“My warning wasn’t for you,” Shade replied, his gaze finding mine and Zeph’s. “Don’t overreact. With everything going on, we can’t afford to be ousted because there is literally nowhere else for us to go. The Midnight Fae are searching for us in droves right now, furious over Aflora’s ascension.”
I frowned. “They already know?”
Shade’s expression took on a sardonic twist. “Yeah. Constantine told them all that she stole the throne and she’s a power hungry fae who is out of control. He’s notified the other fae as well.”
“How do you know all that?” Zeph demanded, suspicion underlying his tone. He still had his arm around my upper body, his tension palpable at my back.
“Because my grandmother told me,” Shade bit back. “We’ve entered the proverbial end game now, so I have no more tricks up my sleeve. I’m telling you everything I learn as I learn it. But I just spent several hours trying to return to you, so forgive me for the delay.”
“Thank you for being forthright,” I interjected before Zeph could speak. I felt his ire and annoyance boiling through his thoughts and I didn’t want to instigate any more fighting. We needed to work as a unit, and if that meant leading by example, I would. “Do we know how the Elemental Fae are reacting to the news?”
Shade’s lips curled down, then he gave a subtle shake of his head.
“They’ll excommunicate me,” Aflora said softly. “Especially after what Elana did to them.”
I hated to agree with that statement, but knowing Exos and Cyrus as well as I did, I found myself nodding. “They’ll fear what they don’t know.”
“Which is why I need to revert the ascension,” she pressed. “I can’t be queen of two fae kingdoms. All of the fae realms will hunt me and try to kill me.”
“They’re going to do that anyway,” Zakkai inserted. “Which means we need you to be the most powerful being ever to exist so you can protect yourself.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“No,” Aflora replied. “I don’t want all this power.”
“Which is why you’re the perfect fae to embrace it,” I argued. “You won’t use it for nefarious purposes. You’ll provoke change.”
“Much needed change,” Zeph echoed.
“Precisely,” I murmured.
Aflora sighed and shook her head. “Let’s just… go inside. And then we can keep talking about it. I could really go for a sandwich.”
“Shroom loaf?” Zeph offered. “Mustard berries?”
“Mouseberries,” she corrected with a smile.
“Mussleberries,” he said softly, a grin in his tone. “Of course. Coming right up.”
Aflora rolled her eyes, but some of the tension in her stance melted at the playfulness of his words. “Spritemead, too. And a dragon steak.”
“Someone’s hungry. Did we not feed you properly last night?” He released me with a kiss to my neck then walked around me to press his lips to her cheek. “Because I seem to recall feeding you quite well.”
Her cheeks turned a beautiful pink shade as she tried to glare up at him. “Zeph.”
The Warrior Blood brushed his mouth over hers, his palm wrapping around the back of her neck. “Come on, pixie flower. Let’s go explore this new academy. Then I’ll ensure you’re properly fed. Again.”
She swallowed. “Then I want a salad patty.”
“I’ll give you everything and anything you want, Aflora,” he replied softly, his forehead resting against hers for a brief moment. “Including mouseberries.”
Her expression brightened. “Yes, please.”
“I thought he was a Guardian-turned-Headmaster,” Zakkai said conversationally. “Is he a chef, too?”
“He’s good with a wand,” Shade explained.
“Ah. The food spells make up for other weaker areas.” Zakkai nodded. “I understand.”