Page 8 of Crown of Wrath

A chill breeze blows through the cracks in the masonry as we appear in Darian and Lee’s chambers. The walls are made of blocks of gray limestone, as drab as any stone we stepped on during our walk from Blackgrove to Draenyth. Roughly cut and pieced together, the gaps are filled with a slightly lighter gray mortar that has been chipped in places.

On the walls hang beautiful paintings and tapestries. Where the Keep of Flame held very few pieces of décor, even a guest chamber like this is covered in showcases of wealth and status. The Keep of Flamewasthat showcase of status, and the humans have to decorate. It’s just another difference that separates humans from Immortals.

Darian and Lee stare at us as we rise from shadows, their mouths open wide. “Cole…” Lee begins.

I raise my hand, silencing her. “This is the Shade. That is how you will address him anywhere that humans can hear you, and if you think you aren’t being monitored, you’re being naïve. Humans may not have as keen of hearing as us, but they’re excellent at engineering. They’d be fools not to spy on Immortals that are staying with them.”

Lee swallows her words, but Darian says, “Maeve, why is the Shade here? The humans are expecting Cole.”

I smile at him. “I expect they’ll be more impressed by the Shade. Now, when is the meeting?”

Darian shakes his head, a chuckle silenced behind a smile. “In a few hours. You’ll be meeting with King Aric directly. He tried to get us to meet with his small council, but I didn’t think that would work as well. We don’t need more voices chiming in based on fear.”

I glance at the Shade, who only shifts slightly under my questioning glance. The decision isn’t on his shoulders. No, I have to decide. I drew that line in the sand when I told them I’d kill them if they hid anything from me and when I told them weweren’t fighting Gethin, even though that’s what they thought was right.

From the moment I became Queen, I’ve made it clear that I decided everything. So far, that’s meant fighting, so it hasn’t been beyond me. This… might be. I’m twenty-three, and while I may have the power to crush every human in this castle, I don’t necessarily know if I can be the diplomat that we need.

I sigh. “The Shade understands the purpose of our visit. He will be negotiating, and unless something goes directly against my wishes, I would prefer that he speak for me in most instances.”

Darian arches an eyebrow in question, and Lee is even more bewildered. I can’t keep holding this distance between us. “I’m twenty-three,” I say. “I may be capable of fighting, but…”

“I understand,” the Shade says. His voice rumbles, and it holds just as much authority as it always did. “I will speak for you. You are the Queen of Nyth, Lady. Human kings don’t have the authority to disagree with you.”

I nod to him and Lee shrugs. It doesn’t matter if I wear the Painted Crown. Darian and Lee would follow Cole anywhere, so when the Shade tells them to let it go, they don’t argue. They’ll always be loyal to him first, regardless of who wears a crown.

“Take us to the king,” the Shade says.

Just like in Aerwyn, Darian and Lee do as he says without question, and surprisingly, the Shade doesn’t glance at me as the twins lead us out of the room. It only serves to further cement the feeling that the Shade and Cole are two separate entities.

I can feel some of the weight that’s been pressing so hard against me shift. I trusted the Shade before. Maybe I don’t have to make every single decision. Maybe I could let him carry some of the burden…

The corridors of the castle of Stormhaven are nothing like the Keep of Flames. Just like the twins’ chambers are decorated withexquisite and expensive tapestries and paintings, the halls feel like they’ve been filled as much as possible, even if it’s just to cover the dreary gray of the stone.

Our feet are silenced by richly dyed wool rugs. A myriad of paintings of men and landscapes hang from the walls. Stained glass windows on all the external walls let in light, but well-used sconces hang unlit at regular intervals. The scent of burned tallow candles fills the stale air that lingers in every hallway.

Underneath the tallow is a uniquely human scent, that of fear and sweat. Immortals are slow and constantly looking to improve their position, but they don’t fear like humans do. They don’t spend their days toiling. An Immortal has all the time in the world, but a human knows her days will end far sooner than she’d like, and there’s a desperation to her time.

The goddess of death is never far from a human’s mind, while Immortals are always surprised when Lysara comes for them.

“I think you’ll like King Aric,” Darian says. Just like on our trek from Aerwyn to Draenyth, he fills the silence with words. “He’s very direct. Not exactly a politician like his father was. Though, he is a little nervous around Immortals, but that’s to be expected.”

Lee chimes in, “He hides it well enough. I’m sure that there aren’t many instances where he’s come into contact with Immortals that don’t involve him protecting his borders from Lesser Fae.”

The Shade and I stay quiet, letting the twins talk. It’s reassuring, actually. It reminds me of simpler times. Like the night at the Firelight Café or the weeks of walking.

They stop outside a thick wooden door that doesn’t look all that different from the previous ones other than its size. They glance at me, and I give them a nod.

I know that this shouldn’t matter after everything that’s happened, but I’ve heard about King Aric for years. The mostfamous person in my old world. Uncle Trevor tried gaining access to his court for years. He’d been willing to beg, borrow, or steal to be invited into the court of Stormhaven. He never accomplished it.

Now I’m having a private audience with King Aric, and he’s going to do me a favor whether he wants to or not.

I may wear the Painted Crown and have the most magical power in the world, but I’m still surprisingly nervous. It only makes me more thankful that the Shade is going to do the talking.

Lee opens the door, and we walk into the throne room of King Aric Aldridge.

Just like the rest of the castle, the gray limestone is decorated in gold and silk and artistry. The king sits at a table rather than the throne behind him. He sips wine from a golden goblet all alone while ten knights in steel plate armor stand at the walls.

I don’t blame him for having bodyguards. We’re the most dangerous things that have ever walked through his court’s doors, and to be completely honest, those men won’t do a thing to stop us from doing whatever we want. I’m sure they reassure him, though.

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