Page 13 of Tale of the Heart Queen

Linden does not care for that answer or that reminder because, if it’s possible, her expression turns even more toxic. Given how welcoming Cedar and Elswyth were, I guess we got off easy. I’m grateful Cedar didn’t blame me for Wolf’s death, too.

“Who is ‘us’?” Linden asks.

“Me and my brother,” I reply, and then inwardly grimace. She’s really going to lose her shit when she finds out Tristan is the Woodlands Primary. With the way she’s behaving, I kind of hope I’m there when she does. Maybe I should wrap up this gift with razors and barbed wire and hand it to her.

“There are two of you?” she snarls.

“Yes,” I say with a glare, deciding to leave Willow out of this for the moment. “Your brother welcomed us as family. If you aren’t inclined to do the same, then I can’t force you, but stop looking at me like that and stop threatening me.”

Linden glares for another few seconds before she takes another drink and then faces away. So it’s to be pointedly ignoring me then. Fine, I can live with that.

“Why don’t we eat?” Cyan suggests. He waves a hand, and a gaggle of servants materializes to fill our plates—some human and some low fae.

The low fae are of a type I’ve never seen before, with pale blue-and-green skin that shimmers like pearls. Some have gills on their necks, and others have patches of scales. Many of them have long blue-and-green hair, while some have hair that almost resembles beaded crystal strands.

I try not to stare, but they’re beautiful.

They move about the table, ladling food onto our plates and bowls. A thick cream soup bobs with clams and pieces of fresh raw fish that are so bright and colorful they look like jewels.

Once the servants have finished, they bow, leaving us alone once again. My gaze follows them, and apparently my interest doesn’t go unnoticed because a moment later, Cyan cuts through my thoughts. “Is there some problem with my staff?” he asks.

“Do low fae hold only positions of service here?” I ask, remembering what Nadir told me about Alluvion and how their laws don’t oppress the low fae.

Cyan arches an eyebrow. “I see you’ve been spending time around Erevan.”

I blink. How does Cyan know the rebellion leader in Aphelion?

“Yes, but I can think for myself, thanks.”

“Erevan lived here with us for a time,” Cyan says, answering my unasked question.

“So this is where he got his ideas?” I ask.

“In part,” he says. “He told me he could never return to his home and look at it the same.”

“He’s been stirring up a rebellion in Aphelion,” I say.

“I’ve heard as much. Tell me what’s going on,” Cyan says. “Reports have been coming in, but I can’t parse out what is truth and what is fabrication. While you’re at it, why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here? And where you’ve been hiding all this time?” He raises a hand. “The truth would be nice.”

I take a few moments to gather myself, doing what I do best. Curving around truths to make my lies seem as believable as possible without revealing too much of myself. One day I’ll be able to meet someone new and just be honest, but today is not that day.

“I was in Aphelion because I’m trying to locate the Heart Crown,” I say, deciding not to mention the ark lest I arouse his suspicion.

I had the Heart Crown, but I dropped it when the Mirror tossed me the ark. Then Rion appeared, and now it could be anywhere between the Sun Palace and the Beltza Mountains. Maybe someone found it? Maybe Willow or Tristan? Gods, I hope they’re okay.

“Why in Aphelion?” Cyan asks. “What would it be doing there?”

“I need to back up a little,” I say. “There are many pieces to this story. We grew up in the Violet Forest under the secrecy and protection of the Woodlands King.”

Linden bristles across from me, but she holds her tongue as I take a deep breath and prepare to live the pain of my history yet again. I don’t mention Nadir during my narrative either. That feels like a secret I need to keep for now.

When I’m done, Cyan studies me as if trying to decide whether I’m telling the truth. I don’t really care if he believes me, at least in so much as I can find the ark and get the fuck out of here.

“You went to Heart,” Cyan says. “My scouts reported a skirmish near the castle not long ago.”

“I did,” I say, deciding that information is safe enough. “Rion found me there and tried to recapture me, but I managed to escape.”

“So resourceful, aren’t you, Heart Queen?” Cyan says with a smirk.