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Chapter twenty-nine

The Unprepared Princess

Ayla

The Starlit King and I walked in silence, treading from Mer’s great hall to the visitor’s courtyard. With his broad cloak billowing behind him, I was forced into a quick clip to stay ahead of its embrace.

My heart raced, though not from the excursion.

Rhett and Zayne were not that far behind, and whatever happened, I was secure in their backup.

One lesson.

One opportunity to learn how to control my powers. A single chance to discover how to break into the box that held his shards.

It has to be enough.

And if it wasn’t, we’d flee.

“I hope you enjoyed your time away,” he offered, giving me the chance to small talk.

I’d been giving the same story all morning, and it was easy to respond. “There’s a beautiful cove to the western edge of the isle. I spent most of my time there.”

“All by yourself?” he asked.

“I was visiting a friend.”

“And your dog, too, I am sure she enjoyed the trip.”

“She did.” My throat tightened, and it cost me more than I wanted to admit to keep smiling. “She loved the beach. So much more comfortable than a palace for a dog, so she’ll be staying with my friend while I’m here.”

“What a kind friend you must have.”

“Indeed.”

He chuckled, his expression turning serious. “Please forgive me for prying, but assure me because I worry. No one has been hurt by your magic, have they?”

I swallowed nervously. “Unfortunately, my magic has been more of a hindrance than anything of merit.”

“I see.”

As we reached the visitor courtyard, I tentatively allowed my power to buzz at my fingers, light sputtering at random. Some of it was intentional, some of it not. Regardless, the Starlit King led me to the center of the courtyard as Rhett settled on a bench a respectable distance away.

The king looked at Rhett with a smirk. “Your cousin might be a pompous pain, but I don’t wish him any harm. Not at your hand.”

“Thanks again for your time. I’m sure you have plenty in your court who would be able—”

He shook his head. “There are none who could manage a situation like yours. Instruction in starlight is best given in childhood, when the power is still developing. You’ll need someone who can moderate your fully developed power in addition to their own.”

Fear rose in my glowing fingertips, and the Starlit King glanced down, the light shadowing his face.

My throat dried. “I don’t know how to control it. It glows when I tell it to stop, and vice versa. What am I supposed to do differently?”

“Palm up,” he instructed.

Power throbbing, I flipped my hand over and the starlight collected in my palm.

He extended his hand, placing it over mine and closing the distance until my light filled the space between. “Let me show you.”

There wasn’t a chance to stop him. To tell him I wasn’t ready. That no matter how kind and suave he seemed, I knew better than to trust him.

At his command, my starlight was shoved back into my body. My hand heated and my arm burned as the power wound its way into my spine. My body prepared to melt. My heart raced as panic rose in my chest.

Maybe this had been a terrible idea. Maybe he would kill me, making it look like a training accident for reasons I’d never understand.

And then, just as fast, the pain passed.

The starlight raced upward, through the crown of my head and became a pillar of magic, connecting me to the heavens. Through this link, the starlight ebbed from my body.

“There,” he whispered, stepping back. “I apologize if that was… intense.”

I exhaled. “Intense doesn’t begin to cover it.”

Rhett had closed half the distance between us. Zayne was barely containing the urge to leap from the shadows.

Even the Starlit King looked down at me with concern.

“I’m all right,” I said, assuring everyone as I looked at the king. I shook out my arms and rolled out my neck. “What did you do?”

“Your magic was stuck, and I cleared the pathways. Your power stream should be far more reliable now.”

“W-what…” I gasped, unsure what I was even asking.

“I directed the power on your behalf and showed your mind what needed to be done. You’ll now be able to moderate the starlight better, especially if you practice.”

I gaped at him, still stunned. That had been unexpected. Dramatic. And he should have warned me. But there was no denying what he’d done had immediately changed me. Energy flowed with new ease. His description matched how it felt, as if the flow of my magic finally had an easy path.

I examined my palm and reached for the light. It came at my softest command, slowly growing brighter as I asked it. No flickering, no chaos. Simple, easy, and under my control.

“It works.” I whispered.

He waved his hands awkwardly toward a the bench. “Why don’t you take a few minutes to settle.”

Still a little lightheaded, I complied. Rhett neared, and when the Starlit King didn’t rebuff him, he lingered a few feet from me, as if braced for me to collapse at any moment.

I didn’t look that bad, did I?

Zayne’s worriedly probing mind told me otherwise.

Vision swimming, I turned my palms up in front of me. “You made it easy.”

“It would have been easy for you too, if you’d been allowed to develop your powers as a child.” He huffed, sitting beside me. “I disapprove of the practice of part-fae being raised south of the Rift. It’s too dangerous when their magic inevitably breaks through.”

I drew my lips tight, uncomfortably aware that in additional to the normal barrier, my mother had also gone through the effort of blocking my magic.

“It is fortunate I found you,” he continued, his voice lowering. He looked meaningfully, first to Rhett and then me. “Most wouldn’t have been able to help wield the power of my daughter.”

