Page 128 of Lady of Starfire (Lady of Darkness #5)

Talwyn

I t was still jarring to wake up in the Fiera Palace.

She hadn’t stayed here in decades, and now Talwyn was waking up in a guest suite.

Even more strange was having Azrael beside her. The strange part wasn’t him in her bed, of course. But having him at the Fire Court after so much animosity between all of them was …

Well, it would take some getting used to.

She felt out of sorts these days anyway.

She did not really have a place to call home anymore.

The White Halls were reserved for the Fae Queen of the Eastern Courts.

To be honest, Talwyn didn’t think she could stomach living there anymore, even if it was an option.

So many memories. So much guilt and grief and anger in those Halls.

She had just finished braiding back her hair when Azrael came into the room. He had been in some meeting or other. Something she was no longer invited to, and that was fine. She was more than happy to be here, resting and healing. She was, however, anxious to go see Thorne in the Wind Court.

“How are you feeling?”

She sighed in annoyance. “I am fine, Az. Just as I have been every other time you ask this.”

Talwyn hadn’t been able to fight in that final battle in Windonelle.

Briar and Ashtine had appeared, said Azrael was needed, and they were gone.

Less than a minute. That’s how long it had taken.

She had still been sitting at the table with a fork halfway to her mouth when Azrael had met her gaze.

He hadn’t said anything. They rarely did. She saw it all in his eyes.

It was an hour later when a wind portal had appeared and Ashtine came through. She’d smiled softly, and together the two of them had sat and waited for two Fae Princes to come back alive.

She stood from the mirrored vanity table, flicking her braid over her shoulder. Comfortable pants and a tunic. That had become her daily attire as she slipped her stockinged feet into boots. “Can we go see Thorne now?”

“There are some things to be discussed first,” Azrael said, watching her carefully.

“Can they not be discussed elsewhere?”

“They are waiting for us.”

“Who is they?”

“The Fae Royalty and Scarlett.”

She went completely still. “Why?”

The corner of his lips tipped up. “Relax, Talwyn,” he said, gesturing for her to follow him.

They could have Traveled, she supposed, but instead they walked side-by-side through the Fiera Palace and down to the council rooms. Everything was the same as when she would stay here before she took a throne, and yet everything had changed.

She had stayed in the guest suite most of their time here, only venturing out when Azrael was around. She’d like to say she wasn’t hiding, but she was. She simply didn’t know where she fit into his world and with all the Fae now.

She could hear the arguing long before they reached the council room.

“It doesn’t count if no one saw it happen,” came Cyrus’s voice.

“What?” Scarlett cried in outrage. “Sorin was there! He saw it happen.”

“Did he?” Cyrus questioned. “Sounds to me like you had to tell him about it too.”

“Tell him, Sorin,” she demanded.

Talwyn gave Azrael a questioning look, but his face was full of irritation. “I cannot believe they are still arguing about this,” he muttered.

Talwyn came to a stop in the doorway as she took in the scene in front of her.

Scarlett was on her feet, hands planted on the table, leaning towards Cyrus who was across from her next to Cassius.

Sorin sat casually next to his wife, a thumb hiding the smirk on his lips.

Eliza had her nose in a book while Rayner was watching everything warily.

Briar and Ashtine sat beside each other, both eating a tart of some sort at the head of the table.

“In all fairness, Scarlett, I did not actually witness it,” Sorin said, and Talwyn could hear the laugh he was trying to keep from his voice.

“What?” Scarlett shrieked at the same time Cyrus said, “Ha! Didn’t happen, Darling.”

“You cannot be serious!”

“I do not understand what is happening right now,” Talwyn murmured to Azrael. “Why do I need to be here for this?”

“No one needs to be here for this,” he muttered. Then with an audible sigh, he added, “Apparently Scarlett caught an arrow in mid-air.”

That didn’t seem all that impressive. That was normal Fae training.

“And?” Talwyn asked, listening to the continued bickering between Scarlett and Cyrus.

“And I guess she has never done so,” Azrael said. “I do not understand it either.”

Cyrus held up two palms before him. “All I am saying is that there were hundreds of people there and no one saw you catch it? Seems a little far-fetched, Scarlett.” He picked up a cheese cube from his plate, tossing it into his mouth.

“The witnesses are dead , Cyrus,” she snapped. “Would you like to join them? Then you can ask them yourself.”

