Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lonan
I tried to hide how nervous I was as we crossed the treeline onto seelie land, but I could tell that Ash knew anyway. He squeezed my hand hard, pulling me closer as we walked over lush green grass and through flowering meadows. The air was very warm, making my skin prickle with sweat under my clothes.
Nua and Gillie were silent behind us. I knew Ash’s brother was anxious too. They called him the Traitor here, because he hadn’t killed Ash when he was a boy. I wondered how they’d react to him, now that the boy he’d refused to kill was their king.
Ash didn’t seem scared as we approached the seelie palace. Guards and Folk alike saw us and stared, but did nothing. I assumed word had travelled quickly about the Brid’s death and their new king, despite Ash’s absence.
We’d waited another week before leaving Nua and Gillie’s sidhe to come here. My leg was healed, only the slightest twinge streaking up it when I stayed on it for too long. I was more grateful than I could bring myself to admit to Nua and Gillie, the words not coming to me when I was with them. But I told Ash, and I hoped he’d told them for me. Gillie had been welcoming to me from the beginning, but Ash’s brother took longer to warm to me. I understood. Part of me felt like I didn’t deserve forgiveness or kindness from any of them. Not even Ash.
I was sure a part of him still resented me. Surely he had to, even though I hadn’t been the one to kill his parents. I’d still hidden things from him. I’d still been involved in the Carlin’s plans, though unwillingly.
I didn’t know how he could bear to even look at me, now that he remembered everything between us from before. When I had lain beside him in bed, knowing what my mother had planned and being unable to say anything.
I still felt intense shame for it. The guilt festered like my insides were slowly rotting. I knew it would never go away.
When we reached the sprawling front gardens of the palace, the huge doors were heaved open and a single small fae emerged, hurrying down the enormous grass steps towards us.
“Pr—King Ash.” Her voice was frantic with nerves, and she dipped into a deep bow when she reached us. “I—We—”
“You’re the one who came after I killed her, aren’t you?” Ash gave the fae a hesitant smile. “What’s your name?”
“Jora, my king.” She twisted her hands in the front of her dress anxiously. “I—We did as you asked. We removed the… We cleaned the throne room.”
Her eyes darted to me and widened, then down to our linked hands before widening further.
“I guess I… I suppose I should make some kind of announcement?” Ash’s voice was hesitant, and he looked behind him at his brother.
Jora’s eyes bulged again when Nua stepped forward.
“Yes. It’s probably for the best. There has most likely been some… unrest.”
“We tried to keep it quiet,” Jora blurted, her pink skin flushing deeper in colour. “But word spread. About the Brid’s death. And the King of Boars.”
Ash nodded.
“That’s okay. I, um…” He glanced at me, chewing his lip. “Shall we go in?”
“We can gather the Folk in the gardens for an announcement,” Jora said as she hurried beside us.
Ash smiled over at her. “Yes please.”
“Of course.” She was tripping over her words to get them out fast, which made him side-eye her. I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling. “I’ll go and—I’ll get everything ready.”
After she hurried off ahead of us, Ash muttered to me, “What the fuck am I meant to say?”
I squeezed his hand. “Just… reassure them, I suppose. There hasn’t been a change in ruler for either court in hundreds of years. They’ll be wary.”
“Lonan is right, Ash,” Nua said, walking on his other side with Gillie’s hand in his. “They just need to hear from you for now. That you are their king. Your coronation can come later.”
Ash went pale. “Coronation?”
Gillie burst out laughing. “Of course, lad. When you get your crown. And your official title as Seelie Ruler.”
“Official title?” he grumbled. “Don’t I have enough already?”
“You’ll have one.” Nua smiled over at him. “It’s already there, in the Book of Names. Ogma will whisper it to you when you take your crown.”