Page 8

8

Reyla

W e said nothing as we left the training room, but a feeling of peace had settled over me. Something had changed inside. The gnashing fury I’d felt last night had fled, replaced with a quiet resolve and…

I wasn’t even sure what else I felt. It was too fragile to lift into the light, to turn and examine from every angle. If I did something like that, it would break, and breaking this vulnerable thing between us would sever something inside me I’d never be able to repair.

“I need to be in the throne room today,” he said when we stopped outside the door to my suite. “Come to me?”

Even in this, he asked rather than make demands.

He could be that fragile thing I didn’t dare hold up in the light, along with the feelings inside me that were wrapped around him.

“I will,” I said.

He gave me a true smile, and while it was crooked, it contained his heart. Seeing that trust he continued to extend my way gouged into a part of me that was as fragile as him.

“Thank you. I’ll come by to escort you shortly.” He tugged on a strand of my hair that had come loose from the simple binding at my nape, then dropped it and strode away from me, down the hall toward his room.

When I stepped inside, Farris bounded over to greet me, sitting in front of me with that silly silver ball in his mouth. He dropped it at my feet and looked up at me, his bushy tail sweeping across the floor.

“He adores that ball,” I told Faelith, who’d risen from a chair in the sitting area and was striding toward me.

“That he does.” She stooped down beside him and gave him a hug. “He’s a sweet little fellow.”

“Thank you for thinking of toys for him. I wouldn’t have done it on my own.” There was no excuse other than I was busy.

And heartsick.

“I’m always happy to provide playthings for Farris.” Faelith rose, beaming. “Never worry about where his true affection lies. He adores you all the more because of that ball.”

I gave her a quick hug.

“I’m going to the throne room,” I announced to Calista and Moira who also waited in the room. “I need to bathe and change, and quickly. Faelith, could you tell Surren of my plans for the day?”

“Very well.” Faelith curtsied and slid out into the hall, closing the door behind her.

Calista and Moira hurried into the bedroom .

I followed them, stripping off my sweaty leathers and stepping into the tub Calista prepared. I washed fast. After drying, I let them help me don a light green dress. I sat at the vanity while they styled my hair and placed a small crown on my head. This would be my first appearance as the newly crowned queen, and I was grateful my ladies made me look good.

Merrick knocked, and at my call, stepped inside, taking the ball from Farris and tossing it. The nyxin scampered after it but instead of returning to Merrick, he scurried over and plunked it by my feet.

I thought about taking him with us to the throne room, but worried he’d want me to throw the ball down the red-carpeted aisle, over and over. Some might find that entertaining, but those I needed to impress most would not.

“I’ll escort my queen,” Merrick told my ladies, his confidence seemingly restored, though that touch of sadness he’d spoken of still lingered.

Let it walk beside you, not lead—a lesson I needed to remember for myself.

My ladies bowed.

“Before we leave, there’s something we must do.” Merrick opened the door and gestured for Lord Briscalar, Surren, Faelith, and Talvon to enter.

Taking in their stoic faces, I turned to Merrick, waiting to see where this was going.

“I need all of you.” Merrick gestured to Calista and Moira to join us in the open area near the fireplace. “You are the most loyal to Reyla and me.”

“Could I inquire what this is about?” Lord Briscalar asked, rocking on his heels.

The others watched solemnly, Moira sharing a concerned look with her mother .

“There have been more attempts on my queen's life,” Merrick said.

My ladies gasped as one. Surren and Talvon exchanged grim looks. Lord Briscalar only said, “Ah. I see.”

“With your permission.” Merrick's gaze sought mine. “Yours as well, my queen, I would like to form a sentinel's veil.”

“Excellent idea,” the lord said. “I'm happy to help in any way I can.”

Merrick held up his hand before questions could spill from the others. “Allow me to explain. We’re under attack from a foe I have not yet identified.” His gaze swept across each face and lingering on mine. “I will not allow this to continue, not as long as I can draw power and battle. What I ask today is no small thing. You’ll lend me your strength, your loyalty, your intent to protect us.”

“What is a sentinel veil?” Faelith sidled close to Surren, linking her hand with his.

Even Farris sat nearby, his head tilting this way and that, watching as if he was actually listening to the conversation.

“A sentinel's veil is a magical ward,” Merrick said, “forged from combined essence and intent. It’ll blanket the castle, shielding those inside from harm. Since you all will add to the veil and your loyalty is unquestioned, the veil will shield my queen and I in particular. It won't only repel attackers from the castle itself—it’ll watch, then warn me or my queen if someone is planning an attack.”

“To stop us from breaking the curse, right?” I asked. “We need this protection more than from anything else.”

“Exactly.” His gaze swept across our staff staring at the floor or wall, mentally blocked from hearing my question.

“A wonderful idea,” Lord Briscalar said gravely.

“My queen and I could form one together, but it’ll be stronger if it's infused with the power of those most loyal to us.” Merrick met the gazes of each member of the group. “There are none I trust as much as you six. This spell will seep away a fraction of your power, infusing it into the veil.”

