Don’t kill me.
‘I’m coming in,’Yanric warned.
‘Do that and I’ll tell Eden to stop sharing snacks with you,’I shot back.
‘You’re evil.’
I stared at the queen eye to eye as she assessed me, no doubt dreaming up my fate. If I wanted to save myself from a lifetime of being locked up, I was going to have to think of something clever.
I cleared my throat. “Your majesty, if I may offer some suggestions?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You think you’re wiser than my council?”
I shook my head. “Of course not, but I do know what it’s like to be disliked and have people disapprove of the job I’m doing.”
She crossed her arms. “Go on.”
“If the fae people are worried about your ability to…control me, I understand that. The fire at the dance was my fault, but—”
“But you saved sixteen students and four staff members when you burned up every single Nightling in attendance,” Master Clarke shot back, and I nodded.
“But I did save a lot of people that night,” I told the queen. Master Clarke was quick thinking. I needed to talk up my more positive attributes.
“Get to the point, Bane. I don’t have all day to chat with you,” Queen Solana snapped.
“Right. I propose that I do a public declaration of allegiance to you, to the wonderful people of The Gilded City. I can acknowledge my past mistakes, those of my family, the instability of my magic, and that I’m willing to work hard at my schooling to master my magic. For the good of everyone, including myself.”
She raised one well-manicured eyebrow. “And why would anyone believe a Bane would be loyal to anyone but themselves?”
I frowned, feeling desperate at the thought of being locked up forever, but then an idea came to me. “I’ll do all of this under the power of your magic. So that I cannot lie.”
That elicited a gasp from the queen. “You would publicly declare allegiance to me under a spell that renders you unable to lie?”
I nodded. “One hundred and ten percent. I have no desire to harm you or anyone in this city.”
Her body sagged a little, and her face morphed from one of confusion to one of annoyance at my heartfelt answer. She then released a long, pent-up sigh. “Clear the room!” she announced.
Everyone stood in silence for a moment, and she peered back to look at them. “Do not make me repeat myself.” Her words were so sharp, they could cut glass.
The maid was the first up the stairs, then Clarke, who cast a worried look over his shoulder, and finally her two guards.
‘Permission to—’
‘Shut it, Yan!’I warned. That damned overprotective bird was always listening. The queen ran her fingers through her hair, as if tired of this entire thing. “Listen, Fallon, you seem like a decent kid.”
I nearly fell backward with shock. She paid me a compliment?
“But”—she held up a finger—“all Banes start out seemingly normal and good until the magic—”
“Takes them over and they become evil. Yes, I’ve heard this,” I groaned.
She pursed her lips. “So, as much as your pledge of loyalty would mean a great deal to calm my people, I worry about when you get your powers back. What about as they grow? What assurance do I have you will still be loyal to me?”
I reached into my brain and willed an answer to come forth, but I couldn’t think of anything. “Trust me” didn’t seem like it would carry any weight.
I simply shrugged. “All I can do is promise to do everything in my power to bring Ariyon back and switch our powers. Then if I go dark and start doing…evil things, I give you permission to lock me up forever.”
She appraised me with a raised chin. “You would go willingly into exile?”