“I have the perfect dagger for this,” Eliza chimed in without glancing up from her book.

“No one is stabbing anyone,” Sorin sighed.

“I don’t need a blade,” Scarlett snarled.

“I saw it,” Talwyn said.

“Thank you!” Scarlett cried, gesturing towards the door. She turned, her eyes going wide when she realized who she was siding with.

The room went silent and still, a tenseness settling over everyone.

“I was on the balcony directly below them,” Talwyn went on. “I saw her catch the arrow, then send it to Sorin in a swirl of shadows so he could shove it into a seraph’s eye.”

Sorin’s golden gaze was fixed on her, his hand having slowly dropped to the arm of his chair. He smiled at her as he said, “That is exactly how it happened.”

“Ow,” Cyrus muttered, moving as if rubbing his leg beneath the table. Cassius was giving him a pointed look. “I guess if there was an actual witness, I can believe it,” he grumbled.

“You are a jackass,” Scarlett groused, dropping into her seat and crossing her arms.

“You are a whiny brat,” Cyrus retorted.

“Can we get on with this?” Azrael cut in, a hand coming to Talwyn’s lower back, ushering her in. “I have better things to be doing with my time.”

“Got a sand castle to build in all that sand, Azzy?” Scarlett drawled, picking up a pear tart from her plate.

“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered, pulling out a chair for Talwyn next to Ashtine.

Talwyn glanced at him. She couldn’t sit there. Ashtine was the Fae Queen now. Talwyn could not sit to her right.

“It is all right, Talwyn,” Ashtine lilted. “Sit.”

She slowly lowered into the chair, feeling everyone’s gaze settle onto her.

Scarlett’s entire demeanor had changed in a matter of moments as she said, “Where are you planning to live, Talwyn?”

Right to the point then.

“I …”

But she didn’t have an answer because she didn’t fit anywhere anymore.

“With me,” Azrael cut in. “This much has already been discussed.”

“And her role there?” Scarlett pressed, a hand coming to the table and fingers beginning to drum atop it.

“She will be my wife, Scarlett,” Azrael said in that low tone that promised violence if she disagreed.

Wife?

But that would make her—

Scarlett’s eyes slid to Talwyn. “And her role in your Court?”

“What business is it of yours?” Azrael retorted.

“Careful, Luan,” came a low warning from Sorin. “She may not be the Fae Queen any longer, but she is the High Queen of this realm.”

But Scarlett was still looking at Talwyn when she said, “I may have spared your life and extended your Staying, but that is the extent of the forgiveness I am able to offer.”

“It is more than enough,” Talwyn said.

“You cannot occupy a throne in a Fae Court. Not again,” she went on.

“I do not wish for one.”

“And what do you wish for, Talwyn?” came Ashtine’s lilting question.

Talwyn turned to her, her friend’s hands resting atop her rounded stomach.

Briar’s arm was settled along the back of her chair, and Talwyn couldn’t help but think about how casual they all were.

A year ago, this room would have been filled with tension and short tempers.

The short tempers part was probably still true, but the rest?

When she just stared at her friend, Ashtine gave an encouraging nod.

She wasn’t used to this—speaking about her feelings aloud.

But she took a deep breath and said, “I wish for a purpose that does not involve a throne, whether that is helping train new forces or scrubbing dishes in a kitchen. Somewhere beside people, not above them. I wish for someplace to find that purpose. I wish for somewhere I can be with Thorne, and we have room to fly. I wish for somewhere close to Azrael, but not on a throne beside him. I do not wish for nor deserve such a thing. If that is what you are asking of me, I will decline it.”

“Do you feel you can find that purpose in the Earth Court?” Ashtine asked. “Or will you feel confined there?”

“I want to be with Azrael.”

Ashtine’s gaze moved to Scarlett. “A consort then. In title only. No responsibilities. No say in political matters or policies, but she will retain the protection of a prince’s consort. Is that agreeable to you?”

Talwyn met Scarlett’s silver gaze across the table and held it while the High Queen searched for whatever it was she was looking for. Finally Scarlett said, “Is that acceptable to the rest of the people at this table?”

When no one voiced a disagreement, her gaze slid to Azrael. “Is that acceptable to you, Prince Luan?”

“It is,” Az answered.

“Then that is decided,” Scarlett said, before fixing her attention on Briar and Ashtine. “What of you two?”

“What of us?” Briar asked, eyes narrowing on Scarlett.

