19. Paige

19

PAIGE

A t Aries' insistence, I conjure a portal. It shimmers before us, the daylight shining through it a stark contrast to the smoldering, gray ruins of the Athenaeum. But I don't move toward it. Instead, I stare with an aching heart at the destruction surrounding us—the ash and rubble that was once a sanctuary of knowledge and life.

The library is gone, and with it, a part of me has been lost too.

Aries' hand in mine keeps me grounded, his presence a steady anchor. "We need to go, Paige," he says gently. "Our world still needs us."

I can't bring myself to point out that Astronia is not just our world; it's the only one left in all the realms.

Everything else is gone.

Instead, I nod, though the weight of everything we've lost presses heavily on my chest. Our people in Astronia need us now. I won't fail them like I failed the library.

Together, we step through the portal, leaving the ruins of the Athenaeum behind. On the other side, we emerge into a scene of quiet aftermath. The battlefield is still, the sounds of clashing swords and battle cries replaced by the soft murmurs of soldiers tending to the wounded and gathering the fallen. The air is thick with the scent of smoke, but the battle is over.

Constantine's portal monsters have all been destroyed.

Relief washes over me as I see familiar faces—Leo, Blossom, and Mag—standing together near the edge of the field. They're alive, whole.

"Paige," Blossom calls—and then to the others, "Hey guys, they're back!"

Leo strides forward, pulling Aries into a tight hug. "Good to see you in one piece," he says before turning to me. "I think this means I owe you two life debts. Gods, I thought Aries was an over-achiever."

He winks, and I shake my head.

Bingo appears beside me, nudging my hip and earning a scratch behind the ears. I do my best to ignore the blood coating his mouth and staining his massive paws. None of it seems to be his own, at least.

Mag pulls me into a tight hug. When he releases me, he claps Aries on the shoulder and offers a rare, genuine smile. "Glad to see you two back here. You missed all the fun."

The relief on their faces is a balm to my soul, but it's short-lived as the reality of what we've lost crashes over me.

Blossom, ever perceptive, steps closer, her expression growing serious. "Is Constantine…?"

"He's gone," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "But the Athenaeum… it's… it's gone too. The library, the books… it's all gone. We stopped him in the end, but I couldn't save it."

The smiles fade from their faces, replaced by a mix of shock and sorrow.

Mag's hand falls from Aries' shoulder.

Leo steps closer to me, his expression softening. "Mag explained your world to me—the library's purpose and what it means to you. I'm so sorry, Paige."

Through the mate bond, Aries' guilt is a weight on his shoulders. He feels terrible, like it's his fault, but it's not.

He was protecting me.

Blossom's eyes widen with concern, and even Mag's usual stoic demeanor cracks as she murmurs, "All those worlds…"

I nod, the grief threatening to overwhelm me again. "It's all gone. All of it. And I couldn't… I couldn't do anything."

Aries wraps an arm around me, pulling me close, his presence a comfort as the reality of what we've lost sinks in. "That's not true," he says softly. "You destroyed Constantine. You saved Astronia."

Before I can respond, a young soldier rushes toward us. He's breathless and without a single speck of blood on him, but his urgency cuts through the somber mood.

"Your Highness," he pants, addressing both Aries and me with a bow. "A messenger arrived from the castle with news—Queen Dorthea has been removed from the throne."

"What?" Aries stiffens, his eyes narrowing as he steps forward. "Who would dare?—"

"The council, Your Highness," the soldier interrupts, his voice shaking. "They've declared that they can no longer trust the royal family to protect the kingdom. They've removed Queen Dorthea from the throne and have assumed full control of the land as the governing body."

Aries snarls, and Leo's expression flashes with matching outrage. "Where is my mother now?" Aries demands.

"She's being held in the castle under armed guard. They're claiming it's for her protection, but… she's a prisoner in her own home."

I feel a surge of anger and disbelief. After everything we've fought for, after all the sacrifices, the council dares to overthrow the queen? To imprison her?

Aries turns to me, his expression hard, determined. "We need to go. Now."