Faelith sucked in a breath, her wide-eyed gaze meeting Surren’s.

“However, I need your agreement to participate,” Merrick said. “Something like this cannot be forced. Know that I'm asking this of you; I'm not telling you that you have to do this. If you want to back away, there will be no punishment.”

“I'll do anything I can,” Lord Briscalar said, his eyes traveling from me to Merrick.

Each swore their willingness to be a part of this, and I'd never loved them more.

“Very well. Thank you.” Merrick knelt in the center of the room and pressed his palm to the stone floor. A ripple of his power flowed outward, slow at first, as the ground darkened and shifted under his knees. The stone softened, morphed, and then rose as luminous pillars formed from swirling sand and crackling energy. Four in total—one of solid rock, unmoving and strong; another of shimmering water, twisting in perfect, endless flows. The third formed a flickering tower of firelight, heat pulsing with each breath. And the last was crafted from an ethereal column of air, its swirling strands barely visible as they danced and shifted.

Merrick rose to stand in the middle of the pillars. “The four elements. Each represents not only their intrinsic power but the foundation of the world we inhabit. Together, they form a balance, one that will soon be unyielding and steadfast. This is the balance that will guard this castle.”

I moved past the pillars to stand at his side. He linked our fingers and squeezed my hand.

“They’re nothing without the strength of those they serve,” Merrick said. “Each of you will need to focus your intent into one. Your loyalty. A bit of your magic. A fraction of your very essence.”

A shiver coursed through me. This wasn’t an ordinary kind of magic; it must be ancient.

One by one, our friends moved closer. Lord Briscalar strode to the pillar of stone, his calm, commanding presence aligning naturally with its unshakable mass. Closing his eyes, he pressed one hand to its surface, and the rock responded with a low, steady hum that vibrated through the floor beneath us.

Talvon walked over to the flame with a confident stride. He knelt first before standing to grip the fire pillar. His deep voice hummed with an incantation, a tune that lit the flames with golden streaks, making it look brighter and fiercer than before.

Surren strode to the air column with his usual stoic expression. He raised a hand, clenched it into a fist, then released it gently against the spinning pillar. Where his hand touched, the air grew sharper, clearer, and more vibrant, as though he’d carved his resolve into the currents.

The water remained untouched as my ladies moved to the elements, gathering around me in a semicircle. Moira hesitated in front of the air before placing her palm there, her quiet gift adding a ripple that danced through the column. Faelith’s soft hum brought a faint shimmer of light to the twisting water, and Calista chose fire, her power blending seamlessly with Talvon’s.

Then it was my turn. Merrick stepped aside, his eyes on me and only me.

“I am here for you,” he said softly. “We will face everything together.”

Swallowing against the tightness in my throat, I stepped over to the column of water that churned and spun faster the closer I got. The unfamiliar magic there called to a deep resolve inside me, a fragile, unshakable thing I would not let falter. I pressed my palms into the column’s cool, flowing surface, and the water enveloped my hands in a gentle caress.

Merrick joined me, sliding his hands into the same column over mine, linking our fingers. I felt more than saw the surge of his power filtering into the mass along with mine.

Finished, we backed away.

Energy coursed up through the floor, where it gathered, blended, and pulsed between the pillars. The elements became less distinct as they merged together, wrapping upward to touch and surround us in a vortex of light and energy. Merrick extended his arms as if he was claiming the magic, harnessing it, speaking words of power in a language I didn’t understand.

Farris yipped and leaped into the swirling vortex at the center of the pillars. The air crackled as the nyxin twirled, caught, his sleek silver coat catching the light from the merging elements. The vortex didn’t repel him. Instead, it bent toward him, almost welcoming, the energy folding inward to cradle his small form.

“Farris,” I cried, lurching toward him.

Merrick held me back. “Wait.” Awe shone in his voice.

The energy around Farris rippled, and a soft hum filled the chamber. His eyes glowed with an unnatural light, flickering like twin stars, and when his paws touched the ground again, the vortex seemed to lock into itself, solidifying the ward with a burst of finality. Farris scampered over to me, his tail swishing, as if he was still a simple nyxin and not…some sort of magical being who'd chosen to become a part of this spell.

The castle shuddered. As suddenly as it had started, the energy settled, sinking into the walls and floors like it was being pulled into the bones of the enormous building. The pillars dissolved, falling away in fragments of light and shadow until they’d returned to the world around us.

Silence stretched between us .

“It’s done,” Merrick said.

I stooped down and wrapped my arms around Farris. He licked my face before breaking away. After scooping up his ball, he returned to drop it at my feet, his tongue lolling and his nyxin grin in place.

I lifted his toy and threw it.

He raced after it with an eager yip.

I linked my arm through Merrick’s as we left my suite, taking the stairs down to the first floor with our guards striding around us.

