Page 64 of Between These Broken Hearts (Cursed Stars #2)

“We didn’t fight this long and sacrifice so much to keep the corrupt Seven in power,” Remme says, slapping a hand on the table.

“I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation.”

Sol presses her palms together, the picture of patience. “But have you stopped to consider what that’s going to be like? The

vast majority of Elorans think the Seven are their saviors. Maybe that would change once you prove all the centuries of lies,

but people want something to believe in. And the Eloran people? They need something to believe in. They will fight you if you try to take that away—even if your reasons are all the right ones.”

“So what’s your solution?” Skylar says. She’s been frowning so hard Mom would say her face was going to get stuck like that.

“Keep the status quo? Accept that the world is full of injustices just because change would be hard ?”

Sol exchanges a look with her daughter, who came along for this meeting and informed us that she’d be taking her husband’s seat at the table.

I hugged her and apologized for not being able to save Konner.

Her eyes were bright when she told me I saved the thing he cared about most instead.

And then she passed that squirming, giggling baby girl into my arms.

“We’re suggesting,” Tulle says, “that you don’t change the system but the people inside of it. We’ve culled the rot and the

greed from the Seven, so it’s the perfect time to replace them with humans. Leaders of their own right who know better than

anyone stuck in our palace exactly what their people need.”

“Humans,” Remme says, like he’s never heard the word before.

Sol steps in. “Your old monarchy was headed by a human queen—so why not a human Matriarch of the Seven? Then we don’t have

to fight the people to give them what they need. We work together, elves and humans, to create a world where both can live.”

“You make it sound so easy,” Skylar says.

“It won’t be easy,” Sol admits. “Not at all. When has lasting change on a scale this big ever been easy? But would your full

revolution be any easier?”

“If I could say something?” Crissa says, her small voice breaking, the first bird chirp before sunrise.

“I would love to hear your thoughts,” Sol says. She sounds sincere. About all of this.

“We have three groups of people in Elora,” Crissa says. “You’ve spoken of the first two—those who believe the Seven are their

saviors and those who know the true history and want the monarchy restored—but I think you’re forgetting about everyone else.”

We all wait expectantly for her to tell us, but it’s Jasalyn who speaks first.

“Those who are too busy trying to survive to have an opinion about any of it,” the shadow princess says. My brother beams

at her, sappy and in love and so good for my heart.

Crissa nods. “It’s easy for you all to look down on them for failing to take a stand in a world that has been so unjust to them, but protest is a luxury.

Having an agenda is a privilege. These people are focused on finding their next meal and keeping a roof over their children’s heads.

” She takes a breath. “So, yes, there are those who still believe in the grace and goodness of the Seven, but there are also plenty of people out there who have either been working to help restore the monarchy or who are so jaded they don’t believe in the current system anymore.

Those people need something to believe in too, but something new might be easier for them to swallow. ”

“You’re proposing a new system?” Sol asks.

“I’m proposing,” Crissa says, “that we don’t choose.” She gives a small shrug. “We rebuild the Seven, as you suggested, replacing

those who supported Erith and Mordeus with human leaders from Elora, but there’s no matriarch and no patriarch. The Seven

worked best when they all ruled equally.”

“Hear! Hear!” Sol says.

Crissa goes on. “Then we have the Seven publicly support new monarchy. A callback to the old days. A blending of the old and

the new. We work together and support each other. And most importantly, we keep each other in check.”

“You’d still be our queen,” Skylar says, stars in her eyes.

Abriella glances toward my brother. “And who would be your king? Will you ask your oracle?”

Crissa’s eyes are bright as she turns to the shadow queen.

“Did you know that in the early days of the Eloran monarchy, the Chosen was simply the one who protected the queen? The markings along his forehead weren’t considered a crown but a symbol of his fate being tied to the crown.

Along the way, some people decided a woman shouldn’t rule alone and insisted the Chosen marry the queen and rule beside her. ”

“You’re kidding ,” Skylar says.

“She’s not,” Natan says. “Those days were long ago, but you’ll find record of them in the Chronicles.”

“The oracle will give me a new protector if we request one, but I’ve realized”—she flicks her gaze to Jas and smiles—“that

love isn’t something we push aside for when it’s convenient, and it’s not something that should have to hide behind a public

marriage. If it’s real, it’s part of who we are, and with it we are better.

“I plan to marry the man I love—a human, for what it’s worth. We will marry and make a family, and I will lead Elora into

a better day with him at my side.” She turns her smile on the shadow queen. “As you do with your love.”

“A queen and the Seven,” Remme says slowly. “Four fae and three humans make up the Seven, plus a human queen.”

“I like it,” Skylar says, leaning back in her chair. “I think it could actually work.”

“And since we are supporting each other,” Sol says, “it avoids the nasty bloodshed that so often comes with change.”

