Page 14 of Calling of the Crown

Clearing my throat, I looked at Angus. “What about the Joining Ceremony?”

“Do you intend to perform it with him?”

“I just learned of the ceremony, so nothing is planned yet.”

“I highly suggest you combine the ceremony with your coronation,” Jesiah recommended, making a point to look directly in my eyes. “It would really help the people be more open to the idea that peace is possible between Water and Land Fae by seeing the two of you together, especially during that ceremony. It would also give Rune authority as King, your official partner and fellow leader of Water Fae.”

I opened my mouth to explain that it was still too new for us to decide something like that when Angus interjected, “But how can we, as Water Fae, have a Land Fae for King? Not only has it never been done before, but Water Fae and Land Fae can’t reproduce.”

My eyebrows shot up at that, because … woah. That was an escalation. How did we go from talking about peace between Water and Land Fae to babies?

“That’s not true,” Dallas argued. “There have been instances where Land and Water Fae have been able to conceive and give birth.”

“They’ve all been powerless, though,” Imani begrudgingly pointed out.

“Exactly,” Angus huffed. “We can’t have a powerless Queen or King once Bria and Rune’s rule is done. We must have a strong, capable heir, which can’t come from a union between a Land and Water Fae.”

My head was beginning to throb. Placing my fingers on my temples, I leaned my elbows on the table. “An heir is so far into the future, Angus. I’m not even Queen yet—something you like to remind us of. I haven’t even ruled yet. Our priority right now isn’t what offspring I might produce one day in the distant future. Right now, our priority is stopping the war between Land and Water Fae as peacefully as possible. That’s what we need to focus on. We can cross the baby bridge when we get there.

“As for your issue with Rune being my partner, your point is moot. I love him. I will be with whomever I deem worthy, not you. I choose Rune, and whether we do the ceremony or not, he is the one that will be by my side as I lead this Kingdom. That is one matter that’s not, and will never be, open for discussion.”

The room fell quiet, and I took the chance to breathe deeply. It felt like I hadn’t had a chance to just fucking breathe this whole damn meeting. It was one thing after another being thrown my way, and I was starting to sense that this was how it was going to be from now on. Exhaustion tugged at my shoulders, but I shrugged it off. I refused to be shaken so early on.

Sitting up straight once more, I captured Angus’s attention across the table. “I will train and study, and as soon as the Water Fae have arrived safely to this Kingdom, we’ll hold the coronation. Once I’m Queen, I’ll take the necessary steps to get everyone I can on my side. We’ll correspond with King Elias, and in time, I’m confident that we can end this war-torn era.”

Angus stared at me, his jaw working. He inhaled deeply before asking, “So you truly want to do this? You want Water and Land Fae to forget all the wrongs done to us? You want us to let go and become allies?”

I shook my head. “I’m not asking everyone to forget. Asking that would be wrong. You can never forget something like this—the bloodshed, the lives lost. I’m asking for forgiveness. I’m asking for a better future for all of us, one created by healing and goodwill. Do I expect all Water and Land Fae to be best friends and to go skipping hand-in-hand through a field of rainbows and flowers? No, absolutely not. But I expect a world in which that’s possible. A world where Land and Water Fae can smile at one another as they pass each other on the street. Where Water and Land Fae can fall in love, if that’s what fate has in store. I expect a world far brighter and beautiful than this broken one.”

Angus’s shoulders pulled taught, and his fingers thrummed listlessly against the armrest of his chair. He closed his eyes and hung his head as he chewed his cheek. Finally, he shook his head, and when his eyes found mine, I was stunned to see raw anger directed right at me. “You ask for the impossible.”

“Angus,” Imani thundered. “You are out of line. Stand down. That’s an order.”

I held up my hand at Imani, but my eyes never left Angus. “No. I want to hear him speak openly and honestly. I don’t want people to censor themselves around me. Please, Angus. Continue.”

“And I may speak freely? Honestly?” The words were spoken cold and quietly, and I almost sensed that he meant it as a challenge.

“You may.”

“Then let me be frank. Your goal for peace is a childish fantasy. It can’t be done. You don’t understand, Bria. How could you? You aren’t from this world. You haven’t witnessed real war. You haven’t watched your entire life, your entire reason for existing, bleed out at the hands of another. You haven’t lost anyone to this war like we all have, yet you waltz in as if you’re a part of this world and somehow know what’s best for it. How could you possibly know what is best when you haven’t felt the devastating pain of loss that the rest of us have felt for centuries?”

Every word sliced deeper and deeper into me. It lashed out at every insecurity I had, reopening each one to flood my mind.

You don’t belong here.

You can’t rule an entire Kingdom.

You aren’t powerful enough.

You aren’t good enough.

Your pain is invalid.

Rune’s chair scraped back sharply as he shot to his feet with a deep growl, fire erupting in either hand. Before he could move in for what I feared might be a kill, I grabbed his arm and held him back.

Swallowing hard, I forced a smile. “You’re right. I don’t know this world like you do. I didn’t grow up here like you did. I don’t know what it’s like to see people I love die right in front of me. You’re right. On most points. I take it you lost someone important to you?”

He gave a sharp nod.

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