Page 125 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

Calroy paused to order soldiers to bring Lucian and Pierre from the dungeon, then proceeded. Before we’d arrived, Selene and her team had already rallied the queen’s sons. When Selene announced that the Seelie queen was dead, Lucian and Pierre had no choice but to surrender. They would have been fools to fight against everyone who opposed them, including the winged soldiers.

The throne room was empty when we entered, as it should be.

Three thrones on the raised dais, the queen’s seat still centered and higher than the others. The gemstones at its arms caught the light from the high windows—sapphire, emerald, ruby, and pearl.

Calroy stopped at the base of the steps and looked up at it for a long moment. Then he turned to his mother.

“Caelum needs its queen.”

Nira blinked. “Calroy—”

“It was always meant to be yours.” His voice cracked. “Father’s throne. Yours by right. I’m not a king. Not yet.” He glanced at me briefly. “A crown never made a man. The sea decides who’s worth following.”

Nira smiled at her son, a hand on his face, then looked at the dais for a long time, wiping the tears streaming down her face. She’d buried a husband, lost a daughter, and spent years bowing in a castle that had once been hers to rule. I understood her pain. She would’ve wanted her husband and daughter back instead of the throne.

With her head held high, she climbed the steps, and when she faced the audience again, black wings poked out from the back of her dress, slowly unfurling. Glorious. Magnificent. Grand, but not as big as Calroy’s. A symbol of Caelum finally belonging back to its people.

We all dropped to our knees on the front line, without being told, and bowed to the woman who had spent years suffering under the Seelie queen while having to humble herself.

The queen settled into her seat, straightened her spine, wings tucked, and folded her hands in her lap.

“Rise,” the queen said. “We shall celebrate Yeri’s and Calroy’s return, and the reclaiming of our kingdom.”

Everyone cheered and stopped when the queen raised a hand.

“But first, let us take a moment of silence to honor those who did not live to see this day, and those who bled for it. Their names will not be forgotten.”

The room went silent until the soldiers brought in the two princes bound in chains, arms behind their backs, before the throne. Lucian clenched his jaw, but Pierre’s expression gave nothing away.

Calroy, standing beside me with arms crossed, snarled as his eyes darkened, muscles tight.

“You have a choice,” Nira said, her queen voice carrying across the throne room. “You may live here, but you will be put on trial. Or return to your own people.”

“Our people?” Lucian’s eyes sharpened.

“They are your mother’s bloodline.” Nira tightened her hold on the throne’s arms, knuckles turning white.

“What about our father’s bloodline?” Lucian’s eyes narrowed, looking murderous.

It took seconds for Calroy to reach Lucian and grab his throat. “Your mother forced herself upon my father, the reason both of you are here. So you don’t have the right to my bloodline.”

Pierre flinched and took a step away from Calroy. “And if we refuse?”

“As she had stated, you face charges.” Calroy let go of Lucian and focused on Pierre. “For what was done to the Seaborn. To the winged people. To every kingdom your mother had wronged. Be grateful your queen is merciful. For if it was me, I would have slaughtered you both.”

“But we didn’t do those crimes,” Pierre said.

Calroy closed the distance to Pierre, his face inches from his brother’s. “You stood there and watched. That’s the same.”

“But we didn’t—”

Calroy’s grip found Pierre’s collar, tightening. “Where is my sister? Tell me the truth, now. You have one last chance.”

“I told you already.” Pierre’s throat worked. “She ran off with one of the soldiers. I didn’t chase her down. Why would I? One less mouth to feed, one less servant to manage.”

“And you expect me to believe that my sister would leave her family without a word?” His voice boomed.

“Yes. Your sister is not like you. Believe whatever you like.” Pierre’s eyes didn’t waver. “I have no reason to lie about a girl I never cared about.”