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A cantha insisted on accompanying us until we reached Callista’s room. After the door closed, she turned to me. “We need to have a meeting to discuss this.”

“ We don’t need anything, Aunt.” I barely managed to keep my voice calm. “I am the king, and I will not tolerate your insubordination like that ever again.” I stepped closer to her and lowered my voice. A little menace wouldn’t hurt. “Nobody defies me the way you just did. The only reason you are still alive is because of our history together.” Well, that and the fact that Callista made me want to give people second chances.

But Acantha did not need to know that. She stood her ground, staring at me with beady eyes. I loomed over her. “Despite all the help you’ve given me, if anyone besides the fae had seen what you did, I would have had to strike you down as an example.”

Finally she took a step back and raised her hands placatingly. “You’re right, Aedan. I should have approached the situation differently. But I am genuinely worried about you. I know you don’t believe me, but I am asking you—begging you—to tell Mylo and Fagan how you feel. If we all find it troubling, would you consider the possibility of having been manipulated?”

I stepped backward as well. I could just incarcerate her and she would be out of my way, but… Callista’s words came to my mind. Give others a little grace.

I sighed. “Fine. Bring them to my room.”

She dropped into a curtsy that was deeper than normal for her and then glided down the corridor.

Once she was completely out of sight, I retreated to my room. I needed to remove all the evidence of my trauma-marked change of heart during the last two days, but before I started, Callista knocked.

I rushed to open the door and bowed. “I’m sorry for my aunt. She is—” I lost my train of thought when I saw Callista holding my dagger. Did she want to use it on my aunt? For attacking her? But that seemed out of character for the half-fae in front of me.

I recollected my thoughts. “She is prone to worry, but I’ve never seen her overreact so badly before.” I glanced at the knife. “Do… you want to punish her?”

Callista’s eyes widened. “No!” She shook her head. “The things you think! I thought you might want this back so the people in your meeting don’t notice it missing and ask about it.”

My lips twisted into a smile—I should have guessed she wanted something like that. I reached for it, but then stopped. A new idea grew in my mind, and I liked the way it felt.

Instead of taking the blade, I wrapped my hands over hers while they were still on the hilt. “I would like you to keep this. As a symbol of my determination to be a better person. ”

My voice caught, and I swallowed. Apparently a determination to be kind made one subject to more emotions. Or perhaps it was being the recipient of her kindness, as Fagan had said.

I squeezed her hands carefully. “I want to be more kind and to understand people better. I don’t want my own fears and prejudices to determine my actions. I want to give people second chances.”

I slid one of my hands off hers and onto the blade, turning it, so that I held the blade in one upturned palm and her hand—around the hilt—in my other upturned palm. “This blade was forged with flames from my grandfather, King Dustan, and ground with magic from my grandmother, Queen Ember. It has always been a symbol of power and precision to me, but I want to give it to you as a sign that I will not let power overrule benevolence.”

“It radiates power,” she whispered.

I pushed it closer to her. “Please. Keep it.”

She clutched it close to her chest. “Thank you.”

I blew out a soft breath, trying to diffuse the thick air between us. “On a different topic, it seems I will be having a meeting very shortly with my aunt and two other advisors.” I gestured at my room. “I need to clean up a bit before they arrive.”

She nodded, shaking off a little more of the charged moment. “I heard through the wall. I’ll be quick. I know you don’t have any good reason to trust me, but—”

I cut her off. “I have many good reasons to trust you.”

She tightened her fingers around the hilt of the knife and took a bracing breath. “Still, this will sound manipulative. But I promise it’s not. I just want to tell you what I saw.”

Now I was curious.

She talked faster. “Your aunt’s magic is the same color as the tendrils I saw darkening the rose’s pink magic. That pink magic is undiluted fae magic. I’m certain of it now. The dark purple—I’m not so certain. But your aunt’s magic is the same color.”

Her words came even faster now, like she was afraid of running out of time or getting interrupted. “That doesn’t really mean anything, and I want more time to think about it, but I wanted you to know in case she goes down there again by herself. There are only so many colors, so sometimes I see the same color for lots of different things, but I don’t like how it’s the same color as magic that I thought was fae, but maybe isn’t, and definitely had a malevolent feeling to it. Also—”

She paused for a breath, my mind started to process the things she’d said.

After one quick breath, though, she started again. “Also, the colors I see have a kind of movement to them. Magic doesn’t hold still—it sort of vibrates. And her magic had a similar vibration to it as yours, and both of your magics harmonized with the magic in the rose. I don’t know if it means anything. The only people I’ve seen with magic before I came here were Motab and Alastor, but I’ve seen enough elven magic here now to recognize the difference in fae and elf and… well, there’s a kind of harmony in your family’s magic and the tree.”

I put up a hand. “Slow down, Callista. I think I know what you’re seeing.”

She raised her brows, and I almost laughed. Her curiosity was as intriguing as her unpredictability.

“My family has a connection with the rose tree,” I explained. “It is tied to the ruling line, and each new king bonds with it when he takes the throne. But a portion of the power it gives us is passed to our children, so Acantha would have received some as the daughter of my grandfather. I received a portion when I was born, as the son of Fintan, the ruling king. My own bond with the plant ties our magic together.”

