Page 80 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

My shoulders relaxed. Once again, I’d been ready for Father to reprimand me as he had when I’d first returned to Gleann Solas. Instead, he’d shown how far our relationship had come. He had begun accepting me for who I was now.

“You called for me very early.” Anticipation churned through me. Between what was to come and not having Tavish beside me, I didn’t feel right in my skin. “Is everything all right?”

“We’ve called an assembly of the people.” Father steepled his hands. “Is Tavish near? I’d like him to be here for the announcement.”

My cheeks ached from how wide I smiled. I never thought I’d hear anything remotely close to those words spoken by either of my parents. “I haven’t heard from him, but he should be here soon.”

“Don’t bother him yet. We need to bring Greason and Gaelle from the holding cells first. We aren’t quite ready.” Father nodded at Sorcha and continued, “Go retrieve them now.”

Throat drying, I tried to swallow but failed. I didn’t like the sound of that.

I’m almost there, Lira. I can see the mountains of Gleann Solas,Tavish mind-linked.

Knowing he was close had the lump in my throat shrinking. The only thing that kept me sane was the fact that his magic and emotions seemed to stay level on the other side of our connection. Nothing seemed awry. Otherwise, I would’ve gone searching for him. Still, knowing that something would most likely happen to Greason had the walls feeling as if they would close in on me.Then you should come quick. Father has asked us to meet him on the dining hall balcony, and I don’t know why. However, he hopes you are close since he wants you here for this.

Determination flooded our bond, and I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t answer. Tavish had one goal—to return quicker, as requested—and I wouldn’t distract him. I needed him by my side. “Tavish just told me that they’re almost back.”

“Excellent.” Father tugged on his golden tunic, topped with his earth-brown royal coat the exact color of his wings, giving the illusion that they were larger than they truly were. “We shall begin so that, when he arrives, there won’t be an outcry.”

My chest swelled with hope.

Mother held out an arm toward me, her pink gown hugging her every curve, and I hurried to her side with Nightbane close to my hip and looped my arm through hers, Father flanking her other side. Standing on the edge of the balcony, I could see the thousands of people gathered below.

There was a time I remembered during my lifetime that all of the fae had been called to gather… the day my parents hadannounced that the Unseelie were officially the enemy when they had pointed to the darkened sky that had plagued us for weeks.

Uneasy expressions strained each Seelie’s face as they waited. More people flew toward us as the villagers who lived farthest away arrived.

A woman near the front scowled and pointed at me then turned her head to the person beside her. One by one, people noticed me standing next to Mother and aimed looks of mistrust or disgust my way. Unease coiled inside me. I hated that my people viewed me as a traitor.

Those who weren’t directing their attention to me seemed to have homed in on Nightbane. The cù-sìth hunkered down and growled. Even I could feel the animosity wafting from the crowd, and I didn’t have animal senses.

“Erdan, how have we allowed our people to hold our daughter in such disdain?” Mother rasped.

“I’m unsure, dear, but it ends now.” Father looked at me and continued, “It’s time to unite our land.”

The three of us flew up above the edge of the balcony so that everyone could see us, even those far in the back. Mother and Father held hands while Mother and I kept our arms interlocked, a symbol of unity as we hovered together.

People stood below us, looking up as they waited to hear what we had to say. The sheer magnitude of our numbers overwhelmed me. There were easily over ten thousand, proving that the Seelie population was now more than three times that of the Unseelie fae.

No wonder Tavish had wanted to drain my blood so they could catch the Seelie off guard. That would have been the only chance the Unseelie would have to win.

Father cleared his throat, and the crowd became quiet.

“Something happened last night that has made it abundantly clear to both the queen and me that we need to make an announcement.” Father’s voice boomed, similar to Tavish’s, as he addressed the crowd below. “Last night, our daughter, your princess, returned home.”

A few brows creased while others shook their heads in disbelief.

A brave young woman shouted from the back. “After she freed the nightfiends? She’s a traitor.”

Mother’s arm tensed. “Say that one more time, and you’ll be punished.” Her normally sweet voice held a ruthless edge as she stared at the young woman who had dared to speak such words about me. “She is our daughter, and we won’t tolerate any disrespect toward her.”

The woman jerked back, and a few of the people who’d been glaring at me gasped.

Six figures appeared in the distance, flying in our direction. The yank in my chest informed me who was heading our way—Tavish. I wanted to race to him and bury myself in his arms, but I couldn’t leave. Not now. Not when Father was informing everyone of what had happened and showing his alliance with the Unseelie.

The rest of the world faded as my entire being called out to my mate. It’d been way too long since I’d last seen him.

As Tavish and the other five approached and flew over the gathered Seelie, heading straight to us, the people below us shrieked.

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