Page 12 of Calling of the Crown

I recalled when I’d been at Rune’s family home for a week, secretly working on my abilities with Dallas in a secluded area near the estate. The first night we’d trained, Dallas had hidden and made me find her. Just when I’d been about to give up, I went out on a limb and called to the water to help me find her, and it did. The water led me right to her.

“It’ll kinda be like that,” Dallas said. “You’ll reach out to the water and ask it to let your people know to come home. From there, it will alert all Water Fae via the connection between us.”

I was actually relieved to hear this was how it was done. It sounded similar enough to what I’d done with Dallas, and knowing that I had a long, hard journey ahead of me, I was glad to know there was something easier and more familiar to start off with.

“Of course, when they all get here, you’ll have to announce your intentions to them,” Angus added. He sipped on his tea, and I didn’t miss the slight tightening of his eyes as they held mine over the rim of the cup.

“My intentions?”

He waved a hand at the Fox Fae beside me. “Your plan to end the war once and for all via peaceful methods versus bloodshed.”

“You sound as if you’d prefer the latter,” Rune noted calmly.

“I’d prefer all avenues be discussed in detail for everyone’s sake. I think the Princess will find that peace with Land Fae is not what many have in mind. And I’m sure the sentiment is returned.”

“All the more reason it’s important to get Water Fae back here,” Jesiah stressed. “It’s important for them to see her with Rune as a united team, along with all of the other Land Fae that have already joined us.”

“Which brings up yet another issue,” Angus pointed out.

I clenched my teeth in an effort to keep my composure. It seemed this guy had nothing but “issues” to point out. I mean, people had barely started eating, yet everyone’s appetite had seemed to disappear.

Avana shifted uncomfortably in her seat, twirling a braid around her slender, brown finger. Ardley, who was usually carefree and easygoing, was oddly silent for once. The poor twins sat straighter with soldier-like posture, as though trained to do so when faced with authoritative figures.

The whole atmosphere had gone from being warm and inviting to a stifling, claustrophobic interrogation.

“Before we get to that,” I said. “I’d like for my friends and me to have this chance to finish eating. I’d appreciate it if we could continue this conversation in another room after everyone’s finished.”

Angus dipped his head in understanding. “Of course, Your Highness. Forgive my rudeness. Please, enjoy the rest of your meal. Perhaps we could reconvene in the meeting room?” He glanced around the table at all the Land Fae, and when he met my eyes again, he added, “Privately? Just the approved personnel?”

My eyes narrowed of their own accord before I could stop them. This guy rubbed me the wrong way on all fronts, and his obvious distrust of Land Fae didn’t help. At the same time, I couldn’t entirely blame him. He’d been at war with them for a century, and he’d, no doubt, seen things I couldn’t even fathom. His reaction to a room full of Land Fae was probably the best-case scenario, one I’d probably end up missing as more Water Fae showed up and gave their opinions.

With this in mind, I finally replied, “Yes. We’ll meet then in a smaller group.”

Angus rose from his chair, bowed, and left the room as swiftly as he’d entered.

As soon as he was gone, Ardley let out a low whistle. “Well, isn’t he just a peach.”

“Sorry about him, Bria,” Imani apologized with a sigh. “He doesn’t mean anything by that comment to bring approved personnel. All meetings like the one he’s expecting to have are typically for certain eyes and ears only for security purposes. The more you interact with him, the more you’ll see that he’s harsh because he truly cares about Water Fae and what’s best for them.”

I nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. “No need to apologize, Imani. I’m sure he’s just worried and wants to see things progress. Let’s all just finish eating, okay?”

“Without the cloud of doom and gloom?” Ardley quipped, staring at a piece of sausage on his fork. “Gladly.”

Chapter Seven

“THERE’S A FEW PRESSING ISSUES that I feel need to be discussed,” Angus started.

I’d just barely gotten settled in my seat at the oval table when Angus opened up the meeting. Rune, Jesiah, Dallas, Rance, and Imani joined me, and while I would’ve liked to have had more Land Fae present, Imani explained it would be better to go into this meeting with just Rune for now. No Land Fae had been given clearance to join, a process that required the Council of Doctrina to vote in favor of allowing a newcomer. Rune was being given special access as my partner, but even that was stretching it.

The Council of Doctrina was a group of ranked Water Fae who gathered to discuss matters of significance within the Water Fae Kingdom. Although Jesiah also explained that the Queen and King would get final say in each decision. The Council was more of an advisory council, and the Queen and King could use their suggestions, knowledge, and experience to make decisions, should they need it.

The Council consisted of the Queen and King, each head of their personal guards—Dallas for mine and Rance for Rune—their personal advisor, highly ranked members of the army, scholars, and an elected citizen to represent the Water Fae people. Because no one had been called back to the Kingdom yet, it was just Angus here to speak on behalf of the missing members.

Steeling myself for what I assumed would be a brutal next hour, I met Angus’s dark eyes across the petrified seaweed table. “What issues would those be?”

“The first is crowning you as Queen. Right now, you’re still just Princess Bria with practically no weight to your name. In order to proceed with all that you have planned—leading our people, attempting to advocate for peace with the Land Fae King, Elias—you need to be Queen, not only in name but in practice.”

“We have those plans set in place,” Jesiah assured. “She’s starting her studies with me today. I’ll be instructing her in everything—policies, etiquette, history, abilities. We’ll leave no stone unturned.”

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