Page 60 of Maleen

“Good job princess, you’re a natural,” Talyn adds, and I find myself relaxing at his words.

Sir Wilson says his thanks and bows before leaving, and the next fae comes in. It goes like this for hours, all of them asking about trade or wishing to know when they will be able to leave. Some are looking to arrange their daughters with suitable males from the Guard or wondering if we will be hosting regular balls again. It is exhausting, and by the time the last fae comes and goes, I just want to be carried back to my room for a nap.

Sir Geoffrey steps forward from the side where he oversaw everything, probably taking his own notes. “Very good, Princess. You’re a natural; your mother would be proud.”

I laugh. “I’m not sure how she did it.”

His gaze softens. “You will get better at it the more you do it. Now, lunch should be ready, and then Madam Windwhisper wishes to discuss things with you since things have calmed down. I’m sure she wants to discuss planning your welcome-home ball and your coronation," he states flippantly.

“Coronation? My mother still lives.” I swallow. Surely that wouldn’t follow until… after.

His face turns solemn. “Yes, this is true. It wouldn’t be held until… after, but it’s best to have things prepared. Now, if you would make your way to the gardens for lunch. I will speak with your mates on today’s matters.”

I glance at Aemon, who seems equally annoyed with my mother’s advisors. “Don’t worry, Little Dream; when you officially take over for your mother, you can name your own advisors and change the staff if you wish. It’s usually common practice to use the previous Queen’s until then.”

I nod so he knows I heard him.

“I’ll join you for lunch,” Talyn murmurs, stepping up beside me as Aemon guides Geoffrey from the throne room, discussing all the notes he has taken. He is really good at this royal thing.

“Let’s get some food,” I sigh, threading my fingers through Talyn’s before reaching through the bond for Nero. “Lunch! Can you grab Ember, Roz and Lennox and tell them to join us too?”

His excitement for food comes down the bond first. “Yes I can! See you soon and save me some berries!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ONCE EVERYONE FINISHES EATING, MADAM Windwhisper ushers us into a small and private drawing room, shutting the door behind us.

A knock sounds at the door and Jesper slides in. “So sorry I’m late. Tisur was not having it today with his teeth cleaning. I don’t know why he’s being so irritable!” He sighs, collapsing next to me on the couch.

A piece of me relaxes being squished between my two mates, and I try to ignore the burning need lighting up within me.

“Have you been settling in okay, Princess Ravina? I hear that’s the name you prefer to go with these days,” Madam Windwhisper states, as she makes herself comfortable in a chair across from me. Ember, Roz and Lennox all stay standing, posted in different parts of the room like they’re keeping an eye out for something. Killian is most likely on them to stay on high alert, but we should be fine here.

Nero hops from my shoulder onto my lap and gets comfortable, while my hands stroke his silky soft feathers.

“Yes, that is the name I prefer, and we are settling in great, thank you. What did you wish to discuss?” I ask.

She clasps her weathered hands and places them on her lap. “You may not be aware, but myself and another advisor, who has now long passed, advised your mother not to share that her mate bonds were fated. I’m aware that you are not keeping yours a secret, am I correct?”

“I’m not. I’m not only proud to call them mine, but the realm needs some hope. I’m not sure why the Fates stopped bestowing mate bonds, but it’s obvious that favor is returning.”

She sighs and nods. “I understand, and I actually agree with you. I’m not sure if keeping it secret is what caused the realm to fall into chaos—”

“If I may be so bold, but it wasn’t that. After discussing things with my mother when she was still awake, we think it’s because of Lord Craven’s obsession with my mother. We think it twisted his mind.”

She hums. “He was always such a meddlesome fae, but yes I can see your point. Your mother refused to discuss him after she found out about the bonds with your fathers. Lord Craven changed after that. Once things escalated she only shared her plans with Librarian Merriwhether, myself, her handmaiden Gretchen, and of course Lady Zorn. We did everything to keep you safe. Tell me your story, and then I shall fill in the gaps and answer any questions you have, or try to at least.”

So I do. I tell her of my time in Shalo, glazing over the brutality of my time there after Gretchen had passed, all the way up until I made my way here, back to the home of my fledglinghood.

“My Fates, dear one,” she gasps. “I’m sorry, it was never supposed to be like that.”

“So Merriwhether has shared,” I smile hoping to ease her shock. “She answered a lot of my questions, although… I do still have one. Why not keep me hidden here?”

Her gaze softens. “Well, we needed a Gallalaus of Her Majesty’s bloodline on the outside to free the city once it was safe. She never thought she would survive, we came up with our plan for you. We thought it was foolproof, but I see we were wrong. The magick it took to get the barrier up and dispel anyone of cruel intentions from the city took a few days, and by that time, Craven had already taken over. He was searching for you and something else but he never found it. The day the spell finally completed, Lord Craven was already out of the city with your mother, and there was nothing any of us could do. He warped the minds of anyone in his way or killed them, hung them on the gates of the castle as a warning. It was maybe six hours after they left that the fae who didn’t belong were whisked away to outside the barrier. It took a long time for us to repair and come up with a system to flourish while we waited and hoped you would come back for us. That you would regain your memories and take your place as Queen as is your right.”

I swallow, grabbing Talyn and Jesper’s hands. “And my fathers?”

Tears prick at the elder female’s eyes. “Ah, yes. They defended your mother the best they could, but with the wraiths, they didn’t stand a chance. Your mother had found a way to protect us from them, with her dragon, but they didn’t have time to arm themselves. Their deaths were quick.”