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Her gaze swivels down to Theo. She will not be able to save him so she must protect him instead.

Honora summons every well of energy she has left and leans forward to pick him up. He is slippery with blood, but she holds him close, putting a supportive hand under his head.

“Oh, Theo…” she whispers. Even as she speaks, she can taste the faeth around her.

Looking at him then, she smiles despitethe pain and fatigue. He settles down, gurgling, and tiny scales appear and disappear along his skin. She presses a kiss to his forehead, her tears spilling freely. She inhales slowly, closing her eyes and clearing her mind.

In the lonely dark of the room, with her baby clutched to her chest, Queen Honora hugs him close and draws on her Ascension. She whispers in dragon speech, her home tongue, a spell she hopes with her whole heart will work. She rocks back and forth, the words sliding and rolling over her tongue. Dark marks form on Theo’s back, spreading like smoke across his skin. She speaks and speaks until the mark is complete. She presses one last kiss to his forehead and utters the last word that will seal it.

Svellenta.

I love you.

Chapter 35

Theo says nothing as he listens. He is curled up underneath my arm, eyes wet, and takes a shuddering breath. When I am finished, he stays quiet.

“Svellenta,” he says after a while. “That…is that the word on my back you did not recognise?”

“Yes,” I say softly. “It was never a curse. It was a gift.”

“A gift,” Theo repeats, his voice cracking.

“She knew you were a dragon, like her, and wanted you to be able to defend yourself against…him.” I stroke his hair. “But shapeshifting takes decades to learn and control. I do not know the full extent of it myself, there is so much about the rest of the world that is not written in books. But this Ascension… I believe it is a stronger magic which dragons can achieve. Honora used it to gift you shapeshifting. To defend yourself.”

Theo nods numbly.

“The turnings were not at random,” he whispers, almost to himself as though thinking out loud. “But whenever I was threatened.”

He sits up slightly, wiping his eyes.

“Is this why it is so painful? Because it was forced?” he asks.

I rub my temples, dredging up old dragon knowledge hidden in the deep crevices of my mind.

“I believe so…all the books made reference to dragons using meditation to draw on their faeth. I suppose when used out of anger or fear, it is…a lot less peaceful,” I answer as best I can. “In time and with practice, I believe you will be able to clear your mind at will and use your faeth painlessly.”

Theo falls silent, processing this.

“I think we should use today for rest,” I tell him. “You have…learned a lot of overwhelming knowledge in a short space of time.”

“But my father.” Theo shoots up to a sitting position. His lip is curled in anger. “He…he,” Theo stutters, his hands balling into tight fists. “He killed my mother!” he yells, and his eyes begin to blaze gold. “He let me believe she hated me when this entire time…Saints, she loved me. My mother loved me.” His voice falters and cracks, his anger rapidly dissolving into sorrow. He slumps back against me.

“It is alright,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice as soothing as I can, even though I alsowant to turn my wrath on the king. For now, though, is it not what Theo needs.

“How do you know all of this?” he asks, sliding down until his head rests on my lap.

“Inez gave me her mother’s diary—she wrote about everything that happened that night.” I brush a lock of his hair from his eyes.

“But the king ordered her head. How did she write about that night?”

I hesitate, wondering if I should share everything else I learned or if I should let Theo ruminate on everything he has already discovered. I decide on somewhere in the middle.

“He did not follow through, as it turns out. And so she wrote about everything that happened afterwards. It…” I lick my lips. “It has given me what I need.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have a plan, Theo,” I whisper. “Not just for both of us, but for everyone in this castle.”