Page 156 of Reign of Light
He shrugs his shoulders. “My grandfather disagrees.”
My mouth falls open, and I snap it closed again. “Your grandfather?”
He nods toward the parchment in my hand. “You read his words yourself.”
“Edmond is your grandfather?” I say, unable to hide the shock in my voice. “I didn’t even know he had a son.”
“He did.” My mother’s voice is soft from behind me, and when I turn to look, her focus is still locked on the man. “You look so much like him, I can hardly believe it.”
He turns to her then, his face softening as he hinges into a deep bow. “Queen Mother, he had nothing but great things to say and fond memories to share about you.”
A quiet cough comes from the far wall, where Signee is leaning against it, trying to conceal a smile with her hand. The man glances at her before turning back to me.
“This letter does nothing,” I say, folding it back up and shoving it in my pocket. “And I don’t have time to pull the law books from the library right now, so if you’ll excuse me, mister…”
“Rowe. Weston Rowe, my queen.”
My traitorous stomach flips again at the sound of his name,and I blame it on the nerves.
“Mister Rowe,” I say curtly. “Like I said before, I am unable to discuss this at this time, so if you will please excuse me?—”
“I have more proof of my position than the letter.” The shock at his arrogance and nerve in interrupting the queen flares in me, but it’s gone the moment he raises his hand and a flash of gold flickers in the torchlight.
My hand flies to my chest as my eyes zero in on the ring circling his finger, the thick band stamped with a design I could recognize anywhere.
“The seal of Blackwood, and the ring of the First Guard, my queen.”
I storm toward him, my steps angry and aggressive, before pulling myself to a halt. I don’t know this man, and I can’t get too close to him. I can’t trust anyone who just walks into the castle making unsupported claims, no matter who he knows or who he looks like.
“Where did you get that?” I cry. My palm flattens against my skin where the missing necklace used to lie until this morning. “That’s mine.”
“No,” he says firmly, his eyes sparkling with challenge. “It’s mine.”
My mouth gapes as I try to make sense of how he could have the ring I’ve worn around my neck every moment until now. How could any of this have happened? How could he have spoken to Edmond? How did he come to have the armor of the First Guard?
I shake my head in disbelief, and look to my mother, silently pleading for her thoughts on the matter. She must see the desperation in my eyes, because she doesn’t hesitate.
“The Rowe men are trusted and cherished by the royal family. If you are who you say you are, the son of my late husband’s most loyal friend and protector, and by the looks of you, I would assume so, then I believe you have the best interests of the kingdom at heart.” She slowly turns to me, giving me a slight nod.
I clench my jaw tightly and turn back to Weston, sending him a glare that I hope conveys how annoying his appearance is today of all days, but my stare is only met with a smirk and sparkling teal eyes.
It is infuriating.
“I will look into the laws the moment the coronation ball is over, understood?” I snap. I barely get the last word out before something slams into my legs, almost knocking me off my already aching feet, and I look down to find…a child?
I stare down at the top of his head, mouth agape, as this child squeezes me as tightly as he can through my billowing skirt. It’s only then that I finally look around and notice Weston is not the only one waiting in the entrance hall. A small family stands off behind him. The man, who looks to be the father, holds a small infant. The mother’s arms are laden with what looks like a set of staff uniforms, and a beaming smile lights up her face.
“Hello,” I say hesitantly, and the boy tilts his head back, looking up at me with a wide, toothy grin. I can’t help but smile at him, warmth blooming in my chest at the pure joy in his childish expression. Unwrapping his hands from my dress, I crouch down, and his eyes widen.
“Soyouwere the princess,” he says, his boyish voice filled with wonder.
I chuckle softly. “I was. But now I’m the queen. What’s your name?”
“Fin,” Weston grumbles, and both the boy and my head snap toward the sound. Weston shakes his head slightly before jerking it backward, toward the family near the doorway.
“Oops! Sorry!” the boy, Fin, says before shrugging his shoulders to his ears and smiling sheepishly up at me. “I forgot.” He steps backward before waving shyly at me, then turns and runs straight for the man at the back of the room. I watch in disbelief as he waves wildly across the hall, and turn to see who he is looking at, only to find Signee, shaking her head with her arms crossed over her chest, a smile playing at her lips.
I press my fingertips to my forehead, rubbing at the ache I can feel coming on. “I don’t know what is going on here, but it all needs to end. Now. I have a coronation to attend.”
