Page 75 of The Light Falls
Estrella nods. “Correct. Unfortunately, only Lord Dane believed in your father’s vision. My father and Lord Basilus only pretended to be on board. They went around your father’s back to Nyssa. They hoped to gain her support and use the council to fight against him. She refused.”
A relieved expression crosses Solandis’ face. “I knew she wouldn’t go against our father.”
Estrella stares at Solandis with pity in her eyes. “She did worse. When your parents left the secret meeting to go home, Basilus and my father provided Nyssa with the route they were taking back to the palace. They never made it home.”
Solandis stands up and pounds her fist on the table. “You’re lying. My parents were killed by the dark Fae.” Sparks light upon the cuffs Estrella’s wearing and bounce off.
Estrella stands. “Yes. Dark Fae hired by Nyssa. Lord Dane had proof Basilus betrayed your parents and confessions from the dark Fae. Scared it would all come out and Nyssa would kill him, my father killed Lord Dane. He then sent word to Basilus to let him know what was going on. That night, Basilus and Kyra and all their staff were burned to death and their keep destroyed by the Fire Fae.”
Struck speechless, Solandis and I can only stare while her story unravels.
She clenches her fists and swallows hard a few times. “My father knew they would be coming for us next. He ordered my mother and me to start packing. But I refused. I wasn’t about to leave the only home I had ever known for something he did two hundred years ago. It hurt like a bitch, but I killed him. Then I dumped his and Lord Dane’s bodies on the Fire Fae’s doorstep. For months, I prayed it would be enough to appease them. It worked. They never came for us.”
Leaning forward, she plants her hands on the table. “I never told a soul until now. If I could have taken this secret to my grave and spared you the hurt, I would have. But in two weeks, the Fire Fae will petition the court for their land. I won’t give it to them. Those weapons can help me fight. You think the court will give a shit? They won’t see my actions as treason. They’ll think me noble for standing up to the Lesser Fae to keep what’s mine.”
Solandis stands there in shock.
Estrella’s right. The council won’t condemn her. “Would you accept a compromise? Half of your land?” I ask, knowing the answer but needing to be sure.
“No, I wouldn’t give them an inch, much less half,” she spits out. “I owe it to my father to keep the land he sacrificed his life to get.”
That’s a warped way of thinking about it.
Solandis hauls back and punches Estrella hard in the face. “That is for betraying our friendship.” She walks over to her. “You’re right. I’m glad you killed your father. And you’re probably right about the council, too. They’ll absolve you. Hell, they’ll probably give you the weapons you tried to steal and send you back to defend your land.”
Estrella smiles at the thought.
Solandis returns her smile. “Unfortunately, you’ll never see victory. Goodbye, Estrella.”
I smile. “Do you really think she’ll let you live? You denied her right to know the truth about her parents. To seek justice.”
She glances at the door and shrugs. “The council will protect me.”
Delusional. “I’ll see you at the meeting.”
Once I’m in the hallway, I hug Solandis tightly, but I don’t know what to say or how to help her. “I’m so sorry.”
She squeezes back, then eases out of my arms and looks at Kaius. “I don’t feel well.”
Kaius scoops her up in his arms. “I’ve got you, love.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY
MERI
Marble floors and golden hallways close in on me. The palace is nothing but a gilded trap full of predators and snakes. It tricks you with its beauty and lulls you into thinking you’ve got everything when you have nothing. Treaty, pen, and a small sack in hand, I text Rivan to let him know I’m on my way.
He’s standing in the doorway to his bedroom when I arrive and steps back to let me pass. “Come in.” His eyes dart to Ansel, who swiftly turns his back and positions himself at the entrance.
“We have a lot to talk about, but not here,” I say, glancing behind me at the closed door. “Let me change first.” Aware of the warm summer day, I opt for shorts, one of my oldest t-shirts, and a hat. Just putting on these clothes gives me comfort, and I’m going to need a lot of it today. “Also, I was wondering if you would tattoo a rune on me?”
Rivan doesn’t even question my request, simply grabs the necessary items and places them in a backpack. He holds it open for me to add my small things to it, then hands it to me. Sliding his fingers through mine, he leads me over to the balcony and into his arms. For the briefest of moments, he stands there, holding me without saying a word. He knows.
I touch his arm lightly, and he gives me a single nod.
Wings spread wide behind us and with one movement, we’re soaring upward into the sun. Several miles from the palace, he sets us down next to a beautiful waterfall and a small pool of water.
“It’s perfect,” I assure him. Opening the backpack, I pull out my stuff and set it on the ground. I hold up the small sack. “Eris packed us a lunch. I think she was offended when I asked if it contained enough food. She reassured me that whatever we wanted would be in here.”
