She nodded, dropping her gaze and picking at her fingernails. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve this. I don’t regret a lot of things in life, but… I regret that, okay? If I could take it back, I would.”
Her eyes misted over again, and I wondered how long she’d wanted to tell me this.
“I saved your life.” My voice broke. “Twice. Now the woman who ruined my life is the one I am bound to follow?”
She nodded. “That’s why I wanted to tell you. I wanted you to know everything, in the spirit of truth and working together. If you don’t want to give your public vow now, I will understand. I’ll make an announcement about the attack, feed everyone, wish them a merry Winter Solstice, and send them home. You get Ariyon back, switch powers, and then you can stay in Bane Manor while I fight this war alone.” She pursed her lips and crossed her arms, her tears finally drying as the strong queen I knew came back to the surface.
‘I say we leave. We owe this ungrateful excuse for a fae nothing.’
“Stay in Bane Manor?” I laughed at Solana sarcastically. “As a prisoner!”
Her nostrils flared. “Fallon, your powers will eventually take you over! It’s just a fact.”
“Says the woman who cursed me to a lifetime of pain!”
She glared at me, and I suddenly felt like she was getting the motherhood experience right now and I was the rebellious teenager she had to deal with.
“Fine. You want to be a big girl? Make big-girl decisions? I think you’re old enough to see this.” She marched over to a bookshelf and yanked on a thick tome with purple leather binding.
With a slow and long creak, the bookshelf pulled back to reveal a secret room.
‘Of course. Everyone has a hidden room around here,’Yanric observed.
I should leave, like Yanric had said, leave and never come back. But dammit I was curious, so I followed the queen wordlessly, still angry and processing the fact that I was sharing the same air with the person who had given me a lifetime filled with grief.
I expected a dark tunnel that led to a basement like Master Clarke’s or something of that nature, but instead I was led into a nice-sized sitting room. It was brightly lit with four high-backed chairs circling a coffee table. On the center of the table was an oblong decorative wooden box. The queen sat in one of the chairs and indicated I do the same. I obliged her but made sure the disapproval was evident on my face with a glare.
“What do you want me to see?” I asked curtly.
She sighed. “My memories. Something I don’t share with others lightly.”
Her memories? How was I going to see those?
Reaching over, she unclasped the wooden box, and the lid sprang free to reveal a pair of beautiful delicate crowns. They were identical in every way. Both made up of gold swirls with turquoise gems that sparkled in the light.
I squirmed in my seat as she pulled one out and handed it to me. Then she peered at the top of my head. “You wear this one, and I will wear the other. This will allow you to see the memories I choose to share. You will alsofeelwhat I feel.”
I gulped, placing the lightweight crown atop my head. “What are you going to show me?” Suddenly I wasn’t sure I wanted to see anything.
“Just what kind of person Marissa truly is.” She placed the crown on her head, and I was immediately sucked into a memory. My eyes were forced closed in that moment, but it felt like my body had been portaled to a different location.
My eyes snapped open in the memory, and I looked down at my hands and chest—I was Solana. The telltale glossy blond braid hung loosely over my shoulder.
“Princess!” a Royal Guard called from the doorway to the library inside the palace. “Marissa is at The Academy, and she’s started a fire. I’ve advised the Royal Guard to ferry the king, queen, and princes to safety via the tunnels.” He was clutching his arm to his chest, and soot marred his face.
Solana’s head whipped in his direction as fear and anger simultaneously rushed through her. “Arrest her!” she bellowed.
“We’re trying. She’s powerful. Your assistance might be needed, my lady.”
Solana growled, and I felt her power rise up inside her. In that moment, I had full knowledge of what she was capable of. Her brother was powerful, yes, and a good choice for king, but she was his equal in magic. She could lay spells over people and force them to tell the truth. She could do minor healing and make salves. But that was nothing compared to her warrior powers. Within her was a white light that seared. It was not like fire; it was hotter than that. Hot like the sun. She could blind you with it, explode your body into tiny particles. She could hit you with something akin to lightning and stop your heart. She was a ticking bomb. With her brother, the king, fleeing to hiding, she needed to bring Marissa down, lest the entire royal family fall to this madwoman.
Solana tipped her head high. The pride she took in being of service to her people welled within her. She would not let this menace inflict any more harm. Rushing out of her room at the palace, she leaped onto a waiting horse and rode fast and hard for The Academy.
Her stomach dropped when she saw the billowing smoke curling up to the sky like an omen of death. “No.” Pure,unbridled rage welled within Solana, and I peered down to see a ring on her marriage finger.
She was betrothed.
Ethan Crawford was his name. He had been picked for her by her brother and sister-in-law, but even though it was arranged, she loved him. She’d loved him for the entire four years they studied together at The Academy, but she was too shy to say so. Now, they were betrothed with a wedding planned for next month, and she couldn’t be happier.
