“You should be,” I muttered, thinking about what I’d learned today. “They’ve been hunting down a race and exterminating anyone involved, including Royal Fae like Aflora’s parents. You think they’d spare me or you if they found out about this?”
A few months ago, I might have thought they’d forgive us because of our bloodlines. Now? Yeah, now I wasn’t so certain.
“She’s a Quandary Blood, Tray,” I whispered. “Or at least part one. We don’t really know, but she has cerulean magic and can undo and rewire enchantments.”
He gaped at me. “That’s how she knew the song.”
“Yes, but she didn’t understand the lyrics,” I replied.
He started to nod, his shock evident.
When he said nothing else, I softly added, “Now do you get why I hid this from you? From Ella? If the Council finds out…” I didn’t need to finish that statement, his expression told me he already knew.
“Fucking hell, Kols.”
“Sounds about right,” I muttered, rolling off my bed to land on my bare feet. Like me, he had on a pair of pajama pants and nothing else. “Is Ella sleeping?”
“Yeah,” he replied, sounding defeated. They’d both joined me and our parents for dinner tonight, but Tray hadn’t known the reason for the family gathering. “I can’t believe Dad kept all of this from us.”
“It’s definitely raised a few questions,” I admitted. “Like how he’s okay with exterminating our own kind. I get that Quandary Bloods are terrifyingly powerful, but Aflora…”
“She can’t even kil
l a burning thwomp,” Tray replied.
“Exactly.” She wasn’t weak by any means, just thoughtful. Caring. “She’d never hurt someone for personal gain. Hell, she wants to turn herself in as an abomination because she doesn’t see herself as fit to lead anymore. How could the Council vote to kill someone like that? She’s honorable and kind.”
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around them assassinating her parents. How the hell did they get away with that?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, but if the Elemental Fae ever find out, we’ll be going to war.”
“Is that why they kept her alive? Aflora, I mean.” He frowned. “Wait, no, you said it was because she’s bait?”
Yeah, that was how I’d phrased it to Zeph. “They want me to let her be captured.”
Tray grunted. “That’s never going to happen.”
“No shit.” But I wouldn’t mind going with her to meet whoever was behind the attacks. Not to fight him, just to find out his motives.
Because one thing had become very clear to me today.
The Council couldn’t continue to operate as they did currently. “Things need to change,” I whispered. “This isn’t the way to lead.”
Tray met my gaze, his dark eyes reminding me of our mother’s. He dipped his chin. “You have my support every step of the way, brother. Always.”
No hint of uncertainty, just unerring loyalty.
I didn’t question him, because I’d pledge the same to him.
“I just hope I don’t get us killed,” I admitted, feeling as if I had the weight of the world on my shoulders.
“You won’t,” he replied. “Something tells me that mate of yours won’t allow it.”
My lips twitched. “She’s a bit of a badass when she wants to be.”
“She’d have to be to put up with your bullshit,” he tossed back.
“Jackass,” I grumbled, but I couldn’t stop my grin.