Chapter Nineteen

IT HAD BEEN A WEEK since the first Water Fae arrived back in Ambrolia, and now our island bustled with life. Every house on the island was filled with a family or roommates, and as people settled back into their lives here, the shops and vendors lining the streets now also brimmed with business and activity. Even the castle was lively with an influx of Fae who now worked in the kitchens, the grounds, and housekeeping.

I'd managed to be there to welcome three-fourths of the Water Fae as they'd arrived to the island, but training for the Joining Ceremony and Two Hearts Dance meant I was unable to greet everyone. Did Rune and I have anything to show for all those practices? No. Other than explosions, a slew of profanities, and close-call fist fights between Rune and Angus, we still hadn't made much progress. Though my control of the water had gotten a lot better since our day of swimming.

When we'd returned from the underwater library, I'd asked Jesiah about the book. He didn't know how to read the old language, but Akira said he might know a scholar who could decipher the writing. He offered to contact the Fae to see if he could read the text, so while we waited to hear back, I kept the dried-out book on my bedside table for safekeeping.

The day of the welcome home gathering had finally come. Today, I'd not only mingle and interact with everyone, but I'd also announce my intentions to stop the war with Land Fae. Needless to say, my stomach was twisted in tight knots, and I kept teetering on the edge of vomiting.

"Deep breath," Jesiah coached. "You've practiced for this, remember?"

"Yeah, but I practiced in front of you and my friends," I croaked, wringing my hands in front of me. "That's really different than giving a speech in front of hundreds of people."

"Technically, there should be one thousand, three hundred eighty-six Fae in attendance if every Fae who's moved back to Morardia shows up to today's celebration," Angus deadpanned.

"Thanks, Angus," Rune responded just as blankly. "That's really helpful."

Rune, Jesiah, Dallas, Rance, Angus, and I were all in the room off the balcony that overlooked the ballroom in the palace where the event was taking place. A slew of voices and chatter filled the room below, which let me know Angus was right. Plenty of Fae gathered there.

Dallas, Rance, and Angus were all in their official guards and military uniforms, and Jesiah sported the silver, blue, and white garb of the Water Fae officials. Instead of wearing the same thing as Jesiah today, Rune wore a deep royal blue and black tunic with black slacks, the color combination worn by royals in the Water Fae Kingdom.

I, myself, wore a royal blue gown that hung off both shoulders with slitted sleeves. The bodice hugged my curves and flared out at the waist with an extra-long train. My dress and Rune's clothes had been made in a rush by the royal tailor, who'd arrived in an early group of Fae. Khalani had gotten the job as my lady's maid, which I'd been super excited about, and she'd braided and twisted my hair into an intricate updo before adorning me with my tiara.

"Public speaking is part of being Queen," Angus said to me.

"I know," I huffed. "I'm prepared, really. Just nervous."

"That's normal," Dallas encouraged, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Exactly," Rance said. "I'd shit myself from the nerves if I had to do what you're about to."

Dallas smacked him on the chest and hissed, "I don't think that's encouraging."

Rune sighed as he threw an exasperated look in Rance's direction, and his black-and-white fox ears pinned back in agitation. He passed his gaze over everyone gathered and asked, "Could you guys give Bria and me a moment?"

Everyone stepped back out into the hall, giving us privacy.

Rune grabbed my hands and rubbed soothing circles into my skin. "What's going through that beautiful head right now?"

"Too much for me to even sort through. What if Water Fae don't see the value in ending the war and creating peace?"

"There will be some who feel that way. Just like there will be Land Fae who feel that way. But there will also be those who want and support your goal. You've already seen that."

I knew Rune was right. We'd already had countless Fae welcome Rune and the other Land Fae here with open arms as they got to know them. Still, there were those who remained hostile and avoided Land Fae at all costs as they traveled Morardia. I didn't blame them for feeling that way given the history between our kinds, but it did little to calm my nerves as I prepared to face them all and declare our fight with Land Fae over.