“I suggest we reconvene after dinner to discuss the best way to choose who sits among the Seven,” Crissa says.

The group disperses, but Hale doesn’t go anywhere so neither do I.

Jas kisses his cheek, then flashes me a smile before following the others out of the room.

“So what’s next for you?” I ask. “Where do you go after this?”

“Jas and I want to live in Elora. And while I hate to take her from here...” He scans the room, and I know he’s seeing

the opulence and wealth of the shadow court, thinking of everything he won’t be able to provide her. “She says she wants it

too.”

Hale’s brows lift. “And what about you, sister?”

“I plan to stay in the Wild Fae Lands. With Misha.”

“Why am I not surprised?” He grins. “Damn, sis, wouldn’t that make you his next queen ?”

“Nothing that was in my plans, I promise.”

“You’ll be good at it, though. The best. I’d bet money on it.”

My chest feels too full. I wonder how much closer Hale and I could’ve been if I hadn’t always been so insecure, so sure I

had cost him and his family— my family—more than I was worth. I won’t let my future be darkened that way, not when I’ve come to realize who I really am and

how much I have to be proud of.

You almost ready to say your goodbyes, so I can take you home? Misha asks in my mind. He must be waiting in the hall.

Almost.

“Sol offered me a job,” I admit. “If the Wild Fae Lands and the Elora Seven are going to be allies, they need a liaison who

has interests in both realms.”

He beams. “You’d be good at that.”

I clear my throat. “Yes, but I believe the role of Wild Fae queen might keep me a bit too busy, and perhaps a bit biased as

well? I suggested you.”

He blinks at me, looks around the room like maybe he’s the butt of a joke, then gapes at me. “You’re suggesting that after a life crusading against the Eloran Palace, I join them ?”

“What better way to keep them honest and focused on the right things? And anyway, you wouldn’t work for them, nor for any particular court in Faerie. You’d be an intermediary.”

“Thank the gods for that,” he mutters.

Misha’s back in my head and I can practically feel him tapping his fingers impatiently. Please don’t forget we have plans for tonight , he says.

I haven’t forgotten.

“You’ll think about it?” I ask Hale.

He gives a jerky nod that tells me he’s already thinking.

When I stand to go, he jumps up and hugs me. “Don’t let your important new life keep you from visiting. Mom wouldn’t forgive

me if I let that happen.”

“Don’t worry,” I whisper, eyes hot. “I have a lot of reasons to visit and an eager young goblin to escort me anytime I need.”

“Good,” he murmurs, voice rough. “Until then, I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” I turn to the door and see Skylar standing in the doorway, waving her eyes dry. “You okay?”

“Not one word,” she snaps, pointing a finger at me.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

She sniffs and gives me a quick hug. “Be safe and take good care of that delicious king of yours.”

“I plan to.”

“How were the rest of your goodbyes?” Misha asks when his goblin finally leaves us at our destination a short ride from Castle

Craige.

I smirk. “They were fine, though you didn’t do the best job disguising your impatience.”

“It’s not that I’m not sympathetic,” he says, opening the door for me. “It’s that I happen to know we’re all going to be in

the same room together before the next full moon.”

“Hale and Jasalyn’s bonding ceremony?” I ask.

He scoffs. “As if the princess would want guests for something like that.”

“Good call.” I wave to Fancee and she scurries up front from the kitchen.

“Welcome,” she crows, eyes bright. “I have the perfect dinner prepared for you two. Just follow me.”

The back patio is set up as it was over eight months ago when I was in Jasalyn’s form and Misha and I shared such a lovely

meal here.

“This okay?” he asks, pulling a chair out for me.

I take a seat and tilt my head back to smile up at him. “Misha, it’s perfect.”

He drops a kiss to my lips. “You’re perfect.”

“Not at all.” I laugh, shaking my head at him as he walks around to his side of the table. “So tell me why you’re so sure

we’ll see everyone soon?”

“Because Pretha and Amira are getting married, and they want their favorite people there.”

I snort. “And that includes Skylar?”

“Amira, shockingly, thinks Skylar is incredibly charming.” He turns up his hands. “It must be an empath thing.”

“She’s a badass on the outside and a softie on the inside. It’s true, but she’ll punch you if she finds out you know, so don’t mention it.”

He chuckles and Fancee reappears with a bottle of wine.

“Faerie wine for the special couple.” She fills our glasses and then plops a basket of bread between us. “I’ll get your meal

started. You enjoy.”

I trace the rim of my wineglass. “Faerie wine, huh?”

His eyes sparkle. “Only if you want it.”

“Is it wise to lower my inhibitions around you, King Misha?”

He pulls his chair around to my side of the table and leans into me. “You never know.” His gaze drops to my mouth. “I might

kiss you, confess my undying love, and trick you into being my queen.”

I lift out of my chair, just enough to press a kiss to his lips. “Sounds like the perfect dinner.”