Blossom, Leo, and Mag are already moving, their own anger fueling their steps as they prepare to accompany us. The relief of victory is gone, replaced by a renewed sense of urgency. This isn't over—not yet.

But as we make our way toward camp, I can't help but think of the library again. Blossom is right, all those worlds gone, reduced to nothing but memories and ash. The ache in my chest remains, and I pause, glancing back at the charred earth where Constantine's dark portal opened to carry us away.

We defeated him, but in the end, that didn't matter.

In some ways, he still won.

"Paige," Aries says, his voice pulling me back to the present. "Let's go home."

His words are firm but gentle, a reminder that our fight isn't finished. I nod, pushing the grief down as I focus on what needs to be done.

"Let's get your crown back," I say, my voice steady despite the sorrow still lingering in my heart.

It takes us a few hours of flying to make the trip home. Aries carries me and Blossom while Leo carries Mag and Bingo. Several others accompany us—all winged shifters and some of our best warriors. I tell myself that last part doesn't matter. That we aren't flying to yet another battle. But I can't shake the feeling that's exactly what this will be.

When we land, we drop Blossom, Mag, and the others at the barracks and then make our way to the castle. The corridors inside are oppressively quiet as Aries, Leo, and I make our way toward the suite where Queen Dorthea is being held. We agreed to try diplomacy first, but now that I'm here, I'm not sure that's a strategy I'm capable of carrying out.

The council here in Astronia is beginning to remind me of the one I dealt with back at the Athenaeum. Their betrayal of their king and queen has painted a bull's eye on their heads as far as I'm concerned.

And my magic won't miss once I fire the shot.

Now, Aries walks beside me, his jaw set, eyes forward, while Leo leads the way through the winding halls to the room where our scouts confirmed Dorthea is being held. Mag and Blossom are at the barracks with the soldiers, waiting to hear what orders the council will give the army now that it's home.

The three of us are silent, but the tension is palpable, a storm brewing beneath the surface. I'm barely keeping my emotions in check—the grief over the library's destruction simmering dangerously close to the surface. I need to focus, but it's hard. So hard.

As we turn a corner, we come face to face with Esma and Porthew. Esma's eyes light up with a predatory gleam as she spots Aries while Porthew's expression is cold, calculating. A few guards I don't recognize trail behind them, their stances rigid and unfriendly.

"Well, well," Esma says, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "If it isn't our wayward prince and his entourage. I was wondering when you'd show yourselves."

"You mean you wondered when we would return from the war we fought to save this kingdom while you sat on your asses?" I snap.

Porthew stutters like he can't believe I just said that.

Out of the corner of my eye, I'm pretty sure I see Leo smirking.

Esma's eyes narrow. "Watch how you speak to your country's leadership."

She's not my leader, and those words are on the tip of my tongue before I realize that, whether I want it or not, Astronia is my country now. It's not like I have anywhere else to go.

The realization renders me silent. Esma smirks like she thinks she's won.

"Let us pass," Aries says, exhaustion lining every word. "We need to clean up. Sleep in a bed. Then we can discuss this."

"I'm afraid we cannot allow that," Porthew says, his tone flat and dismissive. "The council has decided that your residency in the castle is no longer appropriate. You will all need to find accommodations elsewhere, effective immediately."

Aries blinks.

I watch as the words hit him and Leo like a blow. Before either of them can respond, I step forward, anger surging through me, fueled by the grief I've been struggling to contain.

"You don't get to decide that," I snap. "Your bullshit manipulations might have gotten you this far, but this isn't your kingdom to rule."

Esma's gaze shifts to me, her eyes narrowing as if I'm nothing more than a mere nuisance. "Ah, the little mage," she sneers, taking a step closer to Aries.

I zero in on how close she's standing to him and struggle to breathe through the rage. She's baiting me. I know it, but that doesn't mean it isn't working. "I'm surprised you haven't already run back to wherever it is you came from. You must realize there's no place for you here. Not in Astronia, and certainly not beside Aries. He has nothing to offer you, especially now. I, on the other hand, might have something to offer him?—"

I close the distance between us, shoving so close that our bodies touch as I say, "If you touch him, I will kill you right here."

