What just happened? Tyrrik asked, confusion lacing his voice. Are you okay?
La la la. I forced myself to clear my mind before I showed or told Tyrrik anything. I thought of Mum’s lavender syrup on sweet potato pancakes, Dyter throwing wet dish rags at me late at night while cleaning up The Crane’s Nest, Arnik giving me a birthday present of an entire cluster of grapes—
That’s not helping me feel better, Tyrrik growled after the last image. Something happened; I can feel it, Ryn. I thought we’d discussed this.
Right, we had. I deflated. I’m safe. Kamoi’s an ass.
Tyrrik snorted. Tell me something I don’t know.
I cringed, but I needed to be present right now, not conversing with Tyrrik. Later. I’ll tell you later.
“Don’t ever do that again,” I snapped in a low voice at the Phaetyn prince, plastering a smile on my face for the benefit of those watching. I narrowed my eyes as I patted his face in what I hoped could be interpreted as a kind gesture to the Phaetyn around us but was definitely as hard as I dared with the watching crowd. I trusted the fake-smile and glare would communicate with him just how upset I was.
“I—”
“Ever,” I said and then stepped to the side, still smiling as I glanced over our audience. Still no Kamini.
“Where’s Princess Kamini?” I asked.
His smile faltered for a moment as he looked at Lani for the first time. “She’s at her castle.”
“We need to speak with her.” I pointed at Lani and said, “Guess who I found.”
The unease Kamoi’s greeting caused faded during the traipse through the forest into the center. The energy of Zivost filled me, and I smiled, reveling in the successful return of the Phaetyn queen. But when we followed the path to the Rose Castle I’d demolished not too long ago, we found it wasn’t destroyed any longer. I studied the entrance of the newly erected rose quartz house, thinking castle definitely may be a better term. Though still under the tree line, the castle possessed at least two towers I could see.
Alani’s ash tree was gone, and a huge courtyard spanned the meadow where the civil war had taken place, a tiered fountain splashing where the queen’s tree had been. Kamini certainly hadn’t held back. Nice to see she’d been focusing on the essentials of keeping Phaetynville safe. I shook my head.
“Ryn,” Lani said low in my ear. “Are you okay?”
Was I al’right? Last time I was here I’d squished the queen and killed the king. Last time, I’d felt threatened from the get go, like a rope tugged between two opponents. I’d set out from Verald hoping to find answers and a balm to my aching heart, and the Phaetyn here certainly hadn’t delivered. But much had changed since that time. Alani and Kaelan were dead and gone for one, and I’d only seen the people smiling on my way in. I liked Kamini—even Kamoi when he wasn’t being a freakin’ prat. I took a deep breath and tried not to jump to conclusions.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Just some lingering juju.” I hope.
Juju, Lani mouthed, but she didn’t bother asking aloud. She squared her shoulders and glided, appearing to float over the grass, to join Kamoi, who waited in the entrance of the Rose Castle.
I trusted Lani; that’s why I was here. Despite what had happened with the previous Phaetyn queen and king, the power within the forest and the people had to be saved, for their good and the good of the empire. Their healing powers would be invaluable in a war, but if we won, Draeconia would still be a land leeched of its ability to grow. We needed the Phaetyn to beat my father and ensure the fight wasn’t for nothing.
“You are a scary Drae with long teeth and pointy-eared mojo,” I said under my breath. Nothing like a pep talk to calm the nerves. “You can do this.”
I strode over to join the others, noting the way Kamoi was staring at me like I was a juicy peach and he was starving. If he didn’t stop, I was going to burn his stew. In a sharp voice, I reminded him, “We’re here to talk with Kamini. Stop being a tool.”
His violet-eyed gaze flew to mine, his mouth curving in a wry half-smile. “Sorry, I can’t help it. I’ve always been captivated by you.”
If he continued, pretty soon I wouldn’t be able to help shoving my foot up his butt.
Lani rested a hand on his forearm, and Kamoi jolted. His gaze dropped to where her hand was, and he furrowed his brow.
“It is imperative I speak with you and Kamini,” Lani said to him. When he looked up, her gaze didn’t waver, and her tone remained firm and commanding. “We must protect the people and the forest as our first priority. There is much happening in the world outside, and the Phaetyn cannot hide from it.” Her features softened slightly, and she added, “And then I hope to start making up for all the time I lost with you and Kamini.”
A small smile spread over the prince’s face. He took Lani’s hand in both of his and turned on the full intensity of his charm. “I would like nothing more.”
My shoulders relaxed somewhat. Tyrrik had never liked the prince—though I suspected jealousy was a big factor. Even so, I couldn’t dismiss the unsettled vibe I got or the way Kamoi wouldn’t respect my boundaries. He seemed overly used to his position as prince, too used to getting what he wanted. Out of him and Kamini, I’d been least sure of his response to Lani’s arrival, so his enthusiasm was a relief.
Probably more lingering juju.
I kept up with the others through the quartz passages, glancing side to side as we passed the open double doors of a ballroom, four sitting areas, and what appeared to be an inside waterfall . . . not superfluous or ostentatious whatsoever.
Kamoi broke off conversation with Lani when we reached a heavy door with a tangled vine carved into the rich wood. Before he could knock, the door was wrenched open.
A slightly younger appearing version of Lani stood in the entrance, dressed in silver robes with only a plain crown to mark her as leader of the Phaetyn.
Kamini’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened. Together, the two looked really similar, but little differences, like the shape of their nose and the way Kamini’s face was filled out, made them unique, too.
Lani’s face lit up with joy I’d never seen.
The younger Phaetyn stared for a long moment and whispered, “Sister?”
I stepped back as the surrounding area seemed to hold its breath. A lump rose in my throat as Lani stepped forward and clasped her sister’s forearms.
“Kamini,” Lani answered, her voice breaking on her sibling’s name. “I’m Lani”—she tilted her head back in my direction—“Ryn found me.”
The prince was currently lost for words, so I cleared my throat and said, “Princess Kamini, this is your sister, Lani. She—”
“Queen Kamini,” Kamoi said in a strangled voice.
The words settled like a heavy blanket, a heavy, itchy, uncomfortable blanket. Lani glanced at me, eyes wide. Kamini opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Kamoi’s slack expression made it clear he was reeling although how he could be so stupid to make such a comment was beyond me. He’d asked I find her in the first place. Regardless, I’d come too far to remain silent. I was grumpy without Tyrrik, and we had no time to mince words. I’d been embroiled in their stupid war once; I was not dealing with more Phaetyn lunacy. Success didn’t include this horseplop.
“Yes, she was.” I smiled at Kamini in the way a panther might smile at a chicken. “Kamini, you stepped up when the Phaetyn needed you, and I’m not lessening the magnitude of that. I’m sure the Phaetyn are grateful and all”—she held her hands up in surrender, and I rounded on Kamoi for my attack—“but I believe it was you who said leadership is passed to the female with ancestral powers. You asked me to stay because I had them, and you were the one who encouraged me to find Lani. And now, here she is with the ancestral powers you need.”
Kamoi’s brows lowered, and I raised a finger.