That announcement in and of itself was a cause for concern, because while Water Fae were mostly open to Rune and the others here, that didn't mean they would be open to the idea of peace with all Land Fae. There were just so many unknowns and possible outcomes for how today could play out. Trying to mentally prepare for each one was impossible.

Swallowing hard, I met Rune's honey eyes. "Sometimes I wish my mom and dad were here. I could ask them how they remain calm during speeches or the best way to break this kind of news."

Rune gave me a faint smile. "I think they'd tell you to trust yourself. Trust that you're doing the right thing."

A burn filled the back of my throat as emotion bubbled up. "I hope I make them proud."

Rune wrapped me in his arms and drew me in for a tight embrace. I clung to him like he was my life preserver in turbulent waters. His strength became my strength, and his belief in me became my motivation. Each and every time I stumbled, he was there to help me back to my feet, and I aimed to do the same for him.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled back and squared my shoulders. My nerves were still alive in my gut, but resolve resided there, too. I was determined to show Water Fae that I was ready to lead them and create a world far better than the one we lived in now. All they had to do was take my hand and trust me.

"I'm ready," I said with a firm nod.

Rune got everyone from the hall, and after going over everyone's positions once more—Jesiah and Angus posted at each back corner of the balcony, Dallas behind me on my right, Rune next to me on my left with Rance behind him on his left—the doors opened. Bright light spilled into the shadow of the waiting room, and the chatter from below the balcony suddenly morphed into vibrant cheers and whistles.

Plastering on a smile, I stepped out into the light and approached the banister of the balcony, waving at the sea of faces below. I waited as the cheers slowly died down until the crowd quieted.

"Good morning, everyone," I started, taking care to speak loudly and clearly. "Welcome back home. I am Princess Bria Damaris, daughter to King Khal Damaris and Queen Alesta Damaris. I'd like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for answering my call to return home. It's a home I'm sure many have missed. A home I want to see succeed and thrive. It is my goal to rebuild our Kingdom, both internally and externally.

"Before I say too much on that matter, I'd first like to invite all of you to join me and my fiancé," I gestured to the Fox Fae beside me, "Rune Beckett, as we celebrate being back home. During today's gathering, I urge you to spend time with one another, as well as making a point to see me. I truly want to hear any wishes, concerns, or comments that you may have as we all navigate being back here. Please help yourselves to the prepared refreshments as Rune and I join you below momentarily."

The room erupted in applause and cheers again as Rune offered me his clawed hand. The two of us swept back into the waiting room with Dallas, Rance, Jesiah, and Angus following us. As soon as the doors shut behind us, my shoulders slacked, and I released a shaky breath.

"How'd I do?" I asked Jesiah, wringing my clammy hands.

Jesiah flashed me a proud smile and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You did well. It was a good initial introduction. Now get down there and show them who you are, who Rune is, and why they should trust you. They'll need that for when you make your final speech at the end of the celebration."

"Especially if any Water Fae recognize Rune from battle," Angus added warily, looking at Rune sideways.

Rune stiffened next to me, and my stomach tightened with a fresh wave of unease. My gaze zeroed in on Rune, whose jaw hardened and brow creased. I felt like the world was suddenly falling out from beneath my feet, because that was something that—foolishly—hadn't occurred to me. I'd been so focused on what I needed to say and do, I never stopped to consider Rune and his past. Rune had seen countless battles with Water Fae, and his family was a high-ranked one in the war between Land and Water Fae. With all Water Fae returning home, it wouldn't be improbable to think that some could recognize him from those fights and, consequently, already hate him.

"Rune?" I said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "Are you—"

"It won't be an issue," Rune mumbled. His eyes immediately focused on the floor.

Angus raised a bushy dark brow. "Oh? How can you be sure?"

"I just am," Rune growled and bared his canines as his attention snapped back to Angus.

