Page 134 of Tale of the Heart Queen

Nadir shakes his head. “I don’t know if he trusts you anymore.”

“Maybe not, but if anyone can get close to him in this room, it’s me.”

“If he suspects anything, there’s no telling what he’ll do,” Nadir says.

“I know that,” she answers, picking at the lace of her skirt. “But what other choice do we have?” She gives Nadir a look that dares him to argue with her.

“I’ll go with her,” Mael says. “Your father has never considered me a threat or worthy of his notice.”

“What will you say if he asks where I am?”

“That we don’t know. That we tried to convince you to come home and give up the girl, but we can no longer support your reckless choices.”

Mael winks at Nadir, and he gives his friend a rueful smile.

“He’d probably buy that,” Nadir says. “Anything that makes me look like a fool.”

“I won’t support this,” D’Arcy says again. “You cannot repeat the history of your grandparents. You must find another way. Why should I destroy my ark? This was stolen from my queendom and belongs to me. I do not care if you’re forced to live in the Evanescence.”

“There is no other way,” I snap. “Zerra is trying to kill me, and I don’t know how long we have before she catches up with us. If I die, then the magic of Heart will be gone and then you’re all at risk too.”

“What happens to it?” D’Arcy asks. “Magic cannot just disappear.”

“It goes to all of you.”

I say the words matter-of-factly, knowing I have to tell them the truth.

“So you want us to save magic for you when we could all become more powerful? Do you think we’re fools?” D’Arcy challenges.

“Is that really what you want?” I ask, standing up. “Is that really the queen you want to be? Do you want to be like Rion? Or Zerra? Like my grandmother? Aren’t you listening to what I’m saying? This isn’t about just me or Heart!” D’Arcy blinks her big black eyes. It’s the slightest reaction, but I sense my words reach something inside her.

“What will you do when she is dead? How do you plan to avoid becoming Zerra? What will happen to Ouranos if you do not take her place?”

Any of the people in this room could take her place, but I still can’t tell them. I can’t let anyone else shoulder this load on my behalf. I will find another way. I hope. I open my mouth and close it. “I don’t know . . . I haven’t figured that part out yet.”

She sniffs sharply and folds her pale arms.

“I want to save my people. I want to fix what my grandmother did, and I want . . . I want to bond with my mate.” A knot swells in my throat. “You lost your mate. You understand why I cannot give him up.”

Her expression turns icy, and maybe that was the wrong thing to say.

“I want no part of this,” she says and stands up.

She stops in front of me and Nadir, looking down her slim nose.

“A mate bond is a wonderful thing, but your happiness doesn’t come before everyone else.”

“That’s not only what this is about!” I shout.

“Isn’t it?” she asks with a tip of her head.

“I know you don’t want to be responsible for the death of these settlements. What if this were your home?”

D’Arcy’s jaw hardens as she quickly shakes her head. Without another word, she storms out of the room. I watch her leave, my heart deflating in my chest. If we don’t have everyone, then we have nothing.

“I will destroy the ark of The Woodlands, and I’ll come with you to The Aurora,” Cedar says a moment later. “Elswyth should return home to watch over the kingdom, but I won’t let you face Rion alone. I owe this to my brother and to all of you for failing you twelve years ago.”

“Thank you,” I say, clasping my hands at my chest. “Thank you.”