Page 12 of The Court of Secrets
My eyebrows pulled down. “Why?”
“For the coronation. He said you’d already been informed.”
I closed my eyes. I’d all but forgotten his promise to attend. For some reason, I thought he wouldn’t want to come. We’d left things on a good note, but he had as much going on in his kingdom—with the feral fae—as I did. I didn’t think a promise to me would be held in any importance.
I flexed my fingers. “I know it hasn’t been long since my departure, but how is he?”
“He is well.”
I worried about him. The Crown of Discieti’s curse continued to harden his heart, and when I was there, he’d been different, acting as if he was in pain. “He doesn’t seem… miserable?”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, hesitating on each word. “May I speak plainly?”
“Please do.”
“There was talk before that he was in anguish. Since you left, however, he seems better.”
“Oh,” I said, trying to smile my way through feeling like I’d been punched in the stomach. “He’s doing better without me there?”
She held her breath, her silence deafening.
“Understood,” I said before she could say anything else. I shouldn’t have cared. I was with Cedric. I was happy.
We continued to stroll through the castle. I walked with her through the long hallway with tall windows looking out at a gray sky. Dark buildings were silhouetted against the distant sea.
“He has requested to bring several of his guards, and—”
“Anyone is welcome here,” I said, interrupting before she gave me a long list of whom he wanted to accompany him to the castle. “The west wing will be made up for any guests from Niferum. You all fought beside me at the battle. Any faery is welcome in the castle.”
“He will be glad to hear it.”
I inhaled deeply and slowly. “Tell him to begin his journey.”
I wasn’t sure why the thought of him coming frightened me. Perhaps because the truth was too upsetting to admit. Ever since leaving, I had this horrible feeling in my chest—regret. He let me be my own person. He made me see things about myself and embrace parts of myself I never would have without him.
Cedric. His name flashed across my mind before I could delve too deep into thought.
Amara’s sharpened tone snapped me back to our reality. She cleared her throat. “We are concerned about King Kiros.”
“I am too.” I blew out a tense breath. Every time anyone brought up his coronation, my stomach felt as if it had been cut into ribbons. “But I assure you, those matters are being discussed with importance.”
Well, a vote was being held to antagonize him further, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. Kiros was dangerous, hurt, angry, and humiliated. I’d stolen his heart, and even though it was deserved and I’d done what I had to, to survive, I knew he would never see it that way.
“You are certain you can keep the threat contained?”
“Not certain, but we are handling it.”
“I’ve been told to give you a message. If you do go to war with Berovia, then Niferum will not be an ally.” She gave me an apologetic look. They weren’t her words. “We don’t have the resources. We lost a few men to the Sword of Impervius during the battle. With it still being in your court’s possession, we could not risk…” Her words trailed off.
“I understand, Amara.” I placed my hand on her shoulder. “Truly, I do. Niferum has done enough for Magaelor.”
Blaise couldn’t sacrifice for me forever, especially when I had so little to give him back. “I must prepare for the council meeting shortly, but please enjoy yourself. Drink, eat, and if you need anything, ask Ada.”
Amara nodded. She knew the head housekeeper and Ash Court well. She’d probably spent more time here than I had in the past four years.
“Is there anything else?”
“That’s all, Your Majesty.” She turned on her heel and hurried away, leaving me feeling uneasy as the first frost of winter began to show. The clouds outside the windows whirled into a sheet of gray. I straightened my spine, ignoring the anxiety balling my guts. It was time to be a queen and hold my first council, even if it meant discussing sending troops to Berovia to hurt Kiros. Even if it meant potentially being voted against and his threat looming ever bigger over my reign.
