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We all knew the honor of being selected as the next Mortal Queen. Thrill seeped into our voices whenever we spoke of the fae realm and how lavish it must be. We all fantasized over the fae every time they visited. To be chosen—this was as good of a fate as I could ask for.
But no one spoke of this. Of leaving behind your family.
“No,” I told the fae. “I will say goodbye first.”
“Of course, my Queen.” She inclined her head. Her silky hair swept over her shoulder. “We will be outside waiting for further orders.”
Just like that, I’d given my first order.
My father appeared down the hall with Cal leading the way. He paused to look me over. While Cal kept himself as rigid as ever, Father’s stance caught me by surprise. He smiled oddly and sucked in a breath. He let it out slowly. “You look like a queen already.”
I waited for Gaia and the ambassadors to step outside before turning to Father. “How did you know?”
“If I’d known, then my bet wouldn’t have been legal.” There was a glint in his eye and a steadiness in his hand as he flipped his favorite gold coin through the air. It was a motion of confidence, but I knew better. He did that when he was nervous. I eyed the fae outside, whom Father had not looked at directly, perhaps the only beings capable of making my father uncomfortable. Now that they were gone, his collected demeanor returned. “We can afford to eat lobster every day of the week now. But you, my lucky daughter, will be dining on food much finer.”
“Father made a bet that I’d win. A lofty one,” I explained to Cal.
His eyes narrowed. “That’s a foolish bet.”
“I told him that.”
Father didn’t appear wounded by our lack of confidence. “I won.”
“But how?” I repeated. I motioned to my bag. “You knew.”
He wore his crossed arms like a shield. But the playfulness fell from his voice. “Be careful. You are not ready for a realm such as theirs.”
“No,” I said. “I don’t need another lesson.” I’d grown up on his lessons, mornings of fighting and evenings of puzzles. Little sayings he’d recite with no apparent meaning. He was good with calculations, which was why he usually succeeded when betting, but giving straight answers? Never. “You wouldn’t take those odds without knowing something.”
“I’m serious, Althea.” Father stepped to me, the thin grey tunic making his eyes look like a storm that settled on me. His toes touched my bag with how close he stood. “You must be strong like I taught. Being High Queen will challenge you, but if you can be smart, you’ll rule well.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I can’t let you go if you aren’t ready.”
The thought of him keeping me from the fae realm sent a jolt through me. Even though he had no choice now. I planted my feet and raised my chin. “I’m ready.”
He stared at me a long while. “You look just like your mother.” Just before his hand brushed mine, he pulled himself away, ducked under the doorway, and left. My desire for him to return caught in my throat, as my stubborn pride said to let him go. I’d never learn how he knew it’d be my name in the bowl, but he’d never hear me beg for an answer.
Malcom filled in the space he left, and I clung to his curls, staring at the place where my father had gone, realizing he never said goodbye.
When Mother went missing a few years ago and Father had been unable to find her after months of searching, he’d fallen into a silence that lasted four months. When the silence broke, the betting began. He said it made him feel close to her, which I could never understand. Mother was so different from the man he’d become.
Malcom stilled a moment. “I’ll be back.” He released my hand and fled the room.
I had a final chance to speak with Cal alone as the clock on the wall seemed to tick louder. My moments with them were fleeting. “Cal, they are giving our family a pension when I leave.”
“They always do. Are you excited? Ruling the fae is all you’ve spoken of since you were a girl and mother fed you all those stories. Remember how disappointed I was when I found out only girls could be selected?” His rough hand reached to my ear to touch the gems. My ear was like fire against my head, and I could only imagine how swollen it was. “She hadn’t mentioned this though.”
“Is it painful?” Eliza peeked over Cal’s shoulder. She could hardly look at the tender skin.
“I’ll survive.” I gave her a little smile, then turned back to Cal. Seeing him—bronzed skin and copper eyes that shone with our promising futures—I could hardly bear to tell him what I’d done. “Mother didn’t mention the details of the pension, either. It can’t go to Malcom. It can only go to an adult who remains on this island.”
It took a moment for the information to register and he tensed. His eyes dropped to the floor. It wasn’t fair that my triumph should come at his loss.
“Can you really not trust your father to watch him?” Eliza asked.
My father could lead legions in battle if he was called upon. My father could out swindle the smartest man. My father could likely walk across the desert barefoot and not be burned if he put his mind to it.
