Page 81 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

“Unseelie!” one yelled. “Where are the guards to protect us?”

“Be quiet,” Father thundered. “They are our guests here.”

Tavish didn’t hesitate as he flew directly to me. He took my hand and hovered next to me with our arms pressed together.

Finnian and Struan fell in behind us, flanking Nightbane, as Mom flew to the other side of Tavish and Dad to the king, making it clear they were guarding the four of us.

That Tavish was essentially family.

Unshed tears burned my eyes. I’d never expected a moment like this to happen for Tavish and me.

I never imagined coming back to a moment like this,Tavish linked as if he’d heard me, his shock and happiness running through me. However, I sensed a little bit of worry underneath.

“Each one of you should remember what I just said because a reminder is coming for what happens if you go against the queen’s and my command.”

Father lifted a hand, and Sorcha yelled, “Bring in the prisoners.”

Both Gaelle and Greason were in the dining hall, and guards dragged them past the table. Greason’s face bore yellow bruising, and Gaelle’s pale-yellow nightgown was torn to one hip.

“Oh… I’m so glad we got back for this,” Finnian whispered. “I hope the coward guard dies.”

The four guards forced them onto the balcony underneath us, where Father held out his hand to Dad. Dad didn’t hesitate, removing his sword from the sheath and handing it to him.

Lowering himself to the balcony floor, he first moved to Gaelle.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “My King—I didn’t—”

“Be quiet,” he spat. “You stole royal clothes and alerted people that my daughter had returned, knowing it would put her in danger. You are no longer employed in the castle and instead assigned to manual labor in the fields.”

Her bottom lip quivered, but she shook her head. “Yes. I’ll gladly take that and not death.”

“You won’t die.” He raised his sword, stepping now in front of Greason. “But you will live knowing that you were the cause of his death.”

“I—I didn’t know the full story. Had I—” Greason started.

Father cut him off. “I never denounced my daughter. You attacked a royal. Therefore, your sentence is death.”

My stomach roiled as Father jabbed the blade into Greason’s heart. I hated that this had to happen, but it was how things were done in this realm… even if I didn’t like it.

Tavish squeezed my hand and linked,Sprite, if your father didn’t do it, I would. That couldn’t go unpunished, or more people would try to kill you.

That doesn’t mean that if he’d known everything, he would’ve still made the same mistake.That was what bothered me, but the rules were the rules in Ardanos.

The guards released Greason’s arms, allowing him to fall as everyone watched the life drain from him. Gaelle sobbed, clutching her chest. And when it was over, the guards dragged each of them out while the Seelie people watched.

“Let this serve as a reminder.” Mother straightened her shoulders. “Those rules aren’t to be broken unless the king or I command it.”

No one spoke as the silence hung over all of us.

“This brings us no joy.” Father lifted his chin, his royal power emanating from him. “The unnecessary loss of an individual is a burden that our magic and land have to bear. Our daughter’s actions may be construed as traitorous, but we understand why Lira made the decision that she did. Not only is the Unseelie king her fated mate, but he and his people are no longer our enemies.” He paused, allowing the crowd to gasp and glance at each other, absorbing the information.

“But they cloaked the sky in darkness, killing our plants,” a man near the middle called out, though not with malice. Hescratched the back of his neck as if he were trying to make sense of it.

Father informed everyone of what the dragons had done and how an Unseelie had aided in the chaos. “There was no reason not to let the Unseelie return to their land. Any attack on them or my daughter will be punished the same as if it were an attack on our own kind.” Father gazed slowly across the masses as if he were looking at each person. “It is time for fae to truly unite with each other once again, and there’s no better way than the union of my daughter and King Tavish.” He gestured to the two of us.

I thought we weren’t going to alert everyone in case someone else was working with the dragons,Tavish linked with me, rigid.

I swallowed, knowing he was right.They didn’t discuss this with me.

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