She sighs. “Where is the girl?”
Silas stands and steps toward her. “Warrick made sure that her body was given to her family.”
“Gods damnit, Silas,” she swears under her breath. “Do you know how this looks?”
“I know exactly how this looks. I want Andorwood to know.”
Aerona snaps her head toward him.
“Malachi got away with this countless times before, but never with a true innocent. I hope this spreads like a disease throughout the town. I hope they hate him more than ever before, because I need them to.”
She looks at him through hard eyes. “Why?”
“Because, I don’t think you realize that I am now the King of Andorwood. I have a kingdom to protect, I have people to protect, and I need every single fucking rebel on my side to fight what’s coming—to fight for our future, the entire realm, and for what’s right. The time of evil is over, and I’ll do whatever it takes to end it.”
Her eyes widen as she processes the volume of Malachi’s departure. Silas is king and will start acting as such. He only needs to tell her to put it into motion.
“Oh, Silas,” her hands fall to her sides.
“I am prepared.”
I glance at Silas, and see nothing but determination settling behind his green eyes.
Aerona takes a long breath. “Tomorrow, you will meet with the kingdom. You will be introduced as the king. Whether they decide to fight with you is up to them. They are not easily controlled, royalty or not, Silas. You know this.”
Silas nods.
“Prepare for everything.” She walks back over to the sitting area and sits down again. “Including disappointment.”
“I can absolutely handle them.” Silas follows her with his stare. “Briar and I will stand together tomorrow and convince them to join us in the fight. I am not concerned.”
Aerona’s eyes shift to mine. “You— I can’t help but think this chain of events has absolutely everything to do with your arrival.”
Silas steps closer to where I sit. “Careful, mother.”
I lean forward. “I do believe that some of these events were because of me, Aerona. I will not sit here and pretend that I am not to blame for some of this.”
Silas snaps his head to me. “Briar!”
“She is right, Silas.” I stand next to him. “Many things have brought me here, have led us all here, so I don’t think it benefits anyone to ignore the obvious. I came to Andorwood desperate for help. The events that have unfolded are horrific, and I’m here to stop a war from happening, if possible. Carobon has fully possessed the Prince of Eddris, Rohhit Harte. Every day that passes, Rohhit becomes more lost. Anything we can have against them is going to help us.”
Aerona watches me as I begin to pace. I can’t help but look at Fen, who looks as if she’s in pain hearing the name and state of her vessel.
“Calia Thornfield and Nolan Harte brought Carobon forward after the final trial was complete with the resurrection stone. She and my father had these plans in motion for many years, although she made a fool of him in the end. Nolan is their child, my half-brother.”
Her brows shoot up, and I continue.
“They plan to rid the realms of all Shadow Wielders if we don’t stop them. I know you are aware of the tales about whatthe world was like when the Great Wiitches freely walked the realms, and I know you don’t want that to happen.”
She toys with the necklace around her throat.
I lean forward. “I believe we can stop them, but I’m here to ask you about what you know regarding the Forgotten Archives.”
She flinches at the name, and for the first time, I see panic flood her. She doesn’t want to talk about the Archives, her experiences there, or what she was doing.
“I need you all to leave.” Aerona stands, nearly tipping over the furniture.
Silas laughs. “We are not leaving, mother. You need to tell us what you know, because believe it or not, we have the Rigil to enter tonight during the crimson moon, and we are going to do it with or without your help.”