She raised her chin and lowered it slowly as she paid close attention to my words. “Magic is an unpredictable thing,” I added. “I don’t know why everything always works the way it does, but I am not surprised to hear that her magic, mine, and the rose have things in common.”

Hints of anxiety brushed against the edges of my awareness— her anxiety brushed against my awareness of the mistek bond between us. I searched for signs of stress in her face, but could not find any. “Is something wrong?” I asked.

“I hope not,” she said, “but you need to prepare for your meeting. I’ll leave you to it.”

“Callista!” My hand jumped out to grab her elbow, but I stopped before I touched her. Still, she turned back around and raised a brow.

“Will you tell me what worries you, please?”

That brow arched even higher. “What worries me? Why do you assume—” She cut off and pressed a hand to her heart. “The bond. You can tell.”

I nodded. “Is it so wrong that I would like the opportunity to alleviate your anxiety?”

She smiled. “Not wrong at all. But I am trying to think before I speak and save my thoughts for the most appropriate time.”

I smiled back. “But I like hearing your thoughts.”

“Do you?” She wrapped both hands around the dagger hilt. “I’m afraid I tend to reprimand you.”

“I doubt you were holding back a reprimand just now. ”

“No,” her voice dropped to a whisper. “I was not.”

“Please tell me. Surely I can help.”

Her eyes darted to the hall door in her room and then back to me. “Your aunt scares me.”

My stomach twisted at her confession. She was only here because of me, and I hated that she felt the need to fear anyone in my fortress.

I stepped closer to her and placed a hand on each of her shoulders like my own father used to do when he wanted me to hear something important. “Callista.” I spoke in the drekkan’s deep tones, hoping it might help ground her fears. “I will not let her hurt you.” I squeezed her shoulders with the smallest amount of pressure. “I will not let anyone hurt you. Will you trust me in this?”

She nodded, but her nerves did not lessen.

I wrapped my magic around her door. Callista’s gaze followed my power. Unsure of what she saw, but knowing it was related to my magic, I explained. “I sealed your door with my magic. If anybody opens it tonight, I will feel it, and I will come to make sure you are safe.”

The tension I’d felt in the bond disappeared. “Thank you.”

I pulled away from her and bowed, retreating back to my room to prepare for Acantha.

Mylo’s fingertips drummed silently against the table. His face was unusually difficult to read as Acantha listed her concerns. Even I had to admit, she’d made a convincing argument .

Fagan responded first. He also looked more somber than I’d expected. “So, in summary, you are concerned that the fae is manipulating Aedan because he wants to give her freedom to move about the fortress and because he defended her against your attack?”

Her chin dipped in a quick nod. “And he took her to the rose cavern. The Aedan we know would never allow such a security risk.”

I raised my chin as I tried to hold back the disdain I felt for her violent, fear-based actions.

Fagan turned to Mylo. “Security falls under your purview. How dangerous do you think she is?”

Mylo switched from drumming to tapping his index finger only. He shifted his gaze from Fagan, to Acantha, to me, and then drew a slow breath. “I have no evidence that she is dangerous at all.”

Acantha’s eyes hardened. “What about the way she charms everyone she encounters? You think she’s harmless, Aedan thinks she’s helpless, even the D’aeran twins have given up their lawlessness for her! It’s—”

She paused to scowl at Fagan as he smiled and shook his head slowly. Through her glare, she finished. “It’s as clear a sign as dawn.”

Fagan buried his humor. “I know I’m more a guest here than anything else, so I’ll share my thoughts and let you decide what to do.”

I smiled at him. “Your honesty has been a boon to me and my father. I appreciate your thoughts.”

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about her,” he said. “If she could affect everyone the way she’s affected the few who have seen her, I would turn her loose everywhere I could.”

“Not everyone loves her,” Mylo added. “I’ve had at least a dozen people ask me what I’m doing to protect the population from her.” He nearly rolled his eyes.

“Yes,” Acantha hissed, “but she charms everyone who speaks to her.”

Fagan’s eyes twinkled. “Apparently not you. Nor, I believe, Lady Carmine.”

“Even worse.” Acantha’s eyes widened. “She only charms elves with the potential to marry her.”

Mylo snorted. “I’m married, Acantha. As is Fagan.”

“He isn’t charmed.” She glared at Fagan again. “He’s just keeping his eyes closed because he doesn’t want to interfere too much.”

Fagan sighed. “If you’d like, I’ll speak with her tomorrow and let you know if I change my position.”

Acantha stood. “Acceptable.” She cast her gaze on each of us, but ended with me. “I’ll take my leave. I still need some sleep tonight.”

We all stood as she left. Mylo bowed and followed her, but Fagan stayed standing at the table. “A word, Your Majesty?”

“Of course, Fagan. Any time.”

“I would… caution you with regards to Acantha.”

I raised a brow. “Because she attacked Callista?”

His eyes slanted as he considered his words. “Perhaps. But more so because she did not get her way today. Not in the rose cavern, and not here tonight. She has never chased down the power of the throne, but… she does not like to be wrong. Or put in a place of less power than she has assumed. ”

This was a side of my aunt I had not seen. “She’s always been supportive of me.”

“And you’ve always given her free rein to do whatever she wanted. Others who have crossed her have disappeared. I don’t think she’d do anything to you, but… I would be wary of what she might do to Callista.”

I clenched a fist. “I will not allow that.”