Page 27 of Songs of Retribution

"Well, he was worried about his Atalla." She looked back and smirked at me. "I'm sure you can't empathize with that."

I fought a grin. "Don't use Shaan against me."

The warmth of her laughter rumbled through my chest as our party picked up again and we clattered across the bridge, guards following behind us.

It was strange to have Prasanna guards protecting me of all beings. I was sure there were a few still who'd happily drop me off the bridge and be done with it, but my connections with Shaan, Ishir, and even Elisa who seemed universally loved all helped. We all knew, regardless of how tentative the relationships currently were, that we had to work together to stop my father.

I'd spent a great deal of the journey so far worrying about Father, trying to make sense of how I felt about it and failing to do so. I guided the horse around a bend. "How's Neia?"

Elisa tensed. "She’s well. They'll make it to elf territory today, though. So she won't be able to send thrushes anymore." The elves kept their city too warded for ground magic like thrushes to pass through. A curl broke free from Elisa’s cape and flittered out on the breeze like a hawk gliding on the wind. Elisa turned as much as she could and met my gaze. "I did the right thing, didn't I? Not going with her?"

Her voice wavered, and I tucked my arm tighter around her. I didn't have the privilege of being indecisive anymore. So many looked to me to see what the Seelie might do if we managed to dethrone Father, to see how I might influence Shaan with us being Atallas, and now Elisa relied on me for reassurance.

"You did the right thing. You were right, if you went with Neia it might have distracted her and she has her shadow magic that you lack."

"She's new at that magic," Elisa whispered. "What if she needs it and it fails her? What if... what if I never see her again? What if—”

"Elisa." I touched my brow to the back of her head solely to pull closer to her, to offer support. "We can't know what the future will hold, but Neia is smart and quick on her feet. She loves you fiercely and wants to return to you. I believe she will."

Elisa didn't respond but her body softened. We turned a corner and the Froh palace came into view, ivory spirals rising up amid the mist and fog. The building’s pale beauty stood out against the dark firs it sat tucked into. The last time I’d seen the palace had been with my mother. I’d ridden on her horse and she bent down, her breath warming my cheek, and pointed.Here’s the home I grew up in, Lennox.

An ache clenched my stomach. I’d honor Mother by finishing the work she started.

The guards at the front picked up their pace, and I nudged my boots into the side of our horse to join. The creature was a gentle thing, and it lacked the strength and endurance of a kelpie. It was tired, but we'd be at the stables soon.

We clipped across another stone bridge the color of steel. A waterfall rushed down at its side making the stones slick and moss covered. On the other side, we handed off our horses then followed Froh guards into the palace.

Inside, intricately carved wood columns reached up to the soaring ceilings. Candlelight gleamed over crimson tiles and green silk furnishings. The lights in the chandeliers that lined the hall sparkled with a touch of magic, but shadows lingered too, dominating corners.

Shaan lifted his face to take in the space, his artist's eyes assessing it all, and my heart soared. There was nothing as beautiful in the world as him standing with his gleaming, damp ebony hair, robed in a gold and silver sherwani. He looked like the room’s crowning jewel.

King Frederick stepped into the space with guards in flaxen uniforms following close behind. The King wore a blue velvet dress coat with silver buttons and embroidery with lace sleeves. My eyes traced over the clothing the way Shaan had appraised the room.

Our group bowed, and the King nodded. "Prince Lennox."

I stepped forward and bowed. "King Frederick. Thank you for agreeing to our visit." He’d gained a few more gray hairs since I’d last seen him, but I remembered the man slipping me gingersnap cookies and patting my cheek affectionately as he spoke with Mother. I wished I’d kept the connection up despite Father forbidding it.

"It's a pleasure,” the King said. “Could I offer you and your group refreshments?"

"That would be much appreciated."

We followed him and his guards down the hall and through a massive arched door into a sitting room that overlooked the mist-shrouded mountain. A hawk cut through the clouds in the distance, diving towards the trees. In the corner, a fire crackled.

The King gestured to seats, and Shaan and I took a gold-floral couch together as Elisa sat in the armchair to the right. The King seemed to consider our seating arrangements before dropping across from us and gesturing to a servant who brought in a tray with a steaming pot, gold-rimmed cups and plates, and a yellow cake with a thick cream filling and topped with sliced almonds.

The King lifted the pot. "Kaffee?"

"Yes, please," I said as Shaan and Elisa both nodded. Shaan sat close enough to me that the warmth of his leg seeped through my pants. I resisted the urge to reach for his hand. This was a political meeting. I didn't intend to lie about our relationship, but I also wanted to maneuver carefully through the situation. It bothered me, though, that even if this was just a family reunion, I’d be careful about how I presented our relationship. It wasn't fair that it was our responsibility to make others comfortable about our existence. It was like everything that had happened to me in the past months, falling and nearly dying, realizing I was a great deal more powerful than I'd ever acknowledged, and fighting to get Elisa and I back to the ones we loved had altered things so dramatically within me, I now questioned everything. And I was exhausted with the hypocrisy. I swallowed those thoughts down as the King handed me a cup, the warmth of it seeping into my palms before I took a drink.

I made introductions. The room remained nearly empty aside from the four of us. Guards lingered at the doorways, but none stood at the King’s shoulder. That was a good sign. If he felt safe with a Prasanna prince in the room and with me, then perhaps we had a chance.

"I requested a Bienenstich cake, Prince Lennox. It was always your mother's favorite." He smiled as he handed plates to everyone.

I set my mug down to accept mine and took a bite, letting the honey-sweetness of it linger on my tongue for a moment. Mother had enjoyed this. It made me long to beg for the recipe, to savor it. But I had to focus. Mother once had the same aim I now possessed—to unite the fae courts and stop the fighting.

"That's kind of you," I said then looked at Shaan and Elisa. "My mother grew up in the Froh palace."

The King smiled and lifted an ankle to his knee. "Margaret was always my favorite cousin. She was much younger than me and I doted on her."

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