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She knew.It softened my heart. I had spent my life trying to protect her. Only now, she was bound to Inarus, unable to claim her power.

Inarus remained silent through our discussion. He added nothing—not even defending his mistaken assumption that the throne would accept Eleanor.

“Why do you want her to become queen?” I asked him.

“Same reason as you,” he answered. “She could send Gloom north.”

“But…” I shook my head. “Yousummoned Gloom. At the Collapse.”

“What happened wasn’t part of my plan,” he said defensively. “A miscalculation.”

“A miscalculation?” I hissed. My parents haddied.Thismiscalculationhad displaced my people, exiling them from a salted land. His Shades had killed Sandra.I gritted my teeth. “What was your plan?”

“I wanted to make things better,” Inarus began. “Both of you were so young when it happened, too young to possibly understand.

“The Isle of Shadow was weakening, our people scraping by, reliant on archaic tools. With every year, the Starlit Isle grew brighter. Their investment in trade revitalized their city. To survive, we had to modernize. I made plans, developing shadow-based fae goods to sell.

“But your parents refused. ‘Too dangerous,’ they said. They were stuck in their old ways, convinced that fae goods would lead to more warfare than medication. With their lofty morals, your parents refused to see how their inaction would lead to decay.”

With his explanation, my childhood memories gained a new significance. I remembered how grand Port Saundyrs first appeared. My childhood had been dark and dull by comparison.

“So you attempted to take the throne?” I asked.

Inarus nodded. “The event you called the Collapse was supposed to go very differently. The first Shades were delinquents, civilization’s unwanted. I learned necromancy for the greater good, killing them, turning them into my servants. I created them to help me claim the throne.

“On the Longest Night, I made my move. My attack was two-pronged: Gloom descended as the Shades rose. My army overtook the throne room, and I cut the throne. Our history speaks of times when citizens have cut down the thrones, deciding their monarchs were unfit. I thought, by claiming the throne, it would then choose me…”

“Only itdidn’tchoose you,” Eleanor chided, raising her root-cuffed wrist.

“Clearly. As I was wrong about the throne, I was also wrong about Gloom.”

His fingers traced the raw black diamond. There was a glint to his eyes, aneedhaunting him as he touched the stone.

Inarus continued, “The throne denied me. And then Gloom lost containment. And ever since, I’ve done what was necessary to correct my mistakes—I make Shades because it keeps Gloom from expanding.”

I blinked. “You kill fae to keep Gloom from descending south?”

He nodded. “The exchange works. Gloom is the antithesis of vitality. The less life in the Isles, the less energy Gloom needs to balance. These deaths keep Gloom contained. It’s a necessary sacrifice I’m brave enough to make.” His eyes grew wild. “My corruption is my calling.”

It sickened me. “There has to be a better way—”

Eleanor’s posture straightened. “Thereisa better way—I need to become queen.”

Inarus sighed. “I wish the ashflower had worked. At least the roots are stronger.Youlook stronger. Maybe with time, there is hope…” He grew unsure.

Yet Eleanor was direct. She held my gaze. “If only I had more ashflower, then I could become queen.”

32 | Coward

Ayla

“The ashflower, it’s for me.”Eleanor sounded so confident. Everything about the Princess Heir seemed that way—self-assured, like she was above the rest. Every detail, from her leathered dress to her tight dark braid and rising horns, she was a queen.

She reminded me of Mariana. I distrusted her by instinct, righteous anger rising at the tone of her voice. I had to find a way to look beyond my pain.

What if Eleanor was right?What if shecouldheal my brand? Did her potential power outweigh my immediate safety? Options swayed before me.

Like I had after the assassin’s attack, I ran away. I left them—I left Zayne. Ninti clung to me, silent and still. I pressed my cheek against her flickering tailtip.