Something about my expression must convey that I mean it because she squeaks in response and motions to the guards, who step forward.

Aries. His glare blazes with a heat I feel in my own belly. But instead of lashing out, he holds himself in check.

"We will speak tomorrow," Aries says in a clipped tone. "Once we've all rested."

"Yes," Esma says, getting ahold of herself smoothly. She looks at Aries then Leo and says, "I would enjoy speaking with you both in the morning. There may yet be a compromise for one of you."

The insinuation is clear, and it takes everything in me not to strike out with my magic. All along, Esma has angled for power, and now she thinks she's finally in a position to take what she wants. The thought makes my blood boil.

"You think you can just replace his mother on the throne?" I shoot back, my voice rising. "You think you can steal what's rightfully theirs and the people here will just let you do it? Well, I won't let you. And if you try?—"

"Paige," Aries says sharply, his hand gripping my arm, silencing me before I can say more.

But I'm not finished. I shrug off his grip and glare at Esma, my emotions finally spilling over. "You're nothing but a power-hungry?—"

"That's enough," Aries cuts in, his voice firm, though I can feel the tension radiating from him. He turns his gaze to Esma, his tone icy. "You don't get to make demands of me, Esma. Nor of Leo or Paige."

Esma's smile tightens, her eyes flashing with frustration. "Perhaps not yet," she says smoothly, but there's an edge to her voice now. "But the council has decreed that you're to leave the castle tonight. The guards will escort you out."

Porthew nods, his expression impassive. "Consider this a courtesy. We don't want to make a scene."

At his words, I notice that the soldiers have their weapons slightly raised and dark scowls fixed on their faces. These are not the same kind and friendly men I fought beside a few days ago. For the first time, I realize we really have no choice but to leave this place—tonight.

My anger flares again, but Aries tightens his grip on my arm, pulling me back. I know he's right—we can't afford to escalate things here, not when the council holds the upper hand. But it's hard to swallow it down, especially when every fiber of my being is screaming to fight back, to defend what little we have left.

I couldn't save the library, but I can save this land from people like Esma and Porthew.

Aries gives Esma a cold, measured look. "We'll leave tonight," he says, his voice steady. "And meet with you tomorrow as you say. But with a last request."

"You're not exactly in a position to make requests," Porthew says.

"Let us see our mother," Leo puts in. "We will speak with her about our plans so that she can accompany us in the morning when we go."

Esma sighs. Porthew looks as if he wants to refuse, but it's a reasonable request, especially since it's giving them what they want—the Nemos family walking away from their thrones.

Porthew glances at Esma, who nods.

She motions to the soldiers. "Escort them," she says. "And make sure they leave when they're done."

The soldiers finally lower their weapons, obeying Esma's command wordlessly.

Aries glances from Leo back to me, concern flickering in his eyes. "Let's go."

As we continue down the corridor, my thoughts race, trying to piece together a plan, something—anything—that will give us an edge against the council.

When we finally reach Queen Dorthea's room, the guards stationed outside exchange a few words with our armed escorts. Then the door is unlocked, and we're ushered through. Inside, the suite is dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn, but I'm relieved to see it's not the dungeon and they've at least given her comfortable accommodations.

Behind us, the guards shut the door, sealing us in. At least, we've been granted privacy for the moment.

Queen Dorthea sits by the window, her posture regal despite the circumstances. She turns as we enter, a relieved smile touching her lips.

"My sons," she says, rising to her feet. "And Paige—I'm so glad you're all safe."

Aries crosses the room in a few quick strides, embracing his mother. "I'm sorry we couldn't get to you sooner," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "But we're going to fix this."

Queen Dorthea lets him go, hugging Leo and then me. "I know you will," she says, her voice calm and reassuring. "They can't lock us in our own home."

