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Three days after the Queen’s death Cassiel Salvatore deSanguine, the so-called Fallen King, presented a solution that could save them all. A solution Fey couldn’t help but think might have come from one of his sons.
The High Priestesses couldn’t hold the city, not on their own. The Queen’s army was in shambles—half the generals abandoning their posts during the night of the blood moon, and the others too broken from their leader’s betrayal to offer up their lives willingly to any cause. Solare had burned to nothing but ashes, fueled by years of neglect and Fey’s endless rage, and though Lunairea still stood, it was damaged nearly beyond repair.
The Witches were in rebellion, and without the other Factions behind them, the High Priestesses would lose the city to chaos. So, Salvatore brought them the other Factions.
The Eternal City they once knew was dead, and the old regime would never rise again. But a new regime could be put in place instead. Not a singular ruler, not the superiority of a single Faction above the others, but an equal counsel of all four.
The High Priestesses were suspicious at first. The Vampires had never truly bent the knee to the First Queen, and this had all the hallmarks of a coup. But there was no regime left to overthrow anymore, was there?
In the end, they acquiesced. There would be no more royalty, but an equal rule of four, representing each of their Factions: Salvatore deSanguine, a Lion Shifter named Kellos, a Demon to be chosen from within the Faction, and the ex-Princess Amalia.
There had been considerable debate among the Priestesses as to what should be done with the Princess. She was, all agreed, innocent in the crimes of her mother, even if she had been aware of what the Queen had been doing—and even in that, there was debate. She was a child, a victim of circumstance. In the end it was decided that she would lead the next generation, under the guidance of the High Priestesses themselves.
And so Princess Amalia became Counsellor Amalia, the representative of the Witch Faction.
It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but it worked. It held the peace. Witches, furious over the betrayal by their Queen, were even more furious at the news that they would no longer hold sole rule over the city. Now they found themselves on equal footing with the other Factions, brought to the same level as the Fallen.
But the other Factions rejoiced. For the first time in three hundred years, they had a say in their rule. Their hope, their optimism, helped hold the city together.
Joy had brought the Eternal City to an end. But hope kept the realm alive.
Chapter 64
The council summoned them a week after the Queen’s death.
In politics, you can tell a lot about your enemy based on who they send to negotiate. If your enemy wants war, they’ll send a general. If they want peace, they’ll send a diplomat.
The council sent Sana.
“Did you know the front door to your building is broken?” Were Sana’s first words when Fey opened the apartment door. “And the windows are all shattered?”
Fey knew. Alice had fit the window frames with wood planks, to keep out the elements, but the lobby and door were just as broken as they had been the night Alastair had come to find her. The night he had discovered what they were.
“I know,” Fey answered. Her voice sounded scratchy. It still hurt to speak with the damage in her throat.
Sana licked her lips, looking concerned. “Is it safe for you to be here, with the door like that? Anyone could come in, Fey.”
“Like you?” Fey asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
Sana’s answering frown was the closest to a scowl Fey had ever seen her make. It was almost endearing.
Almost.
“We’re fine,” Fey insisted with a smile. “Do you really think anyone would be stupid enough to break into this place? With the most powerful Witch in the realm living here?”
She’d meant it as a joke, but there was enough truth in it to make Fey immediately regret saying it aloud. Though the antidote continued to be dispensed to Witches in the outer octants, all the reports coming in were the same. Most Witches who had been given Allium had been cut off from a single element, and a handful had been found with three full powers. Joy fell into that category. With her antidote, her gift of Air had become even stronger, and now she could call on both Fire and Water.
But, as far as anyone could tell, Fey remained the only Witch aside from Princess Amalia who could control all four.
Merle made a break for the open door, trying to dash between Fey’s legs and into the hallway. Fey sighed as she leaned down to grab him, hoisting him into her arms. Two days after they’d left the palace he had shown up, inexplicably, outside of their apartment door. When they’d heard scratching on the door and opened it to investigate, Merle had walked in like he’d been here a thousand times before. Like he belonged here.
Joy had been thrilled. And Alice was thrilled with anything that made Joy happy.
“Come in,” Fey said to Sana, as Merle wriggled in her arms, struggling to get down. “Before you let this little monster out.”
As soon as the door closed behind Sana, Merle lost all interest in leaving. Fey set him on the ground, stroking him twice. He arched his back against her hand and purred, all ideas of escape vanishing from his fuzzy little mind.
“Have a seat.” Fey motioned toward the couch. “Did you want something to drink? Tea?”
