“I don’t have a thing, Reyna,” he said quietly.
She whirled on him, gesturing out the window. “You have far more here than any other court!”
“This is not my court.” He pointed at the turquoise stones that made up the walls, and then raised his finger toward the glittering sea. “Those are not my ships.”
Her heart sank as the meaning of his words were made clear. “But this is your mother’s court. Her family. That makes them your family, too.”
Thane shook his head, a bitter laugh bubbling up in his throat. “You have no idea how right you are, Reyna. Aengus had my mother killed. My aunt and uncle refuse to sail to Lorcan’s aide not because he’s a shadow fae. That doesn’t seem to concern them at all. They even wanted to ally with him before all this.”
Thane had been right. Reyna needed to sit down. Instead, she held on tight to the window ledge, trying to understand how it had come down to this. Lorcan was surrounded by enemies, and there was nothing she could do.
He continued. “I’ve sent letters to all the lords who have been loyal to the Selkirks, but they have ignored my pleas. Aengus must have found loyalty in them instead. I have no doubt he plans to fight against my return.”
Reyna could only stare, open-mouthed.
“I’d have half a mind to let him have it all. The kingdom, the crown, that horrible bloody throne. I don’t want to see my city fall, and after everything that has happened, I’m not even certain I want to rule. But...my mother’s family does not feel quite so generous.” He laughed bitterly and shook his head.
“They’re sailing for Tairngire. They plan to sack my city. And they’ve asked your father to join them. Ice and Sea will join together to end Air once and for all.”
Epilogue
Glencora
Apair of unseen fingerssnapped, and Glencora awoke at once. Sucking in great lungfuls of air, she threw herself up from the bed and launched across the room, clutching her nightdress in terror.
She remembered every moment of the attack. The fear. The pain. The ruin of it all. It flashed through her as fresh as the day it had occurred. Every emotion was heightened, real, and raw. It was as if she was reliving it all over again.
Gasping, she stumbled toward the door and wrenched it open. A guard stood just outside, bathed in the silver light of the orbs that hung along the castle walls. He let out a curse when he saw her, and then took off down the corridor at once.
She waited, sagging in the doorway, her back facing the bed where she’d laid for so very long. It had been months, she knew. Perhaps even a year. The time had stretched on tortuously. She’d been aware of every moment, every whisper, every hush of the door opening and closing. She’d heard the fear in her sisters’ voices.
All that time, she’d been unable to do anything but lie there prone and still. Sometimes, great tremors had stormed through her, lighting up her body with pain. But mostly, she’d been forced to remain still.
Every moment that passed had felt like her last.
And yet she had lived on. She never should have survived.
Footsteps thundered down the hallway, and her father suddenly appeared before her. He looked older than the last time she’d seen him. Ragged. Tired. Worn. The glistening silver crown perched atop his white hair, and his ever-present armor gleamed still. But the past year had taken its toll on him. She could not blame him. It had taken a toll on them all.
“Glencora,” he shouted, rushing toward her and wrapping his strong arms around her. She sighed and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of snow and pine. It had been so long since she had felt someone’s touch. For awhile, her father had come to see her daily. But soon, those daily visits had turned to weekly. And then longer. By her count, he had not come to see her in well over a month.
“Father,” she said stiffly. “There is news I must tell you at once.”
He pulled back, concern flickering across his tired face. “News? Glencora, do you remember what happened to you?”
She nodded.
“Good,” he said with a sigh. “Come. We will have the alchemist take a good look at you and make certain you’re well enough to be out of bed. Oh, Glencora, you do not know how relieved I am to see you.” His voice cracked. “I didn’t think you were ever going to return to us.”
“Reyna and Eislyn are in danger.”
Her father pulled back with a sharp gasp, and his grip tightened on her arm. “Your sisters are...”
“In danger,” she said again.
His eyes darkened. “Glencora, I fear you’ve woken quite unwell. I think it might be best if we get you back into bed at once.”
“They’ve been captured.”
