re safe while off the grounds. Should you need an escort anywhere, please tell any of the staff. We’re at your disposal. Elle and Luca will be at the front doors in just a moment to escort you to your home and to your aunt’s. The announcement will be sent out this evening. That should give you time to speak to your aunt in person before it’s official.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. I hadn’t even thought about that. “Thank you, Ivan. That was very thoughtful.”
He picks up his coffee mug from earlier and holds it in the air, saying, “To the queen.”
I pick mine up and tap it against his. “To being the queen,” I echo, with a hesitant smile on my face.
When I leave Ivan’s office, I head to the front doors. As I round the corner, Elle and Luca’s antlers come into view, Luca’s towering over Elle’s. They see me coming and instantly bow. As I get closer, I say, “Please, that’s not necessary.”
They straighten. “Certainly, Your Highness,” Luca says, briefly eyeing me with an expression that looks an awful lot like disdain.
“The title isn’t necessary either,” I say. I stand tall and try to inject authority into my voice. I feel like a fraud.
He gives me a curt nod. “We’re going to your house, then your aunt’s, is that correct?”
“Actually, I think I’d like to stop by Bound first,” I say.
“Certainly, Y—Mae.”
I smile at the correction. “Thank you. Lead the way then.”
Luca opens the front doors and begins to descend the stairs.
We arrive at the same clearing that Ivan and I came from earlier. Luca has a portal created almost instantly. He motions toward it. “Elle, you first, then Mae. I’ll follow behind.”
Elle nods and steps forward, disappearing into the portal. I follow closely behind her, feeling the same sudden drop in temperature and the same rush of wind. The feeling disappears almost instantly, and I step forward, right onto the brick-paved streets that I know like the back of my hand.
Thankfully, the sign on the front door still saysOpen.Through the front bay window, customers can be seen filtering through the store, books tucked into their sides as they explore the stacks. The scent of paper and leather hits me as I open the door, the familiarity of the smell instantly calming me. I feel like I can take a deep breath for the first time all day.
“Welcome to Bound!” Cally calls from somewhere in the bookshelves. “I’ll be just a mi—shit.” The sound of books clattering to the floor comes from the back, and I navigate toward the sound.
Cally is bent over a pile of scattered books, hastily picking each one up and gathering them in her arms. She glances up at the sound of my footsteps, eyes widening when she sees me. She sets the books back down, gently this time, and pops up to her feet.
“Mae!” she exclaims, pulling me in for a hug. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. How did it go at the High Court?” She pulls back, warm brown eyes carefully assessing me.
“Well—” I say, then look around, peeking between empty spaces in the bookshelves. I don’t see anyone, but I grab her arm and pull her from the bookshelves and back to the office, shutting the door firmly behind us.
“Well?” she repeats. “Are you going to tell me or not?”
My palms start to sweat. Telling Cally makes this real. Things will never be the same after I tell her. Every moment from now on will be separated into before and after. Everything I do will be as High Princess or High Queen. There’s nomewithout a title before my name anymore. This life I’ve created for myself is now gone. Everything I’ve worked so hard for is now seemingly useless.
