“You want to…destroy the throne?” Holly asks from behind me, her first words to Etta since she miraculously returned from the grave.
Etta’s nod is crisp, and her smile is soft, a stark juxtaposition to the idea of destroying an entire kingdom. My kingdom.
My eyebrows inch upward. “Um…Okay, let’s say you do…Then what?”
Her smile widens, now revealing pearly-white teeth. It’s genuine, her eyes now crinkled and twinkling. “We remake it.”
Asmo crosses his arms and says, “Into…what exactly?” His tone is skeptical.
“Into a better kingdom that recognizes the Lower Houses and improves conditions for the humans,” she says simply. “Oh, and one that re-establishes the Fae Kingdom.”
I blink. “Sorry, the Fae? They’re gone.”
Their kingdom has been gone for twenty-five years, and the Fae people haven’t been seen for nearly a decade. My mind races as I recallHolly’s lessons on them, but there wasn’t much. The kingdom fell and they disappeared. That was the short version, but Holly only had a limited amount of time to teach me everything I needed to know.
“The Fae were never gone,” a rich, velvety voice says behind me. I turn, but Asmo’s back blocks my view. I crane my neck to look over his shoulder.
The female walking toward us is the embodiment of ethereal. She reeks of power, her build muscular and her stride graceful. Her skin is a rich dark brown, complemented by white, swirling tattoos covering both arms. Her hair and eyebrows are white as snow, but her eyes are blue as a lagoon. They meet mine over Asmo’s shoulder. “We’ve just been in hiding.” She stops and bows, deep and low, before rising once more. “A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Amaris.”
I step around Asmo, about to repeat the sentiment, when he asks, “And who are you?”
“You are protective of her. Good. It is in your blood,” Amaris says.
“Who are you?” Asmo repeats, but it’s less of a question now and more of a growl.
“I am the delegate to the Fae Kingdom. And that,” she says, gaze cutting back to me, “is my queen.”
She draws a dagger from a hidden compartment of her leather vest. Asmo throws up a barrier, but Amaris bends down on one knee and draws the dagger across her palm, blood sprouting in its wake.
“With my blood, I vow to protect and serve you, granddaughter of Wrena and daughter of Orla.” She wipes the dagger on the leather vest and sheaths it. “I mean you no harm.”
My net bobs along the surface of the calm river. Nothing snags. “She’s telling the truth,” I tell Asmo, but he doesn’t drop the shield.
“What is this, Etta?” Asmo asks, turning back to my sister.
“I already told you.This,” she gestures to Amaris and Basil, “is the resistance.”
“How are you even alive?” Asmo asks Etta. “And you,” he turns back to Amaris, “Who are you and what the fuck is happening right now?”
Amaris rises. “Youknow as well as I do, Prince Asmo, that a blood oath is enough to prove my loyalty to your ma?—”
Asmo snarls at her, and I flinch, nearly bumping into Holly.
“The Fae Kingdom has been gone for decades,” he says, “So, forgive me if I’m cautious of you and a princess that’s supposed to be six feet under right now.”
My stomach tightens at his crass words, and Etta stiffens. I place a hand on his shoulder, and feel the muscle relax. “Az, let’s just hear them out,” I whisper. “Please.”
Basil watches Asmo carefully, as if he thinks he’s moments away from exploding. But Asmo’s shoulders drop and he dips his head—albeit tersely—in silent acceptance. He shifts to the side, and I move to stand beside him as his equal, not something he needs to protect.
“I will explain everything,” Etta says placatingly. “But first, I want to make it clear what our mission is. We want to remake the kingdom.”
Wrena’s granddaughter will rebirth the kingdom—for better or for worse.
“You said earlier you wanted to destroy it, not remake it,” I point out.
Etta looks at Asmo. “Prince, tell me, would House Serpent recognize the Lower Houses as a formal House?”
He doesn’t have to think about it. “No.”
