On the third evening after my injury, Tristan stormed into my room. “Get up, Aurora.” He came over to me and pulled my blankets off. “Stop wallowing in your own misery.”
I glared at him and replaced my blankets. “Go back to Elfi, Tristan. There’s no point in you being here anymore. I’m of no use to anyone; there is no need to protect me now. I can’t go up against Morgana, not without my fae magic. Let my grandmother lead her own army. I can’t do it. I give up.” I turned over in my bed and shut my eyes tight, as if I could block out the world and all the horrible things that had happened.
“Rubbish,” said Tristan, pulling me up. “Just because you lost your powers doesn’t mean you don’t still have a job to do. Your powers don’t make you Queen of Illiador. Your bloodline does. Have you forgotten your parents? Or how your mother gave up her immortal life so you could live to save the world?”
“That’s not fair,” I complained as I got out of bed and punched him on his arm.
Tristan didn’t flinch. “Who said life is fair?”
My anger abated. “I’m sorry. I know you lost your mother too.”
Tristan’s jaw tightened. “If there were any chance I could get her back, I would scour the ends of the world. With or without my magic.”
I moved closer and put my hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “I know. But without the Dawnstar, I can do nothing. I cannot protect the ones I love, let alone save them. I will only succeed in getting more people killed. That’s all I seem to be good at doing these days.”
Tristan’s eyes flashed with silver stars, and he held me gently by the shoulders. “You can do something. And you will. I know you, Aurora. You are brave and kind, and you care about people. Where is the girl who came to the fae kingdom and defied the Queen of Elfi? Where is the girl who stood up to the Prince of the Day Court when no one else would?” He lowered his voice. “It is your spirit, not your magic, that will make you a great queen. You are the true Queen of Illiador, and your people are suffering.” He moved back and opened the door to leave. “Do you intend to let the world be swallowed into darkness because you were too scared to face what is coming?” He closed the door behind him with a definitive click.
I walked over to the windowsill and leaned against it, taking in a deep breath of fresh spring air as my head cleared. The moon shone its splendor over the valley beyond as I gazed out at the small town that lay at the base of the castle, its little lights twinkling from fires and hearths. I realized Tristan was right. Lilith had stripped me of my self-confidence as well as my powers. Without my magic I felt exposed, vulnerable. But giving up was not an option. I would not hide in the shadows, weak and afraid. I would not go down without a fight.
I put on the green velvet robe that had been laid out for me and left my room in search of Rafe. I had to clear things up with him if we were going to work together. As I made my way through the moonlit corridors of Caeleron Castle I almost turned back. The memory of Lilith still lingered, and my heartbeat sped up when I heard a small sound up ahead. I stopped, hesitating, but was relieved to see it was just a guard. Rafe had soldiers stationed at regular intervals all over the castle after my attack, and that made me feel a little better even though there was no guard who could protect me if Lilith came back. I cringed at the thought of what I had become—afraid of my own shadow.
I hurried to the king’s chamber after getting directions from one of the guards. I knew Rafe was very busy during the day, especially during such a crisis, and this was the best time to catch him alone. I had hoped he would have come to see me, but he hadn’t. So I would have to go to him and explain everything. I knew he would not forgive me easily, but I had to try.
As I neared his room, his door opened, and Danica stepped out. I backed into the shadows and held my breath as my heart raced. Why was she in Rafe’s room at this time of night?
Rafe stood at the door shirtless, his dark hair tousled and his muscled torso glistening in the moonlight, as Danica ran her hand down his arm. She went up on her tiptoes to kiss him as he bent his head slightly to meet her lips, his hand tightening around her waist. She ran her fingers through his dark wavy hair and deepened the kiss.
He pulled away eventually. “It’s been a long day. I’m tired, Danica.”
“I’ll let you rest,” she said in a low, throaty voice. “You know where to find me.”
Rafe smiled at her, and in that moment, I felt my heart break all over again. It was strange, because I thought I didn’t have anything left to break. Turned out I was wrong.
I moved through the shadows and hurried back to my room, crawling into my bed and stifling the tears. There was no point in explaining anything now. Rafe had obviously moved on. I knew Danica and he seemed to be close, but I never thought he would take her to his bed. I shook my head at my own foolishness and laughed, a bitter sound even to my ears. Of course he would take her to his bed! Rafe was a grown man, and an extremely attractive one at that. He wasn’t attached, so why wouldn’t he? Especially with girls like Danica throwing themselves at him. There was no place for
