The room exploded into raucous commotion as the crowd of royal advisors processed Corvin’s words. He didn’t wait to hearthem out, but strode out the infirmary door, Nix and I following after him. As we entered the hallway, Corvin swayed on his feet, and I brought my arm up and under his armpit to help support his weight. We stood together, leaning on one another for a brief moment before continuing down the hallway. “Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked with concern. “You can barely walk right now. We can change our plan.”
Corvin nodded. “The courtyard isn’t too far. I’m getting you there. The inauguration—it means extra protection, extra strength. Your assailants, they will target you again. I’m not going to let that happen.”
We reached the courtyard door, holding each other up, and I realized there was a throng of advisors trailing behind us. “Your Highness!Please see reason. For Stormcloud’s sake, you’re still in your sleeping garments!” somebody called after Corvin.
“Then find me some clothes,” he yelled back over his shoulder as we slowly staggered out of the doorway.
A few more steps, and we were in the courtyard. A few more steps, and we were standing in front of his mother’s memorial statue. And then I wasn’t focusing on much of anything at all besides the breathtaking gateway, shimmering in the air high above us. It took the form of a silver-gilded rounded archway whose enormous double doors were overlaid with pearly white paint swirling across the archway like clouds floating through the sky. Delicate metal feathers, an exquisite piece of metalwork, decorated the interior of each door, but the handles, the handles were its most striking feature. Two large wings, a shade of blue so dark it was almost black, extended from either side of each door handle, lightly flapping in the breeze.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, hearing Corvin’s sharp intake of breath as we stared at it together.
As we stood and admired the gateway, the trailing throng of advisors caught up with us. The same Roowk from before, whomI didn’t yet know, approached Corvin’s side, wringing her hands together anxiously. “I really must advise against this plan of action. The words. They are to be kept secret. A precious secret passed down by the royal family for generations to come. To share them endangers your life and your rule.”
Corvin gazed down at me, eyes locking on mine. “Then it’s a good thing I trust Elvira with my life.” He curled a hand around my lower back, summoning his midnight-black wings to curve protectively around us. “This is how I show you,” he told me. “You asked me to decide. And I have. I trust you with my heart, Elvira, and with my kingdom. Are you ready?” he asked, looking up at the sky and bending his knees, prepared to launch us upward to reach the gateway. His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “The words you’ll need to say to pass through the gateway, listen closely now:Those who seek freedom, take to the sky.” The words were beautiful, and I committed them to heart, more grateful than I could express that he trusted me enough to share them with me, to sacrifice his opportunity to attend the ceremony this year, to protect me instead.
“I’ll be back soon, Nix,” I said. “Try not to cause too much trouble while I’m gone.”
I clung to Corvin’s side, working up the nerve to tell him I was ready.
“WAIT! There’s another way!” shouted a familiar voice—King Ravenell.
“Father?” Corvin stammered, releasing his hold on me.
The king came stumbling into the courtyard, instantly shifting into a magnificent raven and flying the rest of the way over to the statue where we stood. Every single member of the crowd bowed in deference to the king the moment he shifted back into his human form.
Corvin embraced his father, and I wondered how many opportunities he got to see him out of bed, to hug him like he wasnow. The length of time they spent holding each other suggested such moments were all too rare. King Ravenell sounded frail and out of breath when he spoke. “There’s a way—a way you can both make it to the ceremony. Ajax told me what happened when I awoke to find you gone. The golden mirror, the one whose twin lives on your island, Elvira. It’s not just a mirror. It’s a threshold. They’re connected. If you wish, you still have the ability to step through and return to your island. I can take you there now. You don’t have to choose; there is a gateway waiting for you both.”
“The mirror is a portal?” Corvin stuttered. “But why would you gift it to the Midnight Sovereign?”
The king awkwardly cleared his throat. “For a time, years before I met your mother, Luciana and I would meet regularly…”
“You mean you gifted a priceless Zrocan artifact to Luciana so the two of you could—”
A wild laugh tore from my throat. “Corvin, that doesn’t matter right now. I can make it back to the island! This changes everything. We’re both going to make it to the ceremony!”
King Ravenell grinned broadly. “Kygraw! Quickly now! We need to grab Corvin his crown. And some dress clothes.”
The crowd rapidly dispersed, everyone running in different directions, at the change in plans. Their prince was going through the gateway, and the Sky Kingdom would soon be known to the realm. I smiled up at Corvin, expecting to see relief etched upon his face, but detected a flicker of fear or hesitation hidden in their depths instead.
“What’s wrong, Corvin? You can tell me.”
He shifted on his feet, rattling out a deep breath. “Taking on my father’s debts wasn’t entirely noble. I hoped I might be able to complete them all before the inauguration. That he would be standing here instead, bearing the responsibility for our kingdom’s fate. What if we reveal ourselves, and it only leads to more death? And it’s all my fault. Like my mother. Only thistime, I lead our entire kingdom into ruin. Endanger everybody I love.”
I gently squeezed his hand. “You can do this, Corvin; you can fly through that gateway. I know it’s daunting, that everything is about to change. But you’re not alone. You have so much more to offer your kingdom than your fear of what could happen. Life is uncertain. And it’s impossible to fly without risk, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking to the sky. Everyone here cares about you and knows you have what it takes to succeed. We’re in this together now. If we fall, we’ll catch each other. You’re going to be magnificent. The Kingdom of Zroterra is going to be magnificent. Olayra and its rulers deserve to know about what you’ve built here.”
His expression softened. “I think I can step through, knowing you’ll be on the other side.”
I gazed up at him, our resolve stoking one another’s like wildfire. “Then I’ll see you there.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
The mirror was indeed a perfect match for the one in my study.
The same golden frame, the same feather engravings, the same foggy glass. I sat in Corvin’s bedchambers, where I imagined he must have sat many times before in order to converse with me. Or at first—just to listen. Because before we’d even met, when I’d thought I was pouring my heart into the uncomprehending depths of my own mirror, I’d really been pouring out my heart to him, sitting on the other side of this glass. He’d shown up in my study when I’d needed him, and he’d been a supportive presence in my life ever since. Now, we both faced the heavy burden of responsibility, but we had each other to help bear its weight.
My eyes passed over the raised, circular bed in the middle of the room, with navy-blue sheets and dark canopy curtains draped across its four corner posts. I could see the book I loaned Corvin placed on the nightstand beside his bed. And a strip of white silk, like the torn cloth of the dress I’d worn when we danced the morning away together in Kothia after escaping Rogam’s manor.He kept a memento.I took another interested glance around his room before facing the mirror once again.
I spent many lonely nights in front of my mirror, pondering if I was capable of discovering what it truly meant to be the Midnight Sovereign. I didn’t have to ask anymore. Iknew—knew I was ready to step through that gateway. To officially take on the mantle of my position. I’d lit my lampposts, which wouldbeckon visitors toward my cottage and convey I was open to midnight bargains. I’d started to plant moonflower seeds in the realm, which would guide people to my island and protect them throughout their travels. There was so much left to accomplish, but I was ready. I would see the office of the Midnight Sovereign restored. I would become as reliable as the moon. I would be a light through the dark, and most importantly, I would serve the people of this realm.