The massive double doors of the throne room loomed ahead. Two liveried fae stationed there stepped inward, pulling the doors open. Beyond the threshold, the red-carpeted aisle stretched ahead, cutting between the tall, stately pillars in a river of blood. High lords and ladies sat in benches along the sides, their gazes snapping in our direction with interest, wariness, and, in some cases, that disdain I hoped to someday diffuse.

It was the scene between the seating area and the dais, however, that made unease churn through my belly.

A cluster of people had gathered like ravens around fresh carrion. Or Erisandra, in this case. She stood tall in the center of the group, her gown of deep blue pooling around her in a stormy sea. She held her head high, and her dark hair had been woven through with glittering silver threads.

Her eyes cut directly to mine. Whatever game she was playing, it was clear she’d already made her opening move. High fae I hadn’t formally met surrounded her, and I spied Lord Hadrin among them. His hair gleamed in the light, his sly eyes fixing on me with thinly veiled disgust. He hadn’t forgotten my judgment in the matter of Devron Bullipart’s stolen cows; his anger blazed on his face for everyone to see.

What surprised me the most was seeing High Lord Zeiger, the fae man who’d escorted me to the dais for my coronation, among them. His gaze met mine before jerking to the others, and he eased backward, smoothing his gray-speckled hair across his shoulders. He took his seat a few rows behind where Erisandra usually sat.

Merrick paused, and while it was barely a breath of hesitation, I caught it. The faint tightening around his mouth and the flicker in his eyes told me he was interested in the gathering as well.

“Bold of them to do this inside the throne room,” I said.

“Calculated.”

Ah, yes. This show of force would be gossiped about throughout the kingdom.

I leaned toward him, keeping my voice low enough for only him to hear. “What are we going to do about it?”

His arm stiffened under my touch. “Diffuse it as quickly as we can.” His gaze hardened, a blade sliding into place, mirroring the thoughts tumbling through my mind. This unbecoming little gathering had trouble written all over it. I was starting to wish I'd brought my sword, not just the sheathed blades at my sides. Plus Farris, his silly ball, and his not-so-silly teeth.

The herald’s booming voice echoed through the room. “His Majesty, King Merrick of Evergorne, and Her Majesty, Queen Reyla.”

Those seated rose, some bowing their heads in deference. Others greeted us with stilted warmth, their voices full of well-practiced praise. Others remained silent, rigid even, their gazes flickering between Erisandra and us, their lack of acknowledgment speaking louder than words.

I straightened my spine as I walked down the carpeted aisle, my steps in time with Merrick’s. My gaze remained on those gathered ahead, and I noted the cool scrutiny of some, the outright hostility of others. Erisandra fluttered in the center of the group, still holding her court with those who must be her allies, her piercing gaze tracking me like prey.

Merrick led me past her without a glance in their direction. I caught Lord Hadrin's smug smile and was tempted to stop and directly address him, but Merrick gave a subtle shake of his head. I keep moving.

The dais loomed in front of us, crowned with our twin thrones carved from gleaming fessalile wood and gilded with gold. As we reached the steps, Merrick paused, waiting for me to ascend first. His unspoken show of respect didn’t escape me. I settled on my throne, him brushing my thigh as he seated himself beside me.

The cluster below began to shift, Erisandra and the others dispersing to the benches, like oil spreading across water. Lord Hadrin took the seat directly behind hers and leaned forward to whisper something to her. She glanced over her shoulder at him before her attention settled on me like a frosty wind. Only a thin, false smile cracked her face. Her ladies fussed with her skirts before sitting themselves nearby.

Lord Hadrin leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. His brooding gaze locked on me, and my fingers twitched where they rested on the arms of my throne.

How many of those seated on the benches were friends and how many simply waited to see who would win this subtle game of Wraithwaite being played before their eyes? It took considerable strategy to win, and it was anyone’s guess how any game might come out.

Merrick's gaze traveled through the room, and his voice carved through the low hum of whispers. “Welcome, citizens of Evergorne. I'd suggest we get started, but it appears some business has already been brought before our court this afternoon.” His attention landed on his mother and the others. “Do share.”

Erisandra stood, her gorgeous gown swishing around her ankles. She inclined her head toward Merrick, though not without flickering a glance my way. “It’s nothing of significance, my son.” Her smooth voice came out much too coy. “Merely idle chatter, beneath the dignity of this court.”

Her words slid off Merrick like rain on stone, though the tension in his shoulders told me how irritated he must feel.

“Idle chatter.” His voice held an edge of warning.

“What else?” Erisandra lowered herself back into her seat. “A queen mother often has little to occupy her time other than with simple gossip.”

I spoke out of the corner of my mouth to Merrick. “They’re organizing something.”

His eyes slanted to me, and he nodded. “We won't wait to discover what it is.”

He didn’t need to say it aloud. This court was a battlefield. Every glance, every word, and even silence could be used as a weapon.

And right now, we had no idea how many of their weapons were aimed directly at us.