Page 77 of A Queen’s Betrayal (Legends of Worldbinders #1)
Red and orange streamers adorned the room, while banners bearing the symbol of her element hung from the balconies on the second floor. Strings of lanterns zigzagged across the ceiling, creating an atmosphere bursting with light, color, and joy.
Males and females, both young and old, were dressed in fine clothing, their hair neatly combed or intricately styled. Although each person was unique, all the women’s hair was embellished with ribbons of gold, red, and orange. Their eyes shimmered with glittering shades of fire.
Her fire .
Arenna’s stomach tightened.
A splash of color once again drew her gaze to the ceiling, and her breath hitched at the sight.
It was adorned with a mural similar to those in the hallway—a vibrant display of colors and figures, stars and planets.
Seven women stood in a circle, light radiating from their palms, their power manifesting as a small world before them.
Not women at all, but goddesses. The Seven Sisters , the creators of Pheanixios and their world. They were mesmerizing in their beauty, embodying a power that captivated Arenna. Though she had never seen artwork dedicated to them, she knew their likenesses by heart.
As they ventured deeper into the ballroom, an eerie silence settled over the crowd.
Music ceased almost immediately, and everyone in the room bowed as their king entered.
She felt a pang of silliness standing beside him, as if she had no right to be there.
Arenna stepped to the right, attempting to place a sliver of distance between them, so he could bask in the light his people bestowed upon him.
But Kayson’s hand wrapped around her forearm—just above the scar on her wrist—and he subtly shook his head. “We are celebrating you ,” he whispered. He released her arm and stepped aside, leaving the crowded ballroom in a bow, their heads lowered, hands directed toward her.
Arenna didn’t know how to process the emotion swelling in her chest or the unease crawling against her skin. Too many times, she had sat beside Jaksen, and people bowed because he demanded respect and praise from their people. But these Fae—she was nothing to them.
A human, even.
Yet they still did it.
The earth trembled, and she glanced at Kayson, surprised to see pride etched on his features. She was the Firewielder, and he had waited hundreds of years for her.
Kayson extended his arm and together they walked toward the center of the ballroom, heading for a long table where two Fae sat—one female and one male. They were older than the king, their skin wrinkled and hair graying. Thick purple robes draped around them, pooling on the floor beneath the table.
This moment reminded her so much of Jaksen, of Brookworth—being escorted into a grand ballroom, eyes scrutinizing her every move, a king at her side. But this time was different. Arenna could be herself. She wasn’t expected to act a certain way or speak quietly and politely. She was free.
Arenna straightened and intertwined her fingers with Kayson’s, feeling him go still as death at the contact.
She squeezed his hand.
He smiled and squeezed back. “I present Arenna Firewielder,” Kayson announced to the two Fae, nudging her gently forward as his hand slipped from hers. “Arenna, this is Elder Baldric and Elder Ada. They oversee the teaching of young Fae in the palace.”
Arenna felt uncertain. Should she bow?
She began to dip at the waist, but Kayson’s hand on her stomach halted her mid-movement. “You do not bow to anyone, Firewielder,” he whispered from behind her. “No one.”
Blood roared in her ears at his touch and his words. Straightening, she turned back to face the Elders. The tips of her round, human ears flushed warm. “Hello,” Arenna said.
Silence met her.
Well, alright .
The female Elder stood. “Firewielder, an honor,” she said, placing a hand on her heart. She slung an arm through the male’s. “We were so excited to host this celebration for you tonight. Truthfully, I did not know if I would ever live to see this day.”
Baldric nodded, placing a hand over his heart. Arenna longed to curl into a ball in her chambers, away from the crowd’s watchful eyes.
Disappearing felt tempting, but she had been summoned for a higher calling, and despite her reluctance, Arenna had to embrace it. “The honor is mine,” she said, a small smile gracing her lips. “Thank you for doing all this for—”
“For you?” Ada said with a smile.
Arenna nodded, feeling a strange mix of emotions. It was odd to be celebrated when she felt she had done nothing worthy of such admiration. She could not save her mother, help her people, stand up to her husband, or protect Faylen.
She had abandoned Isabella and Koltin.
Arenna swallowed as the permanent dagger in her heart twisted.
Her failures felt overwhelming— suffocating .
Darkness crept into her mind, swallowing any remaining light and feasting on the joy she had felt moments before.
