“It’s not the path I choose,” Zen replied sadly.
Aflora? Shade’s voice trickled through my thoughts.
I’m here.
Yes, I feel you, he replied. I’m about to penetrate the paradigm, and I need you to grab onto me as quickly as possible. There’s a fleet of Warrior Bloods waiting out here to attack.
What about your grandparents? I asked, suddenly worried for their safety. Odd, considering we hadn’t really met, but I felt a kinship to Zen, sort of like I’d met her in another life.
They’ll be fine, he whispered. She’s already seen what’s coming.
My lips parted in understanding. Because she’s a Fortune Fae.
Yes, he replied. Ready?
What about Emelyn?
Ajax will take care of her, he promised.
Ajax? I repeated.
He’s with me. And trust me, he’ll make sure she’s safe.
But he hates her. And while I didn’t have a lot of like for the woman, I didn’t wish her ill will. Especially after her show of solidarity here, even if it was for her own survival.
Ah, sweet little rose. Hate and love are so closely connected. Surely you understand that by now?
You mean—
I’ll explain later, he inserted, an urgency entering his voice. I need to come in there now. Are you ready?
I glanced at a pale-faced Emelyn, then took in the growing tensions outside our shield. The Quandary Bloods had begun arguing, with Zen and Dakota on opposite sides squaring off, their postures a strange mixture of defensive and broken at the same time. There seemed to be pain, coupled with a sense of rightness.
Because they couldn’t agree on a path forward.
Retribution on one half, reformation on the other.
A Midnight Fae faction driven apart by the greed and violence of the rest of their kind.
The question became, what side did I fall on? The Elder Midnight Fae had killed my parents. “Will the Elders pay for what they’ve done?” I asked, cutting off whatever some had been saying. “With reformation, will they pay?” I restated, wanting my direct query answered. “They killed my parents.”
“Yes,” Dakota replied. “They did.”
“Will they be punished? My parents were Royal Earth Fae. That assault can’t go unanswered.”
Zen sighed. “My child, there is so much you don’t understand regarding the circumstances and the consequences of our actions. It’s not as simple as one might predict.”
“That’s a riddle that doesn’t answer my question,” I replied, ignoring Shade’s roaring commentary in my head. He’d asked if I was ready, and the answer was no, not without additional information. “Will the Elders pay for what they’ve done?”
“We will ensure they pay,” Dakota said, her expression gleaming with approval. “And you will lead us as queen.”
I had no idea what she meant by that. “I don’t want to be your queen. I just want the Elders held accountable for their sins.”
“What punishment would you give them?” Zen asked me. “How would you see them properly reprimanded for their actions?”
“How would you?” I countered. “By restoring the balance, yet allowing them to live? They didn’t afford my parents the same consideration, so why should I give it to them?”
“Because it’s our responsibility as the architects of the source to ensure the survival of Midnight Fae kind, not act as jury and executioner,” the silver-haired male beside her said, his voice deep and kissed by darkness. “As the last remaining Earth Fae Royal, I would expect you to understand that sense of duty.”