two
Welingeredoverahuge breakfast spread prepared joyfully by Millie, spending much longer than needed enjoying the scents of the garden and glimpses of the sparkling blue waters beyond. In my time here so far, Silas and I hadn’t been afforded the luxury of leisure—the simple pleasure in lingering over a meal or enjoying the warmth of sunshine.
At some point, I forced myself to stand and pulled Silas with me. “I think we should go to the castle. I haven’t been there since everything happened, and I think it’s time I see it with fresh eyes. As a starting point for what this all means to me and the island.”
A look of conflict passed across Silas’s face again, and I got the impression he still wasn’t telling me everything.
“Fine,” he agreed softly. “It’s as good a starting point as any.”
Before we left, Silas moved wordlessly into the cottage. When he emerged, he brought the thin circlet from where it had been resting beside my bed. He placed the crown on my head.
“You are a queen,” he said. “And the castle is yours. Even if it doesn’t feel like it yet, you’ll get there.”
“Fake it till you make it?”
He gave me the slightest wink. “Something like that.”
After a brief walk through the rolling hills of Silas’s green land, the castle loomed before us, more magnificent than I remembered. Bone white, as if the walls were made of the purest seashells the waters had to offer. It stood at the northernmost end of The Isle, where the upper bridge used to connect the East and West sides of the island. Now, the castle connected the dangerous forest and the more populated East Isle village.
The castle was rather small, as far as castles go. It wasn’t gaudy, but simple and elegant, like it blended in with the nature around it. On the second level, there was a balcony and a throne behind a railing that overlooked the river.
“It’s yours,” Silas said softly. “Whenever you’re ready to accept it.”
As I reached for the front gate, my hand shook as I opened it. I could feel the ring of the circlet warm slightly against the top of my head, and I wondered if it was glowing, like the flowers had glowed in the garden last night.
I made my way shakily up the front stairs. The main platform was slender with several sturdy white columns, very Grecian in nature. Silas nodded toward the second level, a question in his gaze.
“I’m not ready for the throne,” I said quickly. “That can wait.”
“That’s fine.”
I climbed the stairs anyway, and at the top, found a pile of items that were presumably for me. Some were flowers—bouquets, like the kind thrown on ice-skating rinks after a great performance.
There were other things too. Less pleasant things. Upon closer inspection, I picked up a stuffed bear—stabbed through with sticks. A note was attached.You will never be my queen.
My blood went cold. I looked up at Silas. “Is this what you haven’t been telling me?”
Silas glanced at the stuffed animal in my hands, looking like he wanted to rip its head off. “Don’t read into this, Alessia. The sentiment will pass. You’re just new, and some people around here don’t like change.”
“This is why you and Atlas switched up protecting me while I slept.”
“I knew there would be some dissent. It was out of an abundance of caution. Also”—Silas paused—“I simply didn’t want to leave your side. That had nothing to do with protection and everything to do with wanting to be near you.”
I touched his arm—an arm as thick as a tree trunk—and had the sudden, comforting thought that no one in their right mind would go up against this man. He was a good one to have on my side. When I told him so, Silas smiled.
I dropped the stuffed animal and stared where it fell at my feet. The thing was, I didn’t feel like I’d earned the title of queen. But I also hadn’t asked for it. I’d literally shown up for my wedding day, only to be kidnapped to a magical island. I’d then helped to break The Isle free from a curse holding it captive, and in doing so, learned of my heritage as a full-blooded Fae.
“I didn’t ask to be queen,” I reiterated, this time aloud and a little defensively. “I wastoldthat I’m queen. I didn’t ask for any of this.”
Silas locked me to his side. “It’s nothing you did. Most of the islanders are desperately relieved you’re here. You’ve brought hope to so many. But there are some folks who prefer anger and vitriol instead of understanding. It’s a reflection on them, not on you.”
“If I am full-blooded Fae, and I’m the only queen left, that’s one thing,” I said. “But I also want to deserve the title. Mypowers came to me naturally, but I want to earn the respect of the islanders the old-fashioned way.”
“You will. You already have in many ways, even if you don’t see it yet.” Silas pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “I know that nothing I say will make you feel deserving of the crown, and that’s okay. You need to get there on your own. I’ll be here to support you.”
“I appreciate that,” I said hoarsely. “I only hope I can figure it out.”
“I have no doubt,” Silas said. “Now let’s get out of here. I’ll have someone clean this up.”
