Page 68 of Queen of Thorns
TAMERIA, OCTAVIA, LUSCIOUS, and the Whisperwood Queen—Emberly—sit in chairs facing me, in the same meeting room as every past meeting. The fire flickers weakly behind me. The walls are shinier than before, and in this one small room one can almost see what this place used to be.
Emberly and her nephews have spent a lot of time organizing the new staff and reopening sections of the palace. We now have a full wing in the east—where my rooms are—as well as two massive halls for dining and entertaining—in case the opportunity should ever arise.
The magic I’ve continued to flow into the fountain is spreading, seeping deeper into the stone of the Shadow palace.
They also tell me the farmers in the areas closest to the capital are experiencing impressive fall crops and there is increase in trade in the area. Those reports make me feel better. I know drinking from the well will help those fae individually, but part of me feels guilty for so much of the new magic going to restoring the palace. The queen tells me it’s necessary, though. We must be able to put on a strong and established front if we are to have any hope of facilitating strong marriages with other courts.
I want to give more, but I heed Rev’s warnings not to overextend myself.
My body is stiff and heavy at all times, though. Every time I begin to refuel, I give it all away again. Over and over. My eyes are heavy, and I find myself wanting to sleep between every visit to the well, but I can’t. There’s so much to do.
I think that’s why the queen and her nephews have been working so hard to get things in order for this new normal—to stop me from doing it all myself. It’s helpful because I’ve never overseen anything before, let alone a palace full of staff or an entire kingdom. To learn all of that while also giving all my spare energy to the fountain... would be impossible.
The queen’s older nephew begins our meeting, talking about the sections of the palace where the magical blocks have been removed and the areas that have been deemed livable. There are several others that will remain closed off while we work on rebuilding the magical structures throughout the kingdom. They only plan to have a quarter of the palace fully functioning and open for use until further notice. Which I don’t mind. This place is massive, and we certainly don’t need all of it. It’s much more important to get the citizens the aid they need.
“There is still much to be done,” Octavia says. “And much to discuss. Your relationship with the High Prince not the least of these.”
I blink and shift my gaze to her. “Excuse me?”
The room quiets.
“What about my relationship with Rev?” I ask firmly.
“He loves you,” the Whisperwood Queen says gently. “And yet he remains the High Prince.” Her dark eyes are soft. Pity. It’s pity she wears. “However, this isn’t a conversation we must have yet.” She sends a glare at Octavia, whose eyebrows rise. She doesn’t look at all sorry.
“We’ve spoken about the need for strong marriages in our court,” Luscious says, a bite to his tone, “and you are not exempt from that.”
I release a sharp breath.
“I don’t know what my intentions are regarding my future partner.” It’s as honest as I can be without outright declaring I’d never touch another male and they’ll have to get over it.
Though, I admit only to myself the only reason that is true is because I haven’t allowed myself to dwell on it. It makes sense I’d need a partner, someone to rule with, a father to a future heir. But the thought of being with anyone besides Rev is abhorrent, and I know that will never change.
Rev and I are not publicly linked, but our souls are bonded in a permanent way. Open relationships are common among fae but uncommon in both rulers and in fated mates. For me, there is only Rev. There will only ever be Rev.
But I know he’ll also be pressured to marry.
“My rule will never be a typical one,” I tell them. “And my relationship is not up for debate. I understand what is at stake and will fight for this court in every possible way—it just may not be in a way you or the other advisors like.”
Luscious purses his lips but holds his tongue.
The table is quiet again. My advisors push their food on their plates but no longer talk.
“Do we have any other court members?” I ask, mostly to shift the topic anywhere but on my relationships. And it’s something I’ve been thinking about. We’re rebuilding the power of this palace, but we won’t be able to do the same to smaller structures around the kingdom like the one my father owned. A count living in a shack in a small village. Are there others like that?
“A few,” Octavia says. “Some have openly declared they want nothing to do with the royal family. Most of those don’t understand the full extent of what happened all those years ago. They feel betrayed and neglected by the Shadow Court.”
“Was my father one of those? Who wanted nothing to do with it?”
Emberly nods. “Your family has stayed away from politics for a few generations.”
“And the other families?”
“Two in the mountains near the Crumbling Court. One living north near the Glistening Court.”
“And the wanderer,” Tameria adds.
“Wanderer?”
