The third figure was in a crouched position, her hand reaching toward the earth, scooping out a rock with one hand in a beautiful twist of design—blending her directly into the stone floor of the cave.Earth.
That’s when I understood: these women, thesequeens,were my ancestors. They were the Fae Queens of years past. Or statues of them, at least. A place where their spirits and memories were somehow encapsulated. Was one of these women my mother? Was it her spirit here, invisible but present?
Each statue was unique. Each contained a not-so-subtle nod to the element she had been most connected to. I couldn’t find one who looked like she represented all three elements, and I wondered if the former Triune Queen had existed even before The Glade had come to be. It seemed Triune Queens were practically legendary creatures, if they had existed at all.
I moved to the center of the cave, held my hands out by my sides, and repeated the same spell that had gotten me into The Glade. As I completed the phrases, I felt a shift in the air. The whistling grew louder; the drip of water turned into a crash, the ground trembled beneath my feet.
Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, the eyes of the Fae Queen statues began to glow. That same warm, comforting golden glow that had echoed around the room so far, now lit upthe statues from the inside out. If they’d been impressive before, they were even more impressive now.
“Welcome,” a voice said in an ethereal hum. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
I wasn’t sure if the voice was actually speaking aloud, or if I was feeling it in my very bones. It was feminine but hard to place, almost like it were a thousand voices combined into one.
For the first time in a long, long while, I felt truly content. Settled. At peace in my skin, like I was finally among my own kind. A little girl who had been raised by wolves, discovering for the first time that other humans existed.
“You’re my Fae ancestors, aren’t you?” I whispered. “The spirits of them, or something like that?”
“Something like that,” the disembodied voice replied.
Their eyes flashed again, the twinkling light making the statues appear alive. “Thank you for allowing me to enter.”
“You’ll belong among us, eventually,” they said. “In the meantime, we are here to guide you.”
“I understand that, but sometimes, that doesn’t feel true,” I confessed. “There are many people on the island who believe I shouldn’t take the throne.”
“There will always be those who disapprove of you,” the voice answered. “But your crown is your birthright.”
“Am I really a Triune Queen?” I asked. “Has there been one before me?”
A soft laugh echoed. “The last Triune Queen is all but a myth now, older than anyone alive. But yes, she was very real.”
“I don’t feel like I deserve the title. It’s a lot of pressure.”
“Nobody does, but it’s your duty. Power and prestige come with hurt and suffering. The crown you shall wear isn’t a piece of jewelry to please your constituents. It is an honor and a duty, and with it, you have the power to shift the balance of good and evil in this world.”
“No pressure,” I muttered.
“Fear is normal. Just don’t shy away from the power because you’re afraid. Embrace it.”
“I’m trying.”
“You won’t fail. You’re willing to die for your people, and that’s all that can be asked of a Fae Queen.” After a pause the voice added, “What more is there to give besides your life?”
My throat tightened. “I don’t know how to make people like me, or how to master my powers. I’m training with Seer Goddard, but progress feels exceptionally slow. It could take decades before I get a handle on my powers.”
“As a Fae Queen, your life has the potential to be very, very long. You have time. And remember, you aren’t alone. You have us. You are not learning your powers for the first time. You are adopting the powers of all the Fae Queens who have come before you.”
“I understand, but it’s not coming easy to me.”
“Child, you have us. You’ve proven you’re the next Triune Queen. You will soon have the chance to unlock access to the power of your ancestors. It will take significant time and hard work, but once you learn to channel our power alongside yours, you will be nearly unstoppable.”
“Does that mean you’ll help me through all this?”
“Yes. We’re your sisters, your family. Surely you feel the bond?”
“I do. I’ve never felt this connected to anyone, and I’ve only just arrived.”
“Your ring, and in turn your crown, has guided you to us throughout your whole human life. There were pieces of us in that enchantment.”
