Chapter Eleven

THE ROOM brIMMED WITH LIFE and ease when I walked in. My friends, all in Fae form, were tucked away in the sitting room, and seeing their bright smiles and hearing bellows of laughter was like a much-needed breath of fresh air after dealing with Dax.

The twins sat by the unlit fireplace coloring while Alvaro watched them. Jesiah and Akira were curled up on a loveseat, laughing at whatever Ardley had just said from his place in a wingback chair. Avana was wedged between Marlow and Imani across from Jesiah and Akira, and I didn't miss the way Avana and Imani kept glancing at each other before shyly looking away. Rance, Rune, Bassel, and Carlos stood at the back of the room where a bar sat, littered with tea, coffee, and snacks.

It was a new place for all of us with unfamiliar scents, furniture, and expectations. Yet it was home all the same, because we were here together.

"Bria!" Akira was the first to spot Dallas and me walking in. He leapt from his place beside Jesiah to race over with a hug, his large wings giving him a boost across the room.

I welcomed the affection with open arms, and even though Akira had always been a chipper person, I could tell in that small embrace that he was truly happy now. The loneliness he'd kept hidden from many eyes had been filled with a warm glow, thanks to love.

"How'd it go?" Akira asked as he pulled back to look me over with worried eyes.

"She got her answers." Dallas sighed heavily. Rance came over and pulled her into his side to place a kiss on top of her head. Dallas's tired eyes found mine. "Dax is officially scum of the Earth."

"So it was really him?" Bassel asked.

Rune wrapped an arm around my waist to hold me close, and I could see the dozens of questions dancing in his fuming eyes. Instead of firing them at me, he waited to see what I had to say.

I took a deep breath and passed a look between everyone. "Yeah, it was all Dax."

I recounted how we got Dax to talk and all he'd shared. I opted to omit the spiteful words he'd thrown my way, though. No need to add fuel to the fire.

Dallas's face turned just as crimson with fury now as it had been when I'd found her watching the live feed of my confrontation with Dax in the headquarters. A vase full of water and flowers that sat nearby exploded, and the water shot to Imani's tightly clenched fist. Rune's golden eyes glowed with a promise of violence and bloodshed as he trembled with barely contained rage next to me.

"That fucking piece of shit," Rance hissed as he raked his hands through his short hair. He quickly sealed his lips and shot an apologetic look at the twins for cursing.

"His family is going to be shocked to learn of his treason," Imani noted. Her narrowed eyes watched the water that moved above her hand.

"Are you okay?" Akira asked as he placed a hand on my arm.

"Honestly, I think I am. We all figured this was the truth, so I'd already had time to cope with it. I just, well … I hate that I never saw it, you know? All the times he, Dallas, and I hung out …" I shared a knowing look with her across the room. "I never realized what he truly thought of me. I feel kind of stupid."

Rune suddenly stepped away from me as his clawed hands erupted in bright flames. He roared as he threw the burning balls at the fireplace, making the logs there ignite in hungry flames.

"Woah," Greshim yelled, whipping his head around to stare into the now burning wood.

"Easy there, R," Ardley said. He joined his cousin's side and patted his shoulder firmly. "The little prick will get what's coming to him." Ardley's curious gaze found mine, and he slowly asked, "What is coming to him? Life imprisonment? Exiled to the Lost Woods? Death? I vote for death."

"I vote to be the executioner," Rune snapped.

"Get in line," Dallas grumbled.

"I'm not sure what his sentence will be." I looked at Jesiah. "Do you?"

Jesiah's crossed arms tightened, and his jaw hardened. "Treason is typically given the harshest sentencing. Death."

Death .

Something final. The word, despite being a part of life, left a bad taste in my mouth. Death meant dark loneliness and loss. It meant no return, no chance to see the sunrise, no chance to dip your toes in the water, no chance to earn forgiveness.

I swallowed hard. "No."

"No?" Jesiah asked incredulously.

"No," I repeated firmly. "I'm here trying to convince Fae to lay their hate aside and to live in peace with one another. How can I ask that while sentencing my own enemy to death? There's been enough killing. I won't start my reign with more. Dax's sentencing will be something else. Maybe life imprisonment. Since we live such a long time, perhaps being stuck with only his thoughts will give him time to rethink who he is. Maybe he'll change, and if that happens one day, I want to be there to help him turn over a new leaf."

