Our parents eyed each other, a million words being conveyed in that one look, but even though I had no idea what their silent exchange meant, I did know that this wasn’t the first time discord had flowed between the royals. And it was obvious that discord was due tome.
I swirled the cuff on my wrist, but at least the reality of it not working was known by them, and apparently, Kole too. I glanced anxiously toward him.
Kole still stood near the door. He was the only other fairy about. No servants lined the walls or bustled through the doors with trays or drinks. Everything was already lain upon the table. This truly was a meal that was meant to be a private affair.
Following my line of sight, my father said to Kole, “You may wait in the hall.”
Kole bowed but eyed me. His face was its usual mask of stone, but heightened energy poured from him. “I won’t be far.”
He said the words to me, not the king, and for a moment, I was speechless. It was as if he was trying to reassure me that whatever was to come, he would be there when it finished.
My heart flipped as he strode from the room, and my surprise grew. As before, a rush of gratitude, and also...relief flowed through me. And it hit me just as fast that even though I’d only known Kole a week, I knew him better than anyone else in this room, and these fae were my family members.
The reality was that Aunt Opalin and Uncle Roosep were fictional characters, playing a role in my childhood that was entirely false. They’d only done that as a way to be a part of my life, but I didn’t actually know anything about them as the king and queen.
Breaths shallow, I pulled out my chair and stiffly sat across from my sisters. Our mother settled herself on the chair at my side, her skirts rustling around her, while our father seated himself at the head of the table.
I knew enough of the royal’s history to know that my mother had married into the Mistvale crown, and my father had been the heir to the throne, which granted him the seat he’d taken. But it wasn’t like that in all of the kingdoms. Some of them were ruled by queens, their husbands being king consorts. If that were the case in Mistvale, our mother would have taken the head, as Koraline would one day do when the crown passed to her.
The crown princess snapped her cloth napkin across her lap, and a whisper of magic emitted from her fingertips. The pitcher at the end of the table lifted and began pouring drinks into everyone’s glasses.
“You have telekinetic magic too?” I said tentatively to Koraline, hoping to bridge some sort of peace between us. We’d obviously both inherited that ability.
Koraline’s eyes narrowed at me. “Obviously.”
The king cleared his throat and glared at her, and just when the pitcher was floating back to the table’s surface, he said in a warning tone, “Koraline...”
Everyone’s glasses had been filled. Everyone’s but mine. She huffed and lifted the pitcher again with her magic.
Her pitcher zoomed toward me, and my eyes widened. I was convinced she was going to dump the remainder of the iced tea over my head, and lurched back, but the pitcher stopped abruptly at my glass and filled it quickly, as though she only did it because she had to. In her haste, a bit of liquid sloshed over the side, staining the white tablecloth beneath it.
Lillith squeaked, and my mother sighed, but after all of our drinks were filled, the pitcher glided to the end of the table and returned to its original position.
“Shall I serve theentirefamily with my magic too?” Koraline arched an eyebrow at the king. “Or would you like to show offyourtelekinetic magic to your youngest daughter?”
His lips flattened. “No more magic. From either of you.” He gave Lillith a look, and she dipped her head.
My brow furrowed, and I wondered what my middle sister had done. I hadn’t detected anything from her, but I also hadn’t been paying attention since I thought I’d been about to take a shower in tea, but the second the king commanded that all magic cease, I felt it.
A very slight shift in the air occurred, like the barest hint of mist had retreated. The anxiety that had been pummeling through me lifted in the smallest way, and my jaw dropped.
“You have psychic manipulation magic?” I asked Lillith, then instantly strengthened my Shield. Normally, my Shield was always partially activated, like all fae did who had enough magic to conjure them, but I rarely locked my Shield as tight as it would go. I’d never had a good reason to since it was not socially acceptable to inflict one’s magic upon those around you. And in some cases, it was even illegal.
But now, I solidified my Shield completely until it became a fortress, not allowing anyone’s magic to touch me. Sadly, of all places, it seemed I needed to stay protected here, with my true family, when normally that was only required if one was around an enemy.
Lillith’s cheeks pinked, and the queen inclined her head. “Lillith does indeed possess manipulation magic. It’s very subtle when she wants it to be, making it even more dangerous since so few fae even suspect she’s swaying them. It’s also covert enough that many fae never activate their Shields around her, thinking her entirely innocent of any wrongdoings.”
My heart thrummed even faster. Even now, after being called out, Lillith appeared guileless. My first impression of her had been that she was shy and sweet, but when she huffed at the queen, my pulse pounded even more.
“Really, Mother.” Lillith lifted her glass and took a drink. “You make me sound like a monster.”
The queen sighed again. “We don’t think you’re a monster, Lillith, far from it. We all know your heart is good, but we also know that half the time you’re not even aware that your magic is working to affect those around you.”
“I can’t help it that it’s always trying to appease me.”
The king pinched his nose. “Enough. Can we please just try to enjoy this meal? This is your sister’s first meal home in many full seasons. We want her to feel welcome.”
Koraline rolled her eyes and gave the king an annoyed look while Lillith’s lips pursed anew, but the younger finally nodded. “Very well.”