“Where will you reside?”

Briar glanced at Ashtine, who only smiled up at him. Pure love and adoration.

Talwyn leaned forward and grabbed an apple as she listened to the conversation around her.

“If you are still offering, we would like to take up residence at the Black Halls,” Briar answered. “We can both portal to our respective Courts as needed. Ashtine has Ermir, and I have Neve to oversee matters when we are not present. Until the babes are of age and ready to take their thrones.”

“I made the offer when I asked you to be the Fae King and Queen. I am not rescinding it now. As long as I can visit during the dismally cold winter months,” Scarlett answered with a bow of her head in their direction.

“And you, Sunshine?” Briar asked, his icy blue eyes bouncing between Scarlett and Sorin. “Where will you reside?”

“In the Fire Court, obviously,” Eliza drawled, twisting to look down the table. “Right?”

“You are the Fire Princess,” Sorin said, rolling his lips to keep his smile from forming.

“No, I am the Fire General,” Eliza gritted out.

“We will remain at the Fiera Palace for now,” Scarlett cut in. “The White Halls will remain empty until a new King or Queen of the Eastern Courts is ready to inhabit them.”

“Is there anything else we are needed for?” Azrael asked.

“I believe we are done here,” Scarlett answered, and Azrael immediately pushed back from the table. As he reached for Talwyn’s hand though, she said, “Wait.”

They both paused, Talwyn halfway out of her seat.

“Thank you. Both of you. For everything you gave. For fighting,” the High Queen said. “Just …thank you.”

Talwyn didn’t say anything, and Azrael nodded in a bow to her before he Traveled them to the Wind Court. She was taking Thorne to the Earth Court today, and the griffin was standing outside the stables when they appeared.

His wing was still heavily bandaged. The Witches said he wouldn’t be able to fly for at least another month, and even then, only small, short flights for a while. The griffin had been in a pissy mood about it since he’d been able to stand on his own again.

He made a disgruntled sound when they appeared, clawing at the dirt with his front talons.

“You are sure about this?” Azrael asked, eyeing the griffin. “He could go back to the Witch Kingdoms. Be with other griffins. I can make you a portal whenever you wish, Talwyn.”

She walked forward, reaching up to run a hand down Thorne’s beak. He huffed into her hand before lowering his head to nudge at her, right where she had been stabbed in the side. Talwyn smoothed a hand down his neck.

“He’ll let me know when he needs to go spend time there,” she replied, holding out the apple she still held in her hand. Thorne crunched it down with a few snaps of his beak, immediately lifting his head and looking for more.

“At home, you overgrown buzzard,” she muttered when he nudged her harder than necessary. The griffin seemed to still at the words, and she ran a hand down his neck again, keeping it there when she looked up at Azrael. “Are you sure about this?”

“About a griffin at the Alcazar? Not in the slightest,” he answered, moving forward and stretching out a hand towards Thorne. The griffin shifted, a warning growl rumbling, but he let Az run a hand along his feathers.

“No,” Talwyn said. “About me being your consort.”

Azrael’s hand fell to his side as he turned to face her fully. “Why are you asking me a question you already know the answer to?”

“Because you will need an heir, Azrael,” she answered quietly, fixing her gaze on Thorne. She had thought about this far more than she would have liked. “I cannot give you that.”

A thumb and forefinger gripped her chin, turning her face back to his. “I understand that if we ever had a child, they could not rule the Earth Court as a demi-Fae. Do you want a child, Talwyn?”

Gods. She couldn’t even fathom that. The idea of motherhood had never been one she had ever truly contemplated. She wasn’t sure it was something she ever wanted.

“I can scarcely manage myself right now, Az, let alone a child,” she answered truthfully. “But what of your people? Your Court? You will leave them heirless?”

“No,” he countered, stepping so close there was no space between them. “We will learn who the successor will be and train them to rule the Court properly. The Earth Court will have an heir worthy of them, and you, Talwyn Semiria, will have all my love.”

This, she realized as she looked up into earthy brown eyes, this was all she had ever wanted. Not a throne or some vengeance she thought she was owed, but something she didn’t need to fix. To never doubt someone who said those words to her. Someone who wanted her just because she was breathing.

All she’d ever wanted was this.

Talwyn pushed up onto her toes so her lips brushed across his. She reached out to touch Thorne as she murmured, “Let’s go home.”