“Seer Goddard.” Silas’s words plunked around the room like the lowest notes of the piano. They hit hard and deep, and nobody moved.
Fenlon cleared his throat. “Has the Seeragreedto this?”
“He will,” Silas said. “Trust me.”
Fenlon raised his eyebrows, like he truly didn’t believe it. Suddenly, my training sounded a lot more intimidating than exciting. This was all news to me, and judging from the reaction to Seer Goddard’s name, he wasn’t exactly a peach to work with.
“Maybe we can come to a temporary ceasefire. What if we put someone else in charge for now?” I said. “Fen and the others can see how they like it. I have no desire to rule over a land or people who don’t want me there. I don’t have any interest in ruling at all, as a matter of fact. I’m going to need to focus on my training. Let someone else handle castle duty.”
Fenlon smacked his hand on the table, then pointed at me as if to say,See?
“Alessia,” Silas began, “I don’t think this is the solution.”
“It’s temporary,” I said. “Unless someone has a better idea?”
“Let’s go with it,” Fen said, before anyone else could offer dissent. “We’ll hold another meeting next week to discuss potential candidates.”
As the meeting adjourned, an uneasy silence descended on the café. Smatterings of conversations broke out in groups of two or three, generally organized by alliance. Fenlon’s people… and Silas’s people. My people.
“Keep your chin up.” Poppy gave me a hug on the way out. “Like you said, it’ll all work out how it’s meant to. They can’t keep you from a throne that is your bloodright. That’s big of you to give it up voluntarily.”
I nodded my thanks to her and hugged her back. I got similar notes of camaraderie from the rest of the gang. As Irina patted me on the shoulder, I asked her if she was free this afternoon.
“Yes,” she said. “Something I can do for you?”
“Actually, I was hoping to do something for you. Can I come by and watch Henry for a few hours so you can rest or get something done?” I asked. “I need to keep busy, and my training doesn’t start until tomorrow.”
Irina hesitated for just a second, and in that moment, a panic seized me. Maybe she didn’t trust me. After my magic had zinged into Silas last night, I’d hardly blame her. If she didn’t want me around her child because of my unpredictable magic, it would be only logical.
“Of course,” Irina said finally, trying to disguise her hesitation. “I’d love that. Maybe just an hour so I can shower and wash my hair in peace?”
“I’ll be over in a little while.” I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”
Once everyone else was on their way out, I followed Silas out into the sunshine. He carried the dusty book under his arm and held my hand casually with the other, like we hadn’t just emerged from a tense meeting in which people had expressed severe dislike for the very fact that I existed.
“Do you mind if I take that book?” I asked Silas. “I didn’t know ancient Fae texts still existed. I’d love to read through it. See if I can learn anything about my ancestry.”
A small smile appeared on Silas’s face. He winked at me. “This old thing?” He raised the book. “It’s not an ancient Fae text. It’s something I pulled out of the storage shed at Wisteria Cottage calledSpells for a Tidy Home.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I’m not sure Fenlon can read,” Silas said darkly, with a lot of bitterness. “And I suspected he wouldn’t have the patience to care. He’s too afraid of looking stupid and ignorant to actually put in the work tonotbe stupid and ignorant.”
“Well, you weren’t wrong.”
“That was brave, what you did in there, Alessia. It frustrates me that you have to give up the throne, even if it’s just in name, and even if it’s just temporary,” Silas said. “But your training begins tomorrow, and I’m sure once you master your powers,there will be no question—for Fen or anyone else—that you belong in your castle.”
“What’s a Seer?” I asked. “And who is Seer Goddard? Why did everyone react so strangely when you said his name?”
“You’ll meet him tomorrow,” Silas said, sounding a bit uncertain. “Honestly, I don’t know him all that well, so I don’t have much in the way of insight. All I know is that he’s the person to call upon when there are no other options.”
As it turned out, holding a newborn for a little while was just what the doctor ordered. As I stared into Henry’s little face, so peaceful in his sleep, I felt the first wave of hope that maybe I wasn’t completely cursed. Hadn’t I helped Henry arrive earthside safely? Hadn’t I helped spare his mother’s life? Maybe there was hope yet.
We rocked back and forth in the rocking chair, sitting on the porch of a little cottage Irina had rented near town. She was a Forest Dweller, but with all the land that had been scorched and the birth of her baby, she’d let the islanders convince her to stay in town for both her sake and Henry’s. They’d have much easier access to food, water, medical care, and helping hands.
The steadycreakof the rocking chair and the weight of a baby in a swaddle almost lulled me to sleep. The sun hit my face as I leaned back and closed my eyes, wishing that I had more moments like this. Of doing nothing, in the best way possible.
When I heard a second creak, I opened my eyes to find a freshly showered and ruddy-faced Irina settling into the chair next to me. She held a hot cup of coffee in her hands as she smiled in my direction.
