Page 85 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

“Now you’re catching on. Give me your hands, I will take you to Clairborne Palace.” When I reached for her, she frowned. “Where is your ring?”

“What?” My gaze dropped to my left hand, to the bare ring finger. Finn hadn’t returned my star-shaped diamond last night.

“It’s on the vanity in the bathing chamber. I took it off before I showered last night,” I lied.

Lady May pursed her lips. “Do you want to go retrieve it before we leave?”

“No. I don’t feel like wearing it right now.” Another lie. Though I didn’t know where Adrian and I stood, I missed the ring’s embrace on my finger. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed its absence until now.

“Don’t let Adrian see you without it. It will upset him. You can trust him, you know. He didn’t choose this life, either.”

I scoffed. “Just take me home.”

“This is your home now, and the sooner you accept that, the better.”

A sigh of contempt was my only reply as I felt the pull of her magic. She took me to the royal gardens right outside my bedroom at Clairborne Palace.

“While you release the ancient magic, I will let Queen Dahlia know that we’re here. Remember, keep some of Silberium for yourself.” She disappeared then, leaving me alone in the chilly but bright winter morning.

After I had transferred the siphoned magic into the land two weeks ago, the deterioration of our climate had stalled. Emeraldia had started to thaw, patches of new, green grass emerging from under the melting snow. The revival was going slowly, but it filled my heart with joy because I would take progress, no matter how glacial, over no progress any day. My only hope was that even though it had taken a century to bring us nearly to the point of no return, we wouldn’t have to wait another hundred years to see our kingdoms fully restored.

Emeraldia and Aubrielle were both on my mind as I faced the gardens and closed my eyes. My heart still belonged to the human realm as it always would, but I couldn’t deny the relief I felt knowing that by siphoning Silberium I was also helping the Fae. The entire nation didn’t deserve to suffer because of the arrogance and delusion of one egotistic king. With those thoughts in mind, I went through the same motions as I had two weeks ago, sharing the magic of life, love, and abundance with the gardens before me. The rippling effect would carry it far beyond the palace grounds. Silberium would feed the starved land with the sustenance it desperately needed. I let the magic pour out of me for several long minutes as I felt myself getting lighter and lighter, almost to the point I thought that I might float. Lady May’s instruction kept me grounded as I slowed the current of Silberium leaving my body until it was nothing more than a trickle before stopping it altogether. I didn’t keep much, though saving any of it for myself felt wrong because it belonged to my people.

“There you are,” my mother’s voice drifted from behind me.

I opened my eyes and released a long breath as exhaustion, deep but rightfully earned, came over me. My recently imposed duty had been carried out, and I could rest until next time.

“It’s done.” I faced my mother and smiled. I would have run into her arms but feeling weak on my feet, I was afraid I might collapse if I moved from my spot.

“Good.” Smiling back, she came closer and draped a knitted shawl over my shoulders. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon, but I’m delighted that you’re here. Come, have some tea with me.” Seeing my drained state, she offered me her arm for support. “Your father and Sebastian are holding a council meeting, so they won’t be joining us.” We stepped inside the palace and set off in the direction of the veranda off the West Wing, which was one of my mother’s favorite places to have morning tea. “Your father has finally appointed a replacement for Adrian in the Zalie region.”

“Oh?” I managed to ask, too focused on putting one foot in front of the other. With each step, I felt more energy returning to my limbs.

“He selected Christian York.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. Christian is a good man.”

“I agree. He just wasn’t good enough for you,” she said simply and matter-of-fact. “How are things going at Castle Argent?”

The little burst of energy I had experienced a second ago dissipated as I felt deflated by her question. “They’re not going well. You told me to pretend, but I fear I’m not good at pretending.”

“Oh, Sunshine. Only a day has passed. Even if you stumbled, you didn’t fall. Rise up and take another step, more confidently this time. And remember, the goal is to keep moving forward. Do not let the past drag you down.”

“How do you always know the right thing to say? Will I ever become wise like you?” I wondered aloud.

“You will. You’re my daughter, after all.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “How are things with Adrian?”

“I keep pushing him away,” I confessed.

“Is that why you’re not wearing your beautiful ring?” We halted before the glass doors that led onto the veranda, where Lady May sat on one of the outdoor sofas.

“What if…” I stopped myself, not sure I should finish the thought.

“What is it?” my mother asked as she reached for the door handle to step outside.

“What if I can be married to Adrian but be romantically involved with someone else?”

She paused and let go of the handle. “Is that truly what you want?”