The gasps and murmurs of the fae grew louder for several moments until Endellion spared her subjects a speaking look. At her glance, all noises stopped. It was clear that her subjects might revere her, but they were afraid of her as well.
“Would you rather kill? That is the job of the Black Diamonds, and it’s what you were raised to be in their world, too. When I found out you existed, I was surprised at how groomed you already were for joining the mission.” She looked past Lily to the other three fae-blood. “I had my grandson and the others born to do this task, to be my weapons in that toxic world, but you . . . you were a surprise.”
This time, there were no gasps. The fae were silent, and the moment felt weightier than anything Lily had experienced. Here was their queen admitting private machinations as if they were nothing shocking.
Lily had to admire her grandmother. There was little doubt that word of Lily’s birthright—and of Zephyr’s—would spread quickly now. Lily hadn’t realized what she’d set into motion by coming to stand before the queen, but she suspected that the queen’s other two children did. More importantly, the queen’s smile made quite clear that she knew.
“How did you find me?” Lily asked.
Endellion gifted her with a kind smile, as if that question was the right one, and then she replied, “I heard of a woman who had my look, who ‘looked so like a darker version of the queen that she could be her sister.’” Endellion shook her head. “I had the reporter killed, of course, but I sent trusted fae to see the woman. She did favor me—not quite as much as you do, though.”
“So you found my mother?” Lily prompted.
“I did, but she apparently died before she could be brought to me.” The queen glanced to her left where Torquil and Eilidh now stood. “But . . . in my renewed grief, I learned that my youngest child visited Iana’s house. I learned that Iana had a daughter—although Eilidh did not tell me of my daughter or granddaughter’s existence.”
Eilidh did not flinch away from her mother’s stern gaze as she said, “I serve my people and my family first, as I was taught by my mother.”
The queen said nothing, but her attention stayed fixed on Eilidh for several more moments. Finally, she simply looked back at Lily and said, “I’ve been kept apprised of you during the blink of time that has been your life. Now that you are here . . . you will know the things your mother did not. Welcome home, Lilywhite Abernathy, daughter of Iana, granddaughter of the Queen and King of the Hidden Court.”
The queen’s words were ominous, but before Lily could ponder what precisely she’d meant, she noticed that the whole of the fae assembly was sinking to their knees. Men and women, adults and children, every standing fae present other than Eilidh, Rhys, and Torquil kneeled—to her.
Lily glanced over her shoulder at Creed, Zephyr, and Violet. They were also kneeling.
“I don’t want—”
“It is not your choice,” Endellion interrupted.
Terror made Lily speechless. The queen had just declared Lily as family, formally acknowledging her as the direct descendant of her first heir. Lily wanted to ask what that meant. Was she now the heir to the Hidden Throne? Why wasn’t she speaking the same way about Zephyr? Admittedly, he wasn’t of both the king and queen’s bloodlines, but he was still of royal lineage. Lily opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come.
Endellion stood and stepped closer. In a slow, deliberate move, she kissed each of Lily’s cheeks. “First, though, Granddaughter, you must visit your grandfather. The king knows of you, and he has been eager to meet you.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper and added, “The royal family feels it when someone enters the Hidden Lands. He is expecting you.”
Then she stepped back and motioned the other Sleepers forward.
The guards stepped away from them so they could approach. Zephyr kneeled again and bowed his head. Violet curtsied. Creed, however, simply bowed his head.
“Do rock stars not kneel?” Endellion asked lightly.
Creed, in what was either arrogance or idiocy, met the eyes of the Queen of Blood and Rage with an almost casual glance. “I’ve offered my fealty to another, your highness. To kneel before you would dishonor that vow,” he explained in a clear strong voice. “I thank you for your forgiveness in this.”
Lily’s mouth gaped open at both his formal words and the import of them.
“Pray tell, what other regent is there that would necessitate such a . . . forgiveness on my part?”
“Not a regent, your majesty.” Creed stood closer to Lily. “Simply one for whom I would gladly die before disappointing. I live to serve your granddaughter.”
Endellion stilled, glancing first at him and then at Lily and then at Violet. “And you, Seelie-blood, have you offered my granddaughter a vow as well?”
“I am—” Violet’s voice broke. She swallowed visibly, and then she tried again, “I am undecided, my queen.” She curtsied again. “I was born to be your weapon, but Lily is a fae worth following.”
Zephyr’s muffled gasp was soft enough that none standing farther from the throne heard it. Lily could see Rhys tense, however. Eilidh and Torquil did as well.
The queen merely told Lily, “My grandson will stay here”—Endellion spared a glance for Zephyr—“but you may keep the other two Black Diamonds at your side.”
Lily nodded. She didn’t know the queen’s stance on the use of words of gratitude. According to the book Lily’s mother had left for her, some of the older fae were uncomfortable with such words.
“Torquil will escort you to meet Leith,” Endellion continued in a slightly louder voice. “It is right that he should do so, to protect his own.”
Lily had been long enough around Daidí and his associates to know that the queen was sharing another secret. Whether Violet or Creed caught the import of the queen’s words, Lily didn’t know. Several of the assembled fae undoubtedly did though, and she was certain Torquil did.
Lily already knew that Torquil had been present the night the fae-blood were conceived, and the queen’s words intimated that he had family that would be present. Nothing about him seemed similar to Creed, but . . . Lily glanced at Violet. They didn’t truly look alike either, but the queen had asked about Violet by name, according to Zephyr. Was Violet Torquil’s daughter? There was something to the shape of their faces that made Lily suspect so now that the queen had hinted so boldly.
“Maybe Rhys could come?” Lily prompted.
Endellion’s voice turned cold as she explained, “Although my spouse treats my son with respect, there are those within our joint court who aren’t always embracing of the children the king and I had separately. He will stay here.”
“As you wish,” Rhys murmured.
There was nothing else for Lily to say, except . . . “Might I ask a small favor then?”
Endellion inclined her head.