Then warmth spread across her back, a presence at her side, rain filling her senses.
She blinked.
Kayson stood closer than before, his gentle hand rubbing her back. His features were pained, as if he could hear her thoughts, as if he understood how she felt about herself and her life.
“Arenna?” Baldric asked, his tone neutral. “Is everything alright?”
“Perfect,” she blurted, a little too quickly. “Everything is perfect. Truthfully, this is all a lot to take in.” Her gaze fell to her hands, where swirls of red and orange flared beneath her skin.
“I take it you’re talking about more than just the party,” Ada observed. A calming presence radiated from the female Elder. Her golden-brown skin was wrinkled and thinning with age, and her dark and gray hair was cropped to her shoulders, adorned with beads and ribbons.
Arenna exhaled a heavy breath. “That obvious?”
The female Elder smiled warmly at her, the look bright and comforting against the darkness seeping into her mind. “Come, I will take you somewhere quieter.” Ada led her up the stairs toward a wide balcony overlooking Vlazias, cloaked in darkness.
Arenna leaned against the railing, slightly out of breath, captivated by the breathtaking view. She thought she might never see a day where Worden wouldn’t leave her in awe.
“Beautiful here,” Ada said. “Isn’t it?” Arenna nodded. “When the world feels heavy on my shoulders, I often seek the quiet of the night for relief. Tell me what is on your mind, Firewielder.”
Arenna didn’t know how to answer right away, her emotions storming inside, betraying her. “I’m not used to being the center of attention,” she said, spitting out the first thing that came to mind. “Especially when I don’t understand why.”
“No, I don’t suppose you are.” Ada offered a closed-lip smile.
“What people have always relied on and strived for is hope. Hope can move mountains, make dreams come true. It can save, in the eyes of some. You are a token of hope, a beacon of salvation, Arenna. And more than anything, the Fae of this palace just want to see a fraction of your light.”
“I fear I won’t be much when they finally see what they’ve been waiting for.” Arenna wasn’t sure why she admitted such a feeling or even understood how she felt comfortable enough to do so.
Ada placed her hand in Arenna’s. “You alone are enough.”
Throat thick with emotion, Arenna could not answer the Elder.
Thankfully, Ada let go of her hand and spoke first, changing the topic. “Have you been training?”
“Yes,” Arenna replied. “I’ve come a long way.” She ran a hand along her chilled arm, feeling the muscle. A long way indeed.
“And you’re not burning out?”
Arenna shook her head. “I’ve come close, but I’ve learned my limits.”
“Good.” Ada stepped away from the railing, turning to gaze at the view. Lights from Worden flickered in the distance. “I wanted to bring you here to give you a moment to think. When the weight of the world rests on your shoulders, it can feel overwhelming.”
Arenna laughed. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“King Kayson said the same when I had this talk with him many years ago,” Ada smiled genuinely, as if recalling the memory. “Even then, he felt much like you do now. I’m sure he still does.”
“He’s very good at hiding it,” Arenna admitted, taking a seat on the thick railing and basking in the chilled wind. “It hardly seems like anything bothers him at all.”
Ada nodded, grinning. “The duty of a king, I’m afraid.
It’s easy to make assumptions from the outside looking in, but King Kayson carries a lot of weight—more than you realize.
” She placed a hand on Arenna’s shoulder.
“I know what you will face in the days to come is frightening, and it might feel like you aren’t capable of handling it.
” The way the Elder looked into her eyes felt as though she were staring directly into the center of Arenna’s soul.
“But remember, you are exactly where you need to be.”
After patting her cheek gently, Ada walked back toward the stairwell, leaving Arenna alone once more. As she scanned the stars, feeling goosebumps rise on her arms, she scooted off the railing and smoothed the wrinkles in her black gown.
Bracing her hands on the stone, she leaned forward and looked at the kingdom below. Even from this distance, the castle—magnificent in its splendor and the rippling effects of the ward—were still awe-inspiring.
Still wonderful. Still home.
You are exactly where you need to be .
Those words replayed in Arenna’s mind and heart. Ada was right—so incredibly right—and she couldn’t stand that her learned hatred for this kingdom had prevented her from seeing that she belonged here.
She was born for this.
The Seven had created her and the fire in her veins to restore this land and Varios, to reunite them as one. Arenna glanced again at the castle, the roaring river surrounding it, and the jagged mountains protecting it. She realized she too would do anything to protect it.