"Actually, they're kicking us out," Leo tells her, his expression tight. "Effective immediately, we no longer live here. Come morning, we're expected to take you with us and find somewhere else to go."

"They cannot be allowed this coup," Dorthea says, her calm demeanor slipping as the first hints of fury slip through.

"They won't," Leo tells her firmly. He glances at Aries. "Right?"

"Esma is playing a game of her own," he says quietly. "She wants to meet with Leo and me in the morning. I think she plans to offer one of us our crown as long as we agree to make her our queen."

My hands tighten into fists, but I bite back my response. Best to save it for Esma herself. Next time…

"The rest of the council will never go for that," Dorthea says.

"Not outright, no, but I wouldn't put it past her to have some manipulation up her sleeve," Aries says.

"Aries is right," Leo says. "She's been playing all of us from the beginning. We can't underestimate her."

For a moment, no one speaks. I know we're all thinking through possible ways to stop this. But no one offers anything, and the silence stretches until I'm not sure we're going to find a way.

"I could say yes," Leo says softly.

I look up sharply, but he's focused on Aries now.

"I could agree to her terms," Leo goes on. "And once I'm crowned, I can relinquish to you."

Aries shakes his head. "She'll see that coming. Besides, if you relinquish once she's queen, it'll go directly to her—which is what she's hoping for anyway."

"But—"

"If you agree and go through with it, she'll likely have you killed," Aries adds.

Leo scoffs. "She wouldn't dare."

"I think she would," I put in.

"This is bullshit." Leo mutters something to himself and paces near the fireplace. "There has to be another way. Without a dragon on the throne, our lands will suffer."

"Leo's right," Aries says. "The blight may be gone, but without a dragon ruler, the magic blessing Astronia will vanish. The wastelands will spread until there's nothing left."

I want to ask how the council can possibly do this, knowing what kind of destruction it will cause—but I don't bother. Evil has no logic or reason, only hate and hunger. Constantine taught me that.

"You could challenge them to a fight," I remind him. "Win back your seat that way."

But Leo shakes his head. "Now that we've been removed from the throne entirely, a challenge like that has no standing. It won't be recognized or answered."

"Ugh, this is crazy," I fume. "They clearly don't care about what's best for the people. They only want what's best for themselves."

Queen Dorthea sighs, sitting back down with a grace that never falters, even in confinement. "They've always been more concerned with appearances than with the well-being of Astronia."

"They have to be," Leo says with a snort. "If they lose the favor of the people, they lose their seats."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"The laws my father wrote when he created the council make it clear that, in the absence of a king or queen to dismiss them, the only way a council member can lose their seat is by majority vote of the people."

His words hang in the air, and I feel something click into place. My mind races, sifting through everything we've seen, everything we've heard. The council's endless need for validation, their hunger for power, their arrogance. It's all connected, all feeding their belief that they're untouchable.

Aries frowns, catching the shift in my expression. "Paige?"

I look at him, then at Leo, and finally at Queen Dorthea. My heart still aches with the loss of the library, but a new resolve is taking hold, pushing through the grief. "Their egos," I say slowly, the idea solidifying in my mind. "That's what we'll use against them."

"What do you propose?" Dorthea asks.

Quickly, I tell them my idea.

"Is that something you can do?" Aries asks.

"I think so," I say. "I've never tried magic like this, but I don't see why not."

A moment of silence follows as everyone considers the implications. Aries squeezes my hand again, this time with a spark of hope in his eyes.

"Will it be enough?" I ask anxiously.

Aries turns to me, his expression already so much lighter than it was before. "Yes," he says to me, pulling me into his arms. "It's more than enough."

Leo grins, the familiar spark of mischief returning. "Paige, you're a woman after my own heart," he declares. Aries snarls at that, but he laughs. "As a sister," Leo adds pointedly.

I take a deep breath, the weight of the library's loss still there, but for the first time, I can see a way forward. The council may think they've won, but they've underestimated us. They've underestimated what the people of this land are willing to do for this kingdom, for each other.

Diplomacy has its usefulness too.