Page 110 of Fated

Tessa nodded sharply, already reaching for her tablet.

“As soon as I have that location—hopefully, tomorrow—I plan on taking a team consisting of Xanth, Greyson, myself, and Areya to rescue and cure Calyx. His abilities will be vital when he and I sneak back into Astern to gather information on Agidius and bring my sister home.”

Before he could continue, Xanth stood abruptly.

“Like hell are you going back there without me.”

Ash met his brother’s fierce gaze with a calm resolve. “It’s been decided, brother; I need you here to keep things running smoothly and to keep our people calm.”

Xanth didn’t look very pleased with this plan, and I felt the same way. The tension in the room was palpable, especially from Nadia, who looked sick with worry at the idea of Ash returning to Astern and the possibility of her daughter being brought home.

Ash turned to Tessa again. “Tessa, alert every possible media platform that urgent news will be broadcast from the castle in approximately two hours.”

She nodded again.

“As it has always been in Ambrosia, the people will know the truth,” Ash continued. “I will address the kingdom myself.”

He then turned to Xanth. “Until then, I need every servant, guard, and castle personnel with whom Areya and I come in contact to be sworn to secrecy regarding our presence here.”

He paused. “I’d also like to arrange for a feast tonight. Invite every person in this castle—family, servant, everyone.” He glanced at the others before adding, “So I may spend time with all of you—my dear friends and family—and this castle can celebrate the first victory in the war against Agidius. Untilthen, Areya and I need to get ready and prepare for the speech tonight.”

My heart nearly stopped. Was he implying I was going to be a part of this speech?

A heavy weight pressed down on my chest, and Ash must have noticed the shift in me because he reached for my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Xanth stood up and walked toward the door. “I have a dozen castle guards waiting outside this door to accompany you and Areya to your quarters unseen.”

“Thank you, brother,” Ash said, standing up and keeping my hand firmly in his. As we headed toward the door, he patted his mother on the back in a silent gesture of comfort.

Chapter 27

Iwasn’t prepared for the overwhelming display of reverence when Ash opened the door and led us out. Twelve castle guards immediately fell to their knees at the sight of him, their heads bowed low. Goosebumps rippled over my skin as I took in their silent devotion. The guards moved to surround us on all sides as they escorted us through the castle to Ash’s chambers.

The king’s chambers were magnificent. As we entered, Ash casually said, “Willow, turn on all of the lights, please,” and the lights immediately flickered on, illuminating the room.

I raised my brows, offering him an impressed look. Ash caught my expression and smiled, as if he were used to this type of effortless control over his surroundings.

We stepped into a sitting room with the softest, most luxurious gray carpet I had ever felt beneath my feet. At the front of the room stood an intimate round dining table, while a set of elegant cream-colored couches encircled a dark wooden coffee table in the center. Overhead, a dazzling silver and crystal chandelier shimmered, casting delicate reflections across the walls. At the far end of the room, a large desk had been positioned in front of towering windows giving way to breathtaking views of the castle grounds.

The sitting room led seamlessly into Ash’s bedroom, where the same plush gray carpet continued underfoot. At the center of the expansive space stood a massive bed, draped in the fluffiest white bedding and adorned with a half-dozen invitingly stacked pillows. To the left, a set of glass doors opened onto the balcony. Across from the bed, a grand fireplace with an ornate mantelanchored the room, and beside it, a door led to the opulent bathroom.

The farthest wall featured an intricately carved wooden vanity, flanked by a full-length mirror framed in exquisite silver. Beyond the mirror, a door opened to what Ash called a ‘closet’—though the word didn’t do it justice. The sheer size of the room and lavish contents left me speechless.

Built-in white drawers lined the walls and above them, racks held an array of men’s shirts crafted from the finest materials, along with regal dress coats fit for royalty.

In the center of the closet stood glass cases, each displaying pairs of crowns, six in total.

For every male crown, there was a coordinating female counterpart, each set unique.

Some were gold, others silver.

One pair, a deep, elegant bronze, was adorned with turquoise-colored diamonds, while another was solid black, embedded with black diamonds gleaming ominously under the light.

But one set in particular caught my eye. The male crown was silver, adorned with large, oval, white sparkling diamonds, regal and bold. The female crown, however, was nothing short of exquisite. Crafted from the most delicate silver, it appeared to have been fashioned entirely from thousands of shimmering diamonds, every surface glistening in the light. As I moved around the case, the crown twinkled and shifted, casting a dazzling array of reflections.

I hadn’t realized Ash had moved until his arms wrapped around me from behind. He stood close, watching me as I traced my finger around the glass case.

“They’re breathtaking,” I said.

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