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“I was thinking I could do something here, like a job or something.”

My father turned, sitting down on his large, hideous silver throne. It was overdone and gaudy, with large jewels and accents of gold all over it. The tackiness extended to the rest of the area, with the signature color of Cerithia, light blue, hanging on the tapestries around the overly extravagant room. His large crown never seemed to be off his head when I saw him. His eyes looked over me for a long moment.

“You are still considered the captain of my guard.”

“Yes, I know,” I frowned. “I thought maybe I could do whatever it is that Tally and Mae do as daughters of the king.”

He quirked his eyebrow up at me like he hadn’t even thought about it. My heart pounded as I waited under his pointed stare. It felt odd that even as his daughter, he didn’t consider me to do what my half-sisters did. Royalty or not, I should still be considered family.

“They are royal. You are not.” He shook his head. “You still need to pay your debt to us for what you put us through.”

My shoulders deflated at his words. I was sick of being here with no purpose, and if I didn’t get something to do soon, I would lose my mind completely.

“But you said I was your daughter, that I had a spot here, in my home. It seems like I do not belong here in any capacity.”

Something I couldn’t decipher crossed his features. His already rigid posture stiffened even more at my words. He didn’t like that I had used his own words against him.

“We have a celebration tomorrow night. You can possibly attend if you wish, but you must behave yourself. If you pull anything like you did last time, you will never attend another family function.”

I nodded, but I didn’t feel any excitement. It felt like he was forced to ask me instead of thinking of me. I was an afterthought. My stomach clenched tightly in disappointment.

I gave a small fake smile and turned to leave.

“Thea,” my father called out to me. “You are the captain of my guard, and you will continue those duties. War will fall upon the kingdoms in the near future, and you are the key to winning. You will be expected to take down Crimson and kill Cassius. It is the only way to gain a place here.”

“Or you could tell everyone that I chose to come here to fight for my family and Cerithia. Surely that would suffice until war came. Your approval of my return could help me acclimate.”

He didn’t respond.

I nodded slightly and headed for the door before pausing.

“Does my mother live in Cerithia?”

He stood so immediately at my question that I stepped back away from him.

“She’s dead, and we do not speak of her.” But he had spoken of her the other day in the gardens.

“B-but…”

“But nothing!” he bellowed before he seemed to realize he was yelling at me. “Your mother betrayed me, Thea. I do not wish to speak of her. She is dead, and I never want to hear you speak of her again. She is a traitor to Cerithia. Like mother, like daughter, I suppose.”

I flinched at his cruel words, but my darkness surged forward, wanting to hurt him. It took all of my focus not to let it out. My fingernails dug into my palms so painfully that I wondered if I had drawn blood again.

I wanted to ask more questions. Didn’t I deserve to know about my mother? What had she done to betray my father and Cerithia? I didn’t even know her name. I didn’t know if she was married to my father or if I had another family from her side. My father’s hands fisted as he waited for me to either ask a question or drop the subject matter entirely. I nodded.

“I’m going to the city to try and help my memories come back.”

“That isn’t a good idea.”

“Why am I being treated like a prisoner?” I glared. My father obviously realized I was not going to keep being pushed to the side.

“You did a lot of damage with your outburst at the party. I do not think the other fae want to see you.”

I deflated at his words.

“Fine.”

“You can start training the men if you wish.”