I stilled, my brain repeating what he’d just said.

His daughter.

I must have misunderstood. I squinted up at him, searching his face, but where I sought differences, I saw his antlers and the shape of his face, both mirroring mine.

“You’re kidding,” Rhett leaned forward. “My cousin isn’t—”

The Starlit King lifted a hand. “I know.”

Rhett sputtered, “You must have her confused with someone else—”

“I myself ensured Aida’s forgeries were approved.”

Rhett stammered, and in the shadows, Zayne crept closer.

My mind struggled to work. The Starlit King was my father, and he knew who I was.

Does he also know where I’ve been?

“I mean no disrespect—” Rhett finally managed.

The king waved him off. “I’m not angry, merchant prince. If anything, thank you. It was a relief to discover you’ve been caring for Ayla this whole time.”

He didn’t know. Or at least, he was pretending as much. I forced myself not to look at Zayne for support, relying on the tether instead.

The Starlit King—my father —leaned closer. “I wanted to tell you earlier, but the time was never right, and you…” He searched my face. “Some part of me had hoped your mother would find the decency to tell you herself.”

My lips parted. I managed to shake my head no.

“I told your mother I wanted to claim you as mine, but when she asked me not to, I honored her wish.”

He’d always known. That stung. And my mother had gone to such lengths to bind my magic. Anything to keep me from him.

He sighed. “And your mother, Teyr bless her, she tried to make you a general in the Valterran army, didn’t she? She wanted to give you a position as far south from the isles as possible. I always wondered if I should have ignored her wishes and reached out to you myself, but…”

I needed to speak up, but what could possibly be worth saying? I was furious—at countless things. I could deny him, storm off, and pretend this wasn’t real…

But deep down, I suspected he told the truth.

It explained the way my magic felt around his.

“So you knew who I was from the moment I gave my false name?” I finally managed to ask.

“No, it was earlier than that.” He tilted his head thoughtfully.

“I recognized you the moment we sailed into Mer and I saw you on your boat. It wasn’t your eyes or antlers that gave it away, but your magic called out to me, the magic of the throne.

And from that moment, I knew you were Ayla, firstborn daughter of Queen Avaline of Valterra and King Glaucous of the Starlit Isle. ”

He named me, not as the bastard princess, but as his. The recognition struck me to the core. It felt right . A terrible truth that I couldn’t shake…

My stomach lurched with realization. My head began to spin. He wasn’t lying. I felt it. The threads binding us ran deeper than those of father and daughter.

We were connected, as he said, by the magic of the throne.

“I’m the Starlit Heir,” I gasped out. Not a question.

A second bond, dormant but always there, opened to me. Brighter than the sun, it illuminated my mind, piercing me with sudden and complete connection.

The Starlit Throne.

My heart picked up its pace as the second bond expanded into my mind. Pressure grew behind my eyes, my temples aching. I’d felt this before, and queasy, I leaned forward.

Deep breaths.

“Ayla!” Rhett rushed closer, grabbing my elbow. I watched from far away as he glared up at the Starlit King. “You’ve overwhelmed her.”

“She’ll be okay. Her bond to the throne is settling.” Hesitant, the Starlet King pressed his hand to my back. “It’ll pass.”

With his touch, I felt it again, the way his magic matched the frequency of mine. And by Teyr, his comfort helped. I closed my eyes, struggling to organize my mind.

He’s my father. My starlight is like his. I’m the heir.

Piece by piece, desperately, I reassembled the rubble of my mind. Slowly, everything began to solidify.

Zayne…

Our bond was still there. Damaged, but resilient. I flung myself into it. He was waiting on the other side, catching me. Reaching out for his shadows, I wrapped them around my soul like a blanket. His energy settled beside me, holding me.

Breath by breath.

Zayne was with me. Whatever happened next, he believed I would find the best way forward. Even if my mind had splintered…

Rhett cleared his throat. “I’ll take her back to our rooms. She can rest there.”

“I’ll walk her over,” the Starlit King replied. “But first…” He kneeled before the bench, angling his face so he could examine mine.

I have to be strong. Assure him that I’m okay. Give him reason to leave.

I straightened my spine, relieved when my vision didn’t swim. Determined, I met my father’s gaze.

His eyes are the same green as mine.

“It’s passing,” I explained, finding my mouth was dry. “Rest will be good.” Proving my point, I rose to my feet, leaning against the bench as I oriented myself. Satisfied, I took my first step.

The Starlit King took my arm, insisting on giving me the extra support. Meanwhile, Rhett directed him toward our rooms.

As we walked, the Starlit King cleared his throat. “Once the agreement is signed, will you consider returning to Karenia with me? I’ve made countless mistakes, but now that we’ve found one another, please give me this chance.”

I blinked at him. I wanted to deny him now, cut off my ties before we became entangled any further. But telling him no wouldn’t be strategic. Until I could come up with something better, he needed to think I was interested.

“Let me think on it,” I said instead. “Karenia would be lovely.”