Kildaren shook his head. “I didn’t know Andromeda was the one who planned to have Izadora killed. I only agreed to go along with her to get rid of you, but I made a mistake.”
He came closer and, shockingly, kneeled next to the bed and took Penelope’s hand in his. “I should never have mistrusted you, Penelope, and for that I am truly sorry. When I didn’t hear from you for so many years, I thought you had forgotten me. I was so angry I wanted to believe you were a traitor, although I knew you could never be one.”
“I could never forget you, Kildaren,” said Penelope softly. “I had to leave, and I could not tell you where I was going for a reason.”
This was awkward. “Um, I’ll leave now,” I murmured and started backing away toward the door. There was obviously some unfinished business there, and it wasn’t my place to interfere. I shut the door softly behind me. I would have a chance to speak to Penelope later and ask her about it.
I woke up to birds chirping high in the trees in the palace gardens. A warm wind signaled the advent of spring, and golden sunlight streamed in through the great arched windows of my room. I realized they had finally been fitted with crystal like the rest of the magnificent fae castle.
Tristan was waiting at the bottom of the steps, leaning against the wall, his powerful arms crossed in front of him. He smiled when he saw me, his whole face lighting up. For a moment, I had to catch my breath. The Prince of the Night Court was devastatingly handsome. I had realized this before, but it was never so noticeable. Probably because of the permanent scowl on his face, I thought, and giggled.
“You know you don’t have to protect me anymore, don’t you?” I teased when I saw him.
His lips curved upward in a wry chuckle. “I thought you could protect me from now on,” said Tristan. “I was thinking after we are married, I might retire and leave all the fighting up to you.”
I laughed. But inwardly, I cringed. How was I going to tell him I couldn’t marry him? My grandmother had no reason to force my hand. I was sure the fae army would follow me if I didn’t marry Tristan. I had to find a way to get out of it without hurting his feelings.
“Izadora wants to see you,” said Tristan, pushing himself off the wall. “The Elder Council has called a meeting.”
This was my new life, council meetings and war strategies. There was no more time to practice being a queen.
“They are waiting for you in the council chamber,” Tristan informed me as I fell into step beside him. “I will walk you there.”
My grandmother sat at the head of the table in her rightful place, and the dowager sat beside her. All heads turned toward me as I entered the council room; the Elders all got up from their seats and bowed.
My grandmother gestured to a chair at the end of the table opposite her. “Have a seat, Aurora,” said the queen of the fae.
I sat down on the chair that had been brought in specifically for me.
Elder Silias spoke. “Aurora Shadowbreaker,” he began, using my title for the first time. “The council is forever in your debt for stopping Andromeda from destroying everything we have built these five thousand years. As Izadora has rightly said, since the ancient dynasty of Eos-Eirendil disappeared, the fae have waited for the heir of Illaria Lightbringer to return and lead the fae back to their former glory. It is written in the codex.”
I looked at my grandmother. Her face was impassive, her lips set in a thin line. But her golden eyes studied me evenly. Rhiannon was quiet too and sat with her hands folded in her lap, her back ramrod straight.
“What we propose,” started Elder Silias, glancing at the queen of the fae, “is that Izadora steps down and hands the crown of Elfi over to you, thus reinstating the ancient line of Eos-Eirendil to the throne.”
What! Were they going to do this now? When the whole of Avalonia stood poised on the brink of war? When they had thought I was a nobody, a half-breed, they were ready to throw me to the dogs. They were too scared to stand up to Andromeda and were willing to give up the book to Morgana. Now they were scared of me, so they were willing to push my grandmother aside and give me the throne. I didn’t trust them.
“And you are right not to trust them,” Abraxas observed in my head. “A shift in power like this could be detrimental to our plan to retake Illiador and get the Dark Dagger. You need your grandmother on the throne of Elfi to keep the Elders and the other noble families in check. You cannot remain here to rule the fae, and once you leave, the council will have absolute power.”
“I agree,” I said silently to Abraxas. “I’ll handle it.” As long as I wore the ring he popped in and out of my head whenever he wanted. But I didn’t mind; it was reassuring to know I wasn’t alone and had his help and vast knowledge whenever I needed it.
I didn’t trust the council to rule Elfi and be there to help when I needed allies. But I could not refuse the throne outright; they would see it as an affront to the fae. I had to choose my words carefully. My grandmother had shown that she trusted me by naming me as her heir in front of the whole council. Now I would do the same for her.
I looked at my grandmother again, but she remained silent.
I cleared my throat, pushed back my chair, and stood up. “Thank you, Elder Silias,” I
