Page 69 of Calling of the Crown

“We want to actually end the war,” Yasmine insisted. “That way it will be like the past twenty years, just without the constant looking over your shoulder and walking on eggshells. We want there to be a truce, a civility among everyone.”

“Why the change of heart?” Rune asked. “Why suddenly interested in being cordial with Water Fae when you’ve always been fine killing them?”

“We were never fine killing them,” Aidan hissed, exposing her fox canines. Rune’s narrowed eyes met hers, and she quickly looked away at the empty fireplace. “Only sick people would truly be okay with that many lives lost to their hands.”

“My mother certainly seemed to believe you were someone like that.”

“Yeah, well, I guess that just means I’m a damn good actress.” She finally looked at Rune with sharp eyes. “I was raised to be a badass Water-Fae-killing-machine just like you. So, of course, Myra believed all of those things about me. I did a good job of pretending to be okay with all the Fae I’d killed.”

“If that’s the case,” I said slowly. “If you’re such a good actress, how do we know you aren’t pretending now?”

Aidan’s hardened gaze found mine, and the anger previously there melted away into shame. “Because if I were lying, I wouldn’t come here. I wouldn’t face you. Or you.” She glanced at Rune. “Being here with the two of you sucks for a multitude of reasons, and trust me when I say, I wouldn’t be here unless I really wanted to be.”

I had to give her that, because this was most definitely awkward and uncomfortable for everyone. Here we were—Rune, his ex-lover, and his current one. Not only that, but Yasmine secretly loved Aidan, and she was forced to sit next to Aidan while her crush stared Rune down like a sad puppy. I sort of envied Talia at the moment, who had no slice of this awkward pie we’d made.

“We know that trusting us is probably hard,” Yasmine admitted.

“Especially since we started off on the wrong foot,” Talia mumbled.

“But we’re willing to do whatever we need to do to show you that we truly want to be on your side,” Yasmine finished. “Whatever you need from us, we’re willing to do it. Helping around Morardia, assisting here at the palace, intel on Land Fae who belong to the opposing side. Whatever it may be. We just want to be on the side that aims to help and save versus destroy and kill. We want to stop this war.”

As I passed my gaze between the three girls, I teetered on the edge of what to do. They sounded and appeared genuine, but I also couldn’t pretend that Land and Water Fae weren’t technically still at war. This could still be a Trojan horse situation orchestrated by Elias—sending Land Fae we knew to make us lower our guard just so they could assassinate me or Rune.

I had to be smart. As much as I wanted to believe that Aidan and the rest had honest intentions, I had countless people here that relied on me to make decisions that would keep them safe. I couldn’t put Morardia in danger.

But I also couldn’t turn away Land Fae out of fear of the possibilities.

“Where are you all currently staying in Ambrolia?” I asked.

“We aren’t,” Talia answered. “We snuck away from our homes to come here, which if our families haven’t realized by now, they will soon. Joining you will make us treasonous.”

“We wanted to follow you when you made your declaration at Myra’s,” Yasmine added. “But Aidan and I were scared to reach out to you then with all those Fox Fae right there. She and I talked after you left and realized we’d have to find the right time to sneak away and come find you.”

I recalled the look both Aidan and Yasmine had worn back when things came to a head on my final day at Myra’s home. As my friends and I joined together to declare our intentions of ending the war and bringing peace, Aidan and Yasmine had stared after us just a hair longer than Rune’s family, and their expressions had been hard to decipher. They weren’t haughty or angry like the other Foxes, but rather, they’d almost seemed torn.

Perhaps they were telling the truth after all.

“If you all don’t have somewhere to stay,” I began. “You are more than welcome to stay here in the palace. We have plenty of rooms. I’m sure the staff could use an extra hand as well, especially as we prepare for the upcoming coronation and ball.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” the three said in unison, bowing their heads at me.

Khalani swept back into the room with a tray full of scones, cakes, and cookies, along with a pot of tea and cups. She set the tray on the table between us before backing away to the edge of the room where she waited in case I needed anything else.

Rune watched his old friends with blank eyes, but I could feel the tension in his body. He was definitely on edge, but I wasn’t sure if it stemmed from his distrust of the newcomers or if it was because Aidan kept staring at him.

“If you need our help with anything, please let us know,” Talia said. “We really do want to help.”

I nodded and got to my feet. Everyone else stood, too, but I quickly held out my hands. “No need to rise. You guys stay and enjoy the tea and snacks. I’ll have some Fae sent over to show you to your rooms. Just relax for now. I’m sure you’re tired from sneaking away and coming here.”

Rune offered me his hand, which I took. He and I moved around the couch for the doors, and as we left, I shared a look with Dallas and Rance, who subtly dipped her head in a nod. The message was silent but clear, nonetheless.

Have these girls watched.

Rance and Dallas glanced at the other and seemed to communicate something silently. Rance nodded once and stood tall by the door, taking on the position of watchman for now.

I was going to welcome Aidan and her friends, but I wasn’t going to be naive about it. There wasn’t a peace treaty between our kinds yet, and since I didn’t know them well enough to let them have free rein in the Kingdom, I’d have them monitored for everyone’s safety.

“Bria, wait.”

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