Chapter Twenty-Eight
If the shadows ever decided to take on the form of a fae, it would be the female who stood before me then.
Her ebony skin seemed to glow despite its rich, dark shade. Her black hair was done up in a hairstyle called locs—something my timeobservingthe Southerners and Islanders back inCairnylhad taught me.Almost everyloc was adorned with a gold cuff or colorful jewel. And if the gold and jewelsweren’tenough, atop her headsata crown made of a mixture of gold and that black metalI’dnoticed before on the soldiers. A deep violet gown hugged her luscious curves, leaving little room for open interpretation. Confidenceseemed to beetched into her very bones, but when I met her eyes—which were sodarktheyseemed to absorblight—all I could seewas the outrage she was obviously feeling.
“Well?” she pushed, demanding answers.
Byn bowed his head. “QueenRividian, it’s great to finally meet you—”
“Save the pleasantries, King Thorntier. You forget that my last memory of you was when you were still a snotty nosed hooligan.”She waved him off. “Now, answer my question, before I lose my patience,” she said through clenched teeth.
An arm looped through hers, and for the first time, I noticed KingRividian.
The male, while handsome in his own rights, was eclipsed next to his wife’s beauty.His soft brown skin had an olive tone to it, and his eyes were a warm, earthy color.He had a head of thick dark curls, and the shadow of a beard growing in along his jaw. He, too, woreviolet, his silk shirt matching his wife’s gown. His pants wereblackand his entire outfit was without a single wrinkle—something Icouldn’trelate to after our long journey.
At the contact of her husband, she seemed to calm ever so slightly as she took a deep breath and awaited our answer. Icouldn’thelp but wonder if they, too, shared emotions somehow.
“King and QueenRividian, it’s my immense pleasure to introduce you to my wife and Queen of the South, AvivaHeartshireThorntier,”Bynannounced, his voice strong and confident despite the whirling emotions I knew he was feeling.
Stepping forward, I dipped my chin slightly in an act of respect. “AvivaHeartshireAshfordThorntier, Your Majesty,” I corrected, my voice kind but unwavering. “Thank you for coming to our aid recently.”
At that revelation, the royals before us lapsed into a stunned silence. I stood perfectly still as their eyes took me in, though what they were searching for, Ididn’tknow.
Seeming to finally notice her own children at oursides, her gaze landed on Callum and Caelia.
“They speak truth?” she asked her son and daughter.
Callum stepped forward, that weight from before seeming to drag him down.
I wondered if his parents had ever noticed it.
“Yes, Mother. Aviva is Queen of the South—and an incredible one at that,” he said. I had to hold back my grin at his words, though I hoped he knew I appreciated them.
The queen’s head swiveled towards Caelia next, her eyes still holding the same question in them.
“My brother speaks nothing but truth,” Caelia agreed, holding her head just a tad higher than before.
At that, the queen seemed conflicted at best as her eyes narrowed.
Though I supposed that was better than the fury she had harbored before.
Suddenly, her eyes began roving about our large group. It was obvious she was looking for somebody specific, though Iwasn’tsure who until she locked eyes with one of thefaebehind me and repeated her question to them.
Then Rayven’s deep voice rang out from the middle of our group.“Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for using your lack of knowledge to my advantage when I came seeking your aid, but Queen Aviva is not the threat youseem to thinkshe is.”
I cringed internally as I realized what, exactly, it had taken to get theOcreinIsles to come to our aid in the Battle of Shadows.
We’donly told them what they needed to know, it seemed.
Upon hearing those words, QueenRividianseemed to deflate ever so slightly.“I see where your loyalties lie, spy,” she said to Rayven.
The queen turned to look at her husband then, and an entire conversation seemed to pass between them within a handful of seconds.
Facing us again, the king said, “We will hear you all out, as we imagine you allwouldn’thave traveled this far without good reason. Follow us, and we will ensure you all have accommodations in the castle.” Heturned toaddresshis children. “And you two have some explaining to do.”
Caelia and Callum shared a quick glance, but didn’t object to their father’s statement.
The tension in the air was still electrified as we headed toward CastleAvyeras one.
