Page 150 of Taken By Shadows

My eyes cleared as they snapped to him.

“I said I’d help you. I didn’t know what it meant for you. I’m sorry …” Kaed trailed off, but he hadn’t done anything wrong. I hadn’t told him much of anything. I suppose I could have berated him for not digging into who my family were, but perhaps after revealing so much of his own painful family history, he didn’t want to pry into my pain.

But there were other things that had to happen before I could find what I needed. And I wasn’t even sure how Kaed felt about me being Auroran.

I took a breath and Audrie smiled at me.

I didn’t hate them for holding back on saying I was Auroran. How often did you meet someone who literally didn’t know where they came from?

I cleared my throat. “Audrie’s book theory.” I decided I couldn’t hold this over them. Not with Kaed’s offer. Not with the way Denora’s eyes softened. Even Gavrin was unusually gentle the way he looked at me. “Do you think they could guess Tymon has struck faebane, maybe if they have the location sources?” I tried to make the transition sound casual. But as I did, I felt a little piece of me fall into place with the people around me.

But even as I asked the question, I knew it was unlikely if those mines had never yielded faebane before. But I couldn’t help but worry.

“It’s possible, I suppose,” Kaed said. “I wouldn’t put anything past them. But with any luck, there are no records of faebane in Gallen.” He paused. “The council is not what it used to be. They don’t like me and never have. They tolerated my family when my mother was alive, but … to put me in the Cage, twice. It’s like they’re trying to provoke me. Us. My father. Like they want a war to break out.”

Gavrin stopped his pacing. “You think they’re trying to draw Tir out?”

Stillness settled into the room like winter had fallen in an instant.

“That’s suicide,” Gavrin blustered. “He’s the most powerful fae in the Four Corners. Except for y—”

“Except nothing,” Kaed shot.

Gavrin instantly shut up under the weight of Kaed’s command. He straightened but held Kaed’s stare a moment longer. “Why would they do that?” Gavrin asked after a minute.

“Maybe it’s not suicide if they know where every last bit of faebane is in the Four Corners.” Gavrin stilled at Kaed’s words. “If they control the faebane, then it doesn’t matter how powerful my father is—or anyone else.” Daggers from Kaed pinned Gavrin. “It doesn’t matter how many soldiers he has. They’d cut them down in the fields like stalks of wheat.”

My throat tightened.

“Whoever it is, they must have access to witches.” Kaed’s voice was raw.

Fae witches? But they’d all left?

“You think they’d come back to the Corners?” Gavrin said with eerie quiet.

“Faebane is useless without their magic to bend it to their will.” Kaed’s answer wasn’t really an answer to Gav’s anxiety. My own worry was spiraling through me. Auroran. Traitors to the Crown … my family were gone. I felt foolish and naive and for all my readings I hadn’t been able to figure this out? No, because the king removed Aurora from the histories, my mind supplied.

“Would the council do that?” I asked. “Bring witches back to make weapons …” I thought of Celeste and couldn’t imagine her acting with such violence. But she was only one of twelve members.

“Perhaps. Some of them at least. Celeste and Morgana, no. Councillor Morgana Morningstar is harsher than her sister, but I can’t see either of them doing this. Councillor Gossan either,” Kaed continued. “There are a few I’m not certain of where they stand. Carron, for example, could be persuaded to do the right thing, with the right push. Rionna too …” Kaed’s eyes dipped to Gavrin, and he shifted uneasily on his feet.

“But if it is war they’re looking for, they will need my father, me or even Hart to make the first move. Otherwise, it’s rebellion.” Kaed paused. “Holding the Crown is harder than winning it. I don’t think anyone expected my father to be the victor. Not with the way the Auroran forces seemed to grow their ranks as ours were cut down.” Kaed’s eyes fell to Gavrin, and a ghostly look swam in their eyes at the memory. Kaed blinked it away. “We’ve no proof, obviously.”

Kaed ran his hands through his hair once.

“So we get proof,” I stated.

Kaed looked at me, brow raised. “What do you propose?”

A solid grin slid onto my face. “You’ll have to find a way to get into that party Varris is hosting. Put on your charming prince smile and get us some invites.”

Chapter forty-six

The Seeds and Starlight Celebration was still some time away. I was to seek Tymon’s help in securing invites and we felt it was best for all of us to attend, if possible. The more eyes we had on the place, on the councillors who would be enjoying a party and a drink or two, the better.

Audrie was also very welcome, much to my delight. It was a celebration of nature and magic. And by extension, humans and fae and their balance in the world.

The pale brick exterior of Tymon’s townhouse in the city stood before me, smooth with age and crumbling at the corners. An ancient wisteria tree had climbed the full height of the three stories, and its lime green leaves hung heavily over the structure and poured onto the street above me. Fragrant lavender grew in grey planters under the windows, filling my senses as I tugged on the brass bell at the door.