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Raven tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes. “In many ways the court reflects their king, and the nation will follow the lead of their ruler out of desperation. Your father has been ruling the Unseelie for over a century. Those of us who have objected to him, his morals, and the way he has run the nation have had to work from within the court to curb his influence. Lord Greyson, Uncle Piro, and many others politicked and restrained his depraved efforts for so long that some have given up hope.”

I drew in a deep breath as I realized what Raven was trying to tell me. “And they see me as the source of their deliverance.”

“You embody their hope.” Raven pressed his lips together as he regarded me with sympathy.

“A futile hope by the sound of it.” I groaned. Turning away from my friend, I fisted my hands on my hips and gazed back toward the mansion we had just left. A beautiful building settled among expansive gardens and groves, the scene before me appeared peaceful and idyllic. “I am a nobody, Raven, a plain-speaking back wood ruffian of no consequence with no trade who earns his keep with his muscle and brawn. I possess no skill at wordsmithing or politicking.” Glancing back over my shoulder, I found Raven hadn’t moved.

“Sounds like exactly what the Unseelie need.”

“And if I decide to settle disputes with my fists?”

Raven shrugged. “Sounds good to me. It will give the lazy nobles motivation to work for once in their lives.”

“And if I banish those who disagree with me?”

Raven’s mouth hitched up with a sudden smile. “The court is going to shrink dramatically.”

“And if I refuse?”

Raven’s expression dropped into concern. “Refuse what?”

“The throne.”

“Then comes chaos, war, and the eventual end of the Unseelie.” He stated it with a flat expression.

“Even with a pretender to place on the throne?”

Raven snorted. “A pretender without connection with the land, no birthright, and no future? The moment he attempts to take up the magical mantle with the spells, wards, bindings, and duties of the role, he will collapse into insanity because the land will fight him. The land magic will know he is not the rightful heir and reject him. When he dies, the border defenses will break, and the Unseelie lands will lay open and undefended for anyone to come in and make a claim. The nobles will attempt to take control and destroy each other, scavengers will pick over the remnants they leave, and our people will scatter. Chaos and death for the Unseelie fae will follow. And since we are the balance of the Seelies, it will only be a matter of time before the Seelie court follows us into disarray.”

Raven let the weight of all that settle on my shoulders for a few moments. I closed my eyes. Could I ignore the plight of my people? Could I sacrifice everything I had begun to hope for—home, safety, a chance at love, hard work and the rewards that it brought?

I sