19

I went into “seclusion” the next morning.

The word was simple to define, but when you always had a security team, it was more complicated.

When you were already the leader even more so.

And when no one around you listened to the rules, it was just comical.

I showed up at six in the morning to the vacation castle that was used for the ritual and had the first cleansing bath in the right oils and… Stuff. Honestly, I didn’t get into all of it. Talila was very into the religious side of all of it, so she handled it with Jordan.

I appreciated it. More than they knew.

The castle had a specific bath just for this and was only used for it because of the statues of the gods around the indoor pool. Well, maybe it wasn’t indoor? It was under a structure and had a roof but not walls, only columns.

Half indoor, half outdoor then?

It was cool. That was what mattered. It wasn’t attached directly to the castle but on the grounds. It was all really cool.

I hoped it wasn’t against the rules to add jets to the bath with runes, but it was exactly what I needed, so I did it. I was on restricted magic use, but I saw that as basic and not complicated, so… The gods could let it slide.

I did have to be careful because since everything had been set up, so was the food, and apparently it was a thing in Faerie to have it all on floating trays in the pool. I was all for it but yeah, the rune to make the water behave like a whirlpool messed with that.

So I moved it all to the ledge and chilled it a bit more before snacking on it all while lounging. I had pitchers of fae tea and just… Could I get days off like this? For real. It was like fifteen overloaded fruit platters and all the fae tea and juices I could drink.

While everyone left me alone?

Yeah, I was making this a once-a-month retreat when I was queen. The gods and I could become besties communing… Like having brunch.

I doubted people would have thought I’d eat it all, but I’d done way worse.

I got dressed in the fairy clothes that were common for the temples and praying, noting how flattering they were on me before using the rune for a bra. Then I went to the first temple on the schedule, and after walking around a bit, found the spot I wanted to pray at.

And I wasn’t alone. I figured someone was going to misbehave, but who it was and so early into this shocked me down to my bare toes.

“Fruit isn’t enough for you to eat with your needs,” Iolas said nervously as he set down the bags of what smelled like breakfast sandwich heaven. He was cloaked so no one could see him or the food besides me. “Don’t worry, I did the same for your mother and no one was the wiser. This is for fairies to feel the right person is becoming their leader. The gods don’t really care.”

That meant a lot coming from someone who was as devout as he was. He prayed all of the time. I knew daily even if it was quick.

“She didn’t snitch on you,” I told him, chuckling when he seemed shocked. “She talked about the coronation and full ritual in a different journal for me. Or her heir before I was born, all while it was fresh in her mind. She didn’t say anything about anyone going off script.”

“She was loyal like that.” He scrubbed his chin. “Plus, she probably wanted you to take it seriously and make it your own. She was big on that. She wanted people to have their own experiences, not her experiences.”

I nodded, that sounded very much like her from what I’d read of her journals. “I want that morning bath once a month. All of this even. I think it important to take once a month to recenter and really reassess myself.” I snorted. “Plus, I feel so fucking relaxed. Whatever was in that bath and all of the fruit—it’s healing for us. I get it.”

“You’re going to make a great queen, truly, Tamsin,” he rasped, pride in his voice. “I’ll tell the others.”

I chuckled. “Don’t tell them now or you’ll bust us, dummy,” I teased. I felt better when he winced. I thanked him for the contraband food and ate it while praying.

He took the garbage with him, and I went back to my seclusion.

It had been changed a bit for me given I was half demigod. I was allowed some silent attendants while I cleansed in the groves around the vacation palace. Then I had another soak and went to pray at another temple.

To find Onas of all people nervously waiting for me and cloaked.

“Really?” I chuckled.

“This is for people to feel you’re taking it seriously,” he said firmly. “The gods don’t care, and you’re too powerful to cut calories. You’re so damn stressed with everything going on and cleansing that you should be having loads of calories.” He cleared his throat. “If you want. I would never—”

“Thanks, Onas, I’m starving,” I admitted, taking the bags of burgers as I knelt down. “You did this for Elora, didn’t you?”

He did a double take but then nodded.

“Tell me about her? How her coronation went?”

So he did and I thought that honestly more important than praying. Or the god I was supposed to be praying to could listen as well. He told me how nervous she’d been and how she’d inhaled the contraband food as well. It was a nice moment between us.

“Good luck with Shael,” I told him.

He looked a bit shy. “She makes me feel young and not so tainted. I hated her so much at first because she was so blunt and called me on so much, but she wasn’t wrong. I hated that about her, but then I saw the same pain as I have. Now I just see the woman who tries so much harder than most and has had so much damage done to her because of it.”

I nodded. “I want you both happy.”

He nodded. “If it works, it works. If not, we’re meant to be with other people and I will wish her the best.”

I loved that fairies thought that about love. They had a lot of faults, but they were so healthy about how they viewed love and relationships. I was always jealous of that.

No, not jealous. Jealous made me feel as if I wanted to take something and negative. This wasn’t a negative feeling.

I aspired to be that healthy. Yeah, I was envious and willing to work to get there.

Next was Lucca and he seemed extra hesitant. “I was nervous about you being alone and Neldor said we could sneak and check and he’d help me get here since I couldn’t open a portal in Faerie.”

“But he didn’t want to go first in case I got mad,” I surmised.

My huge bear frowned. “I didn’t think of that. Dickhead.”

I died. Seriously.

I gladly ate the cream puffs he snuck me wearing the cloaking Neldor had put on him. I even had him come back to the palace and wait while I cleansed. Then I let him soak with me and nodded when he groaned how nice the bath was. I opened a portal to Neldor and smirked when he came right through seeming worried.

“Just bring them in here for the bath. The commanders keep showing up to the temple, so I don’t want you guys to get caught there. They won’t come here when I’m bathing.”

He blinked at me for a full moment. “Is this like—what is the point of this if no one follows it?”

“I think it’s to give the heir a break when she’s so stressed her head is about to pop off,” I answered, already having figured that out. I gestured to the relaxing bath and trays of food.

“Yeah, good point.”

Lucca moved closer and kissed my cheek. “What else do you want snuck to you, cream puff?”

“Those fruit tarts. Seriously. I’m addicted. And I told Iolas that I want to do this once a month. I feel so much better.”

“Good, you need to start thinking of how to be better to yourself.” He moved me to sit on his lap, not in a sexual way but for comfort and snuggles. “Can we join?”

“Yes, I think we need it.” I moved his arms around me. “But maybe one morning a month just for me. I think we all need those times too. Or one weekend a quarter for all of us but one morning a month just for me to decompress, but you guys can have that too?”

“I like it,” he agreed, hugging me. “I have trouble being by myself sometimes and just being quiet. My bear wants to come out then and move—be entertained. I know Hudson has the same problem sometimes too. It’s hard for us to just be, but I feel like I can in whatever is in this bath.”

I nodded, completely understanding. Not because I had another side to me, but there was just always so much to do.

We all needed to turn off more.

But I did warn them all that I didn’t want sex when I was supposed to be in seclusion and communing with the gods. Snuggles and cuddles were fine, but being naughty while I was supposed to be cleansing and pure seemed wrong.

I was glad they agreed.

My dad was waiting for me next and rolled his eyes at me like there was no way I should have expected him to behave. He told me all about how he’d interrupted my mom as well and kept sneaking her food.

He studied me a bit and laughed. “You’re not as hungry as she was and you’re more powerful. I know they’re feeding you more but what was on the menu isn’t enough. You’ve had other visitors.”

“My lips are sealed,” I sang as I accepted the burritos from the food truck we loved.

“Iolas for sure. He did the same for your mother and didn’t think I knew. Morgan will come.” He nodded when I couldn’t hide my shock. Morgan was such a rule follower. “He’s a worry wart. You don’t think he’d check with his own eyes that you’re being treated well and everything is okay?”

Yeah, that was more than fair.

Which is why it was hysterical when Taeral and Morgan were waiting for me at the next temple. Morgan couldn’t hide his shock, but Taeral was in the dark… Because Morgan was more powerful.

“I cloaked you both, so you can take yours off,” I told them, Taeral confused until he took it off and jumped at seeing Morgan. “And no, you aren’t the only ones. I’ve actually not been alone yet.” I didn’t want to linger on that and instead asked about how it went when they snuck food to my mom or Elora.

Each time I moved temples, I was greeted with someone sneaking me food. One time, I was actually alone to pray. Seriously these people were too adorable. It was relaxing and great though. Dad came after dinner and we talked all night, both nights. I would have preferred that instead of sleep.

“You are going to be the most wonderful queen in the history of any world, Daughter. I couldn’t be prouder, and your mother is too. I know it.”

I thanked him and must have fallen asleep for a little bit because I woke with the sun and he was gone. I scrubbed my hands over my face and let out a slow breath.

It was finally here. It was finally time to become queen.

Maybe after I threw up from nerves.

A few times.

After that, I went through the routine I’d studied. I took yet another bath and prayed before doing my hair. I had a simple breakfast before getting dressed. The dress and layers were perfect, exactly what we’d discussed for the coronation to unite the realms.

It did feel a bit weird to be barefoot when wearing a fancy dress, but… We were a people of nature, so I understood it too.

Talila and Shael were waiting to escort me with dozens of female Guardians. I nodded to them and was glad when they both quietly confirmed I looked fine and was ready. Shael opened the portal and brought us to the temple. I let out a slow breath and someone must have given the signal because I heard the Royal Performers start singing inside.

I nodded I was ready and we headed inside. The cape over my dress was ridiculous and seriously like twenty feet long. If someone wanted to take me out… Okay, not the day to make jokes like that.

But seriously, it was so extra.

My dad was waiting at the front looking more dashing than I’d ever seen him. He was all dolled up in his royal everything, from the sash to—it was blinding. His hair was even perfectly styled instead of the normal wild and natural look.

I committed every inch of him to my memory. I never wanted to forget seeing him like this, and I knew I was going to paint it as soon as I could.

“Don’t cry, Daughter,” he whispered when I reached him, his voice confused. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “You’re ready.”

“You look so handsome and princely,” I explained, not sure if I made sense.

“Even I can behave sometimes,” he chuckled. He stepped away and faced the head caretaker of each temple, the group of them in charge of the next step. “I present my daughter, Tamsin Vale, to be blessed by my family so she may take her place as the Queen of Faerie.”

I swallowed my reaction. That wasn’t the script, and the fact he was saying it loud and clear that we were related to the gods—it wasn’t even a power play for Lageos.

It was just the truth.

Still, no one started trouble, and the ancients all accepted it.

My dad took the cape thing, and I moved towards them.

They raised their hands and went to put magic on me. It was supposed to be a simple blessing, a lot like a comfort rune almost.

But I blocked them.

Several did a shit job of hiding their shock, but I saw the handful that were amused. Honestly, they should have expected no less. I barely knew any of them. At most, I knew the names of three and had met them a few times dealing with temple events or in passing.

That was it.

And they thought I would trust them to put magic on me? After all that ancients had done to the heirs and queens?

Fuck. No.

“This woman fits the requirements set by the gods to become our queen and has been blessed by their loyal servants,” the oldest of them announced loudly when it was done. I was glad because he’d been one of the amused group.

Which meant they probably weren’t going to kick up a fuss.

Good. What I’d done was smart, not to insult them or pick a fight.

The leader of Faerie should be smart enough to never leave herself open to an attack. Ever.

Next, I moved over to the blessing pool and my heart filled with joy. It was covered with petals. There were so many that they couldn’t all fit on the top of the water and spilled all around the edge of the pool and floor.

And they were all placed there by my people.

The temple was always open, but magic was placed on the pool the week before the coronation to protect it since I would be in it, but also to preserve it. Anyone who wanted to leave a petal on the pool could, and it was a show of support for their future queen.

Apparently, I had a lot of support.

Millions and millions of petals worth of support, and it meant the world to me.

Stefanie smiled, knowing where my head was. “Tamsin Vale, do you give yourself freely to become our queen?”

“I do.”

“Do you wish to take on this role knowing it will lead to hardships unlike any others, difficulties you cannot possibly fathom, and knowing you will have to make decisions no one should ever have to?”

“I do.”

“Then kneel before the gods and swear an oath for all to hear.”

I took off the top part of my dress and handed it over to Cara before stepping towards the pool in just my sleeveless, mid-thigh black dress. The pool was lukewarm, and no one had messed with it beyond the preservation magic. I could feel only that.

Good.

The moment I stepped in it, something weird happened though.

Something I couldn’t hide my reaction to and neither could Stefanie.

I glanced over at my dad and he shook his head that it wasn’t him.

No, he wouldn’t risk upsetting this moment and people starting trouble after all I’d done to make it here.

Was it really the gods?

I had no idea, but some of the petals had started levitating from the moment my toe hit the water. I took a step forward, both of my feet in the water now, and the petals swirled around me. I gasped as more and more joined them and spiraled up above me before flying all around the temple. They covered the whole temple and all the people there.

And I was damn sure there hadn’t been enough petals to do that to start.

I blinked at Stefanie who seemed just as shocked.

Yeah, she’d been to a coronation before, so she knew just how crazy this was.

I took another step forward and the water bubbled around me. That was normal… Except I’d thought it was the magic of the ancients for showmanship when they were involved like the gods approved of them being involved.

Apparently, not so much.

I moved forward and knelt on my right knee, moving my arm to the knee and lowering my head. I took in a slow breath and let it out, distracted by the bubbling water all around me. Then I focused on what I’d memorized to say in Faerie.

“I, Tamsin Vale, daughter of Meira Vale, heir to the light realm and all of Faerie, pledge to give my very life if need be for Faerie. I will be the protector and shield of this world and her people. I swear upon my soul that I will always do my best for the people of this world and to never disappoint them.”

I swallowed a yelp when water shot up and then fell on me but continued on.

“I am everywhere and in everything that my people need. From the drop of dew that nourishes the grass in the morning to the moon that allows everything living to rest. As the moon lights the path, I will always be the guiding light to my people, the beacon of hope, and the embodiment of our beliefs.

“And as the sun rises every morning without fail, I will not fail either. I will be steady and strong as the sun, giving light and nutrients to any who need them. Never will any be forsaken again in Faerie, I swear to such under my rule. We will forever be equals from the most powerful to the injured who can no longer soar.

“I will give them a life worth living and soar in other ways. They will be safe under my rule. I swear to maintain the portals and access to our world. No human shall step foot in Faerie—no foe survive who dares to come for my people. From the tiniest spider with harmless venom to any new beast or weapon—I will protect my people from all.”

I lowered to fully kneel and put my hands in the water before lowering my forehead to just dip into the pool. I raised my head and met Stefanie’s gaze.

“I am the salvation of Faerie and her people. May the gods agree and bless my ascension to the throne that unites the realms under one queen.”

Water shot up all around me, and I had just a moment to realize what was going to happen so I could hold my breath before it all dropped back on me.

And if once wasn’t enough, the gods did it again and dunked me a second time.

Seriously?

Like… Seriously?

My hair was all in my face and I didn’t know what to do. Did I like fix it or… Seriously?

I swallowed a sigh and tried to elegantly push back my hair so I could at least like see. Stefanie was standing there completely gobsmacked.

Mostly because everything around us was soaked… Including both of us.

I glanced over at my dad who was a statue of shock. I looked past him and just happened to catch Julian’s gaze and we had the same thought.

When he dunked me in class. I smiled at him and the memory, understanding when he nodded.

Yeah, I knew how to handle this. I used the rune for air and dried myself a bit, at least so I didn’t look like a damn drowned rat. I pushed to stand and did my best to gracefully get back on track.

Stefanie snapped out of it as well, probably remembering all of this was being filmed live for the people of Faerie to watch. I wanted it recorded for posterity as well.

She said her part, but honestly it was a bit of a blur. I was glad everything was fairly calm—besides the petals and water—but it was kind of anticlimactic? So much went into getting here, and… I guess it really was about the journey, not the destination?

No, the work would start now that I was queen.

My head was all over the place. Seriously.

I snapped out of it when Stefanie was done and accepted the fancy crown for ceremonial and big events. I leaned down to receive it and turned to face everyone. People cheered and clapped.

And that was when the gods dropped me.

I was just out.

Fucking idiots.