The mortal girl stood still as a statue, her pale porcelain skin appearing sickly in the white halls. Rich chocolate-brown hair fell down her back in an intricate braid, a stark contrast to her complexion.
Her gown was a deep forest-green with black trimmings. She stood with her hands folded in front, head bowed demurely. Though Solveig caught her curious eyes as they flicked around the room, landing on Westley, who stood to the side of the dais with his sisters, also assessing the exchange between the queens and mortals.
The mortal girl kept her eyes on the prince until she leaned in to whisper to her mother. Nina caught her husband’s attention and gave him a nod.
“Your Majesties, perhaps we could speak in private for a moment?” Hugo asked.
The queens shared a look and Koa answered, “That request cannot be granted. Feel free to speak openly here.”
Hugo looked uncomfortable at the dismissal. “Very well. Had you not invited us to your ball, we would have made the journey soon.”
“We are glad to hear of it,” Aelfsi said. Only Solveig and Koa seemed to pick up on the ounce of bitterness the queen let seep into her words.
The Midgard president reached behind, guiding his daughter to stand beside him. “May I introduce my daughter, Dayana Langley.”
Dayana bowed gracefully, even for a mortal.
“Welcome, Lady Dayana.” Koa inclined her head in greeting.
“Dayana is a very special young woman,” her father continued. “She was given to us by the gods.”
The Fae within earshot turned at the change in conversation, the hall humming with whispers.
“Are not all younglings a blessing from the gods?” Koa asked, her hand moving to cover Aelfsi’s.
“She was blessed by them.” Hugo turned to his daughter expectantly, giving her the floor. Solveig narrowed her eyes at the obvious rehearsal.
“I was chosen by the gods to unite our people.” Dayana’s voice rang clearly through the hall, strong and without hesitation. Quite frankly, it was a surprise. Solveig would’ve pegged her as soft-spoken.
Solveig and Westley shared a look, and Solveig’s magic began to churn in warning under her skin.
“That is a bold claim,” Aelfsi said, visible trepidation rising in her face.
“It is true. I was born with the gift of Sight,” Dayana claimed.
Immediately the hall burst into louder whispers and chatter at the claim of a mortal born with magic. It was unheard of. Solveig could pick out words like “chosen one” and “saviour.”
“Is that so?” Aelfsi asked, her voice now dripping with suspicion. The president narrowed his eyes at the queen but said nothing, content to let his daughter speak.
Koa was not so quick to dismiss them, however. Given that she was the greatest Seer of this generation, a mortal born with magic must intrigue her.
“What is it that you have Seen, girl?” she asked.
“I have seen the uniting of our people by marriage.”
“You wish to marry whom?”
“The most powerful Fae to have graced Yggdrasil—the true heir of Asgard.”
A hush settled over the entire hall, all eyes focused on Solveig. She was not known as the heir of Asgard, given her heritage, though the queens often hinted at such. She never wanted the crown and had turned down her mothers’ offer when they presented the heirship to her.
“I am not the heir of Asgard, nor a Fae,” Solveig said to the mortal girl, pinning her with a glare.
“Forgive me, Princess Solveig, it was not you I was referring to.” Her voice was loaded with insolence.
Solveig’s hand flinched to the daggers strapped to her thigh. Something in her gut told her she wasn’t going to like where the girl was going with this.
The urge to silence her rose like bile in the back of Solveig’s throat.