The corners of Angus's eyes tightened a fraction, and he tipped his chin up a hair higher.

Before Angus could respond, I quickly said, "Let's table this. We need to get downstairs. Everyone is waiting on us."

The tension between Rune and Angus didn't clear until Angus made his way into the hallway with Jesiah following him. I grabbed Rune's hand and gave it a squeeze before pulling him along with me. Dallas and Rance trailed after us, and our group essentially sandwiched us so that Rune and I were guarded in the front and back as we traveled the halls to the ballroom.

Rune's muscles were still tight, and his eyes were far from my own as he stared ahead yet seemed to see nothing. I glanced over my shoulder at Dallas and waved my free hand by my side to signal for her and Rance to back off slightly. Her green eyes caught my message, and she nodded before she and Rance slowed to put distance between us. I also let Jesiah and Angus get ahead some before I looked up at my Fox.

"Rune," I probed gently, dropping my voice so that only he could hear.

His eyes peeked sideways at me, and unmistakable trouble clouded them.

Squeezing his hand, I gave him a playful smile and asked, "What's going through that pretty head of yours?"

He looked away from me again, and my heart clenched painfully when he didn't even crack a smile at my teasing.

Swallowing hard, I asked, "Does this have to do with what Angus said?"

Rune's frown deepened, and his shoulders stiffened.

When he didn't answer, I held his hand tighter and grabbed his arm with my other. "Talk to me, Rune."

"No one will recognize me, because there's no one left to do so."

Brow furrowing, I questioned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, there are no Water Fae here who would recognize me from encounters in combat. They're all dead."

The statement came out harsh. Cold. Angry. Yet I knew every one of those emotions was directed at himself.

"The Fae I faced didn't live to talk about our fights," Rune spat bitterly. "Any battle I entered, whether it was a solo mission or one for the elite Fox unit I was a part of, ended the same way. No survivors. People may recognize the Beckett name, but no one will recognize me ."

Guilt suddenly seemed to flood him, pushing all other emotions out. The weight of all the lives Rune had taken in his years bogged him down, and now that he was being faced with them, the remorse was all he seemed to feel.

"That's part of war, Rune. Do you think you're the only Fae here who's taken a life?"

"No, but—"

"But nothing. Look, I won't pretend to know what it feels like to live with that kind of guilt. I can't imagine what it's like to have that burden, but it's one that was forced on you, just like it was for everyone else. You did what was asked of you for what you believed was the good of your kind. Same for any other Fae who took part in the war.

"Does that make it easier or right? Again, probably not, but that's what this war has caused. It's what this division and hatred has resulted in, and it's why you're doing something now to end it. You're working to ensure no more Fae have to die on either side.

"You have a dark past, but so do many here, Rune. I don't hold that against you, just like I don't hold it against Angus or Dallas or anyone else. So stop holding it against yourself."

"It's not that easy," he whispered.

"I know. But I'm going to be here to remind you until it sticks. You are a good man with a complicated past, Rune Beckett, and that's all it is. Your past . What matters today is who you are now, what you're going to do from this day forward, and, hopefully, that will be saving lives."

He swallowed hard, and after a few beats of silence, he nodded. I knew he was still worried and stuck inside his head, but, hopefully, my words were at least a small comfort.

Rune had never expressed much guilt over his past before. He'd always been sure of his choices and stood behind his killing Water Fae, but now that he was with me and was expected to be a leader for the very people he'd once hated, he was having to view that past from a different lens. If I had to guess, all of that was hitting him at once as he prepared to face the crowd, and it was making him crumble beneath who he was back then. It seemed now, as we walked through the iridescent halls of the palace to face our people, it was finally hitting him that he was no longer the Fox Fae whose mission was to kill Water Fae. Now, he was my partner and future King to those people.

I gave his arm another supportive squeeze. It wasn't much compared to the chaotic emotions he was probably feeling, but it was my promise and reminder to him that he wasn't alone.