Page 89 of The Dark Rises
“Are you going to stand at the door forever?” he asks irritably. He rearranges a few of the soldiers from one area to another.
Walking in, I pull a map from the shelf. “I might have a solution for the Federation and their independence. It’s risky. They may or may not take it, but I think it makes sense.”
Rolling it out on a side table, I wait for him to walk over. “Avalon. The island is awake. There are not enough descendants left to control the wild magic, but if left uncontrolled, it will run rampant and spread across the sea.”
Madoc folds his arms. “You think we can give the Federation the island? Won’t the magic turn on them?”
“Meri’s rune woke the island because it was tattooed by me, a descendant of Avalon, using my mother’s magic,” I tell him. “Every Avalon citizen wore one. It was a signal to the island of their allegiance. Only two people know how to use that magic—myself and my sister. She wants her independence.”
“Yeah, I gathered that during our last encounter,” Madoc states dryly. “What makes you think she or the rest of the Federation will go for the deal? Won’t they be afraid of the magic? Maybe not your sister, but the rest of them?”
“That’s the risky part,” I admit with a sigh. “If we make it clear this is the only option on the table, that they will not be given land in either of the Fae kingdoms to claim as their own, they might come to the same conclusion I did. It’s either true independence in the unknown or a fierce war that will last who knows how long.”
He runs his hand along his chin several times. “Long term, this could backfire on us if the Federation learns to wield the old magic, but I imagine it would take at least a millennium.”
I lean in closer. “My mother told me the island stopped sharing its magic with her people because they didn’t do enough in return to replenish the resources,” I murmur, not wanting to say too much out loud. “I think it will depend on them. Maybe the two will co-exist.”
Madoc walks over to the window to view his kingdom. “If we don’t offer them the deal, we know blood will run and the Fae will never be the same. Are you willing to be my official emissary and offer them the deal?”
His trust means everything to me, but I have to give him an honest answer. “I’m not sure they’ll want to hear it from me. Maybe you should send Cormal or one of your trusted advisors.”
He scowls. “You are one of my trusted advisors. But if you think it needs to be someone official, I have an idea for who to send with you.”
Tilting my head, I wait for him to tell me.
“Queen Meri,” he reveals in a gruff voice. “Do you think she’ll accept the crown?”
Thinking of seeing a crown on her forehead, I grimace. “I don’t know. Even in her short time as queen, she made an impact.”
“Is it Nyssa?” he asks in a soft, understanding voice.
“The memories are always there, under the surface, and sometimes the smallest of things trigger it, like the sight of a crown on Meri’s forehead.” It’s painful for me to admit, but he has a right to know.
He gives a lazy shrug. “Since I’m king and carry my power with me, she doesn’t have to wear a crown all the time. Plus, it would be a physical crown, not a magical tattoo across her forehead.” He waves a hand toward me, and a more delicate version of his black crown appears in his hand.
“I won’t know until I see it on her,” I reply.
He motions for me to follow. “No time like the present.” Walking out the door, he glances over his shoulder. “Where is she?”
I chuckle. “Last time I saw her was in my room, but she doesn’t stay in one place very long.” I pull my phone out and send her a text.
“That’s the truth,” he mutters.
My phone pings a reply. “Cormal’s room.”
When we get there, they’re both eating, and the room is saturated with the smell of sex. I groan. “You could have warned us.”
“Why?” she asks with a mischievous expression on her face.
Madoc waves a hand and freshens the air. “Because I would like to ask you an important question.”
Meri glances down at her silky attire. “Do I need to get dressed for this discussion?” She takes another look at Madoc’s face and immediately gets dressed. “Okay, where are we going? Who are we fighting?”
“You’re a damn good queen,” Madoc grumbles, and Cormal rolls his eyes. With a sigh, Madoc holds out the crown. “I don’t want the general or anyone else to question your place here. This isn’t a temporary situation. It’s permanent. For as long as I’m king, I want you by my side as my queen. There is no ceremony, just a crown, and a hell of a lot of responsibilities. None of that sounds great, but I know you’ll be the best damn queen to our people.”
Tears fill Meri’s eyes, and she looks at me. “Won’t this bother you? And don’t lie. You’re more important. I know how to get my way without a title or crown.”
“Put it on,” I reply firmly. When she does, I carefully study her. I hate it, but it’s not triggering me. “It’s not my favorite look on you, but I can live with it.”
