I didn’t even know whether Dusk or Dawn were to blame. Not for sure. The attackers looked like they were from Dusk, but I struggled to believe it.
I met Kat’s gaze in the crowd. She put a lot of stock in these insignias, but standing here now, my doubts crept in. It could be they were newer and shinier, ready to celebrate Sura’s ascension to a unified throne when everything went to plan.
For all we knew, she’d offered King Lucius an alliance, promising to get Braea out of the way, and had turned on him. Was Krae one of the spies she’d mentioned? It wouldn’t be the first time folk from the two courts had worked together. I had my own spy in Dawn, after all.
More questions than answers.
Head aching, I gathered my scattered thoughts.
The long and short of the Convocation meeting was this: Dawn blamed Dusk. Dusk thought it was a Dawn trick.
And Cyrus was “such a hero” for getting stabbed.
Between me, Cyrus, and Sepher, we managed to broker an uneasy peace between the Convocation members. Not two people I ever thought I’d be allied with, but whatever it took. As long as we weren’t immediately trying to kill each other, that gave us time to investigate.
My head throbbed harder at the idea.
Brynan appeared at my side. “Her Majesty is here. She’ll be awake any minute.”
I glanced at the moon passing across the sky—once it touched the sun, her Sleep would be over for the seven minutes or so it took to complete the eclipse. “Thank you.” I patted his shoulder. “Go and join Gael. I know it’s been a difficult day.”
With a grateful smile, he slipped into the crowd and hugged Gael close.
I spared a smile for Kat before passing through Dusk’s door. In a small preparation room opposite, I found Braea posed in an opulent chair. Her attendants had dressed her and carried her here in a litter so not a precious moment of the eclipse would be wasted in the corridors.
As though she knew something was wrong, even in Sleep, her eyebrows were knotted together.
Over the past hour, I’d thought of a hundred ways to explain everything that had happened, but when she stirred and blinked at the blood making my black clothes even blacker, I settled for straightforward.
“People wearing Hydra Ascendant insignias attacked. Lucius is dead and over a hundred more with him—guards and civilians. Cyrus sits on the Sun Throne, and we need to show everyone that you’re still alive too. We’re at peace, but it’s an uneasy one.”
Her eyebrows rose slowly and she sat in silence for long seconds.
“The moon has barely touched the sun, but we don’t have long.”
She swallowed and slowly nodded. “Very well. Have the new king come to me. Just a minute will do, but I’m sure we can make this uneasy peace a better one.”
Wasting no time, I hurried to Cyrus. I’d expected him to toss his head and huff at being ordered around now he was king, but he agreed at once. An ashen pallor clung to his tanned skin—perhaps he was too exhausted from blood loss to throw his weight around.
“Wait for me in the throne room.” With a tight smile, Braea gestured to the door. “This is work for a king and queen alone.”
I bit my tongue against reminding her to be quick before clicking the door shut behind me.
When I stepped out onto the dais, the crowd muttered, glancing at the moon halfway across the sun. We were quarter of the way through the eclipse.
Kat tilted her head at me in silent question.
With a shrug, I mouthed, “I’ll explain later.”
We had perhaps five minutes left by the time Braea and Cyrus emerged.
The room gave a collective exhale.
The Night Queen lived, and we had a Day King. Stability was assured as long as we could get to the bottom of the attack.
“Good people of Tenebris,” Braea said, spreading her hands as she took her place before the Moon Throne.
“And good people of Luminis,” Cyrus added with a similar gesture.
“I gather today has been a tragic one for both Dusk and Dawn, and I extend my condolences and sorrows at the death of His Majesty, King Lucius. A thousand years ago we allied to push the usurpers from these very thrones, and I knew him well.”
Cyrus smiled at her. “Dawn, in turn, extends its gratitude for your support at this difficult time.”
It seemed they’d put this meeting to use and agreed a unified approach. My shoulders eased. As soon as this was over, I’d collapse in bed and sleep for a million years.
“Many of these attackers may have been from Dusk’s families originally, but rest assured that we reject their actions whole-heartedly—they are no reflection of our high esteem for Dawn.”
The Dusk Court fae in the crowd nodded, but some from Dawn still frowned and threw suspicious glances at them.
“As a marker of good will on both sides,” Cyrus picked up, “Her Majesty and I have agreed to exchange guests.”
I bit back a snort, though exhaustion gnawed on my self control and I twitched at the announcement. “Guests” meant “hostages.” An unusual solution, but not unprecedented. If that was what was required to keep the peace, then so be it.
“From Dawn you shall have…” Cyrus listed half a dozen names. Mostly low-ranking courtiers—folk who wouldn’t be missed—but among them was one of his close friends. Perhaps he intended to use him as a spy. I’d have Orpha tail him.
One by one, they approached Braea and kissed the back of her hand to show their fealty upon entering her court.
The totality of the eclipse hit at that moment, sending us into darkness.
“And from Dusk,” Braea said, “Katherine Ferrers…”
I didn’t hear the rest of the names.
My heart burst. That was the only explanation for the jolt in my chest.
Katherine… My Katherine. Sent to Dawn as a hostage.
No. No.
Every part of me ached, sluggish and slow like I’d been plunged into freezing water. Asher gripped my shoulder, waking me enough to turn as the crowd parted to let Kat through.
Pale, she stared back at me, clasping her hands. Even from here, I could see her knuckles were white.
I threw Braea a glance, hoping I’d misheard or that she’d said the wrong name by accident.
She raised her chin, profile regal and strong.
She meant this. She’d chosen Kat or let Cyrus choose her. She’d agreed to this.
This.
I’d killed for her. Worked to the bone for her. I’d taken my father’s life to save hers.
And in return, she did this.
98
Kat
“And from Dusk, Katherine Ferrers.”
The world pitched. The queen’s voice distorted in my ears, turning the other names into nonsense.
My body felt like a puppet held on a long, long string. From miles away, I told the puppet to fold its hands and mind its magic and control its expression like a good little girl, while the crowd parted.
Up the path leading to the dais, Bastian stared at me. To someone else, he might’ve looked calm and collected, but not to me.
His face was… empty.
The queen hadn’t told him she was going to do this.