The room was quiet as everyone stared at me. Some, like Ardley, blatantly watched me like I'd just sprouted a second head. Others, like Carlos, tried to hide their obvious disagreement by biting their lips and avoiding eye contact. Then there were those, like Alvaro, who wore an indiscernible expression.

Marlow was the first to break the silence, and when he did, he smiled at me with admiration. "I think Bria's idea is the perfect one."

"Do you?" Ardley asked with wide eyes and a disbelieving shake of his head.

"I do, too," Avana declared as she beamed at me. "I think the mercy and forgiveness she's willing to extend is a beautiful thing, and not many would do that. I think it will send the message that we're all capable of the same, and once people see that, more will rally behind her. Wouldn't you want to follow a Queen who believes in love and grace versus one who demands death and blood?"

"But … But I like blood," Ardley pouted.

Akira and Bassel rolled their eyes. Marlow's head fell into his palm, and he shook his head. Rune returned the clap on Ardley's shoulder as though to say, "There, there."

"I'm sure you'll still see your fair share of blood," Alvaro chimed in from the corner of the room. "Because while Bethany here is adamant that she wants peace and civility among Fae, I am also confident that getting there will require blood. King Elias will make sure of that."

Unease pricked at my insides, but I pushed it aside. I'd heard very little of this King Elias, but what I had heard didn't paint him to be a very good man. I'd try everything within my power to avoid any more killing or war, but I also knew that there were some things that couldn't be avoided. There were some things that no amount of talking could change, and if King Elias really did attack and push for war, I'd work damn hard to ensure we were ready to defend ourselves.

"So, what now?" Carlos asked. "What's the next step in getting things moving and ready? Word is going to reach Elias soon that you've returned."

"The next thing that needs to be done is calling Water Fae back here," Jesiah answered. He stood from the loveseat and nodded at me. "Are you ready to do that?"

I squared my shoulders. "Absolutely. Let's bring everyone home."

RUNE, JESIAH, DALLAS, AND I all stood along the shore where we'd arrived yesterday. I breathed in the ocean mist that passed on the soft breeze and closed my eyes to listen to the lapping of the waves against the sand. The whispers in the water called to me, and I silently said my own hello.

"Remember, this will be similar to what you've done before," Dallas started.

Jesiah stood directly beside me and stared out at the water. "Concentrate. Focus on the water until you feel the electric connection form, and when you do, call out to the water. Let your intentions be known. Then release the water to go forth and alert Water Fae."

I nodded and took a deep breath. The crystal-clear turquoise waters glittered in the bright sun like hundreds of twinkling stars riding the waves. I breathed in and out to the push and pull of the tide, and within seconds, that familiar buzz started up in my chest before spreading throughout my limbs.

Smiling softly, I held onto the connection and whispered, "Help me. Help me reach all Water Fae. Tell them their Princess has returned to Ambrolia, so they can, too."

The soft crash of the ocean suddenly thundered as water burst up from the sea in a towering wave. Instead of fearing the skyscraper of a geyser, I watched it in wonder as it began to separate into thousands of small orbs, just like the ones that had led me to Dallas. The orbs danced in the air above the waves, glowing from within, and they bounced once before disappearing in a silent pop.

My brow pinched in confusion. "What happened? Where'd the orbs go?"

"You did it!" Dallas squealed and threw her arms around me.

I glanced at Rune, whose amazed eyes were locked on me.

Jesiah smiled brightly. "Excellent work. The water should be headed to every Water Fae out there, letting them know to return home. Expect lots of new arrivals in the coming week."

"I'll have the groundskeepers begin their walk-throughs to make sure every house is stocked with necessities and ready for Fae to move back in," Dallas said.

"While you do that," Jesiah began as he turned to smile at me, " we are going to return to the palace to begin your studies."

His eyes glittered in the way only a teacher's could, and seeing such intense excitement made my stomach sink with dread.

Warily, I asked, "I'm about to hate you, aren't I?"

He snickered. "Probably."