Page 112 of Reign of Stars and Fire

“A shapeshifter.” Valen cocked his head.

“The last of her line.”

“So the raven form isn’t the curse she spoke of?” Elise asked softly.

“She was forced to shift by Astrid, compelled to serve her during the Eastern battle, yet she fought against it when she led us to safety in the forest.”

I flew off his shoulder back into the hovel and peeled back into my fae form. Heart pounding, I dressed swiftly, tucking my wild hair behind my ears. Ari opened an arm and hugged me to his side when I returned.

Malin and the Nightrender were off their perch now. The shadow queen approached me, unblinking.

“I knew you were hiding something,” she said, voice soft. “That night we spoke in the dungeons, do you remember?”

I swallowed. “I asked you to stop fighting.”

“I thought you were weak for it,” Malin admitted. “But you felt whatever is happening here, didn’t you?”

“I was never your enemy.” I looked to every royal. “None of you, but I didn’t understand everything. I recalled very little of my past.”

A startled squeak slid from my throat when Valen stepped in front of me. His broad Night Folk form was warrior strong like Ari, intimidating and wonderfully terrifying. It wasn’t the proximity that startled me, it was when such an imposing king bent his knee . . . to me.

The earth bender king, the first to crown a fated queen, was bowing to me.

“I am forever in your debt.” Valen dipped his chin. “For saving my wife and daughter.”

I stiffened when one by one, the Ettan warriors mimicked their king. Night Folk kneeled before me. Tender actions burned through my warm heart in a fierce wave. Too much to process straightaway, and in truth, with every eye focused on me, such powerful knees bent before my feet, I wanted the ground to swallow me up.

Elise took my hand. “You have my apologies for trying to slit your throat. I hope you know it is only because Ari matters a great deal to us.”

“Weak way to say I mean everything to you, My Queen,” Ari said.

She chuckled, but turned her attention to the Nightrender. “Kase, don’t you think it’s strange how Saga has shown a great deal of honor in her actions, even while cursed? Now, she wears a crown.”

“I never should’ve told you that bleeding tale. It keeps happening.” The Nightrender frowned.

Elise squeezed my hand and lowered her voice. “You are of the isles, but you belong to Etta now too. Do not doubt that. I’m actually quite friendly, I swear it.”

“Unless someone holds a knife to someone you love, yes?” I said.

Elise’s smile widened. “In those moments, my only friend is my blade.”

The queen released my hand and stood beside Valen once the Night Folk rose.

Kase let out a sigh as though annoyed. “Look, I don’t bow to royals except this one—” He gestured to his wife. “But that’s an entirely different scenario. Even still, you have the East as your ally, and thieves as your friends for protecting Malin.”

“Good.” Calista answered in my place. “Now that you all know she’s a raven, she’s on your side, and she’s the target of a bleeding madman, can we get to figuring out how we’re going to meet him without selling me off?”

Ari stepped forward. “Valen, I don’t know if your parents experienced this during their fury sleep, but while I slept, I learned a great deal about this creature and what was done to keep him from Saga. I learned a great deal about all of us and where we really come from. Mal.” He turned to the shadow queen and tapped his head. “Some parts are still hazy, but they’re in there. I think we all should know. Care to help?”

She grinned, almost wickedly. “A chance to peek into that busy head of yours? I’d be glad to.”

“Good.” Ari paused. “We face an unusual fight. But we must focus on getting Eryka back to us first, then we’ll battle over who gets the honor of taking Davorin’s head. I assure you, after what Malin will reveal, after what I saw, we all will have reason to kill him.”

Chapter35

The Golden King

Malin once would’ve hadto kiss me to steal my memories. Now, with fate’s ring, her mesmer was frightening how deeply it could carve into a mind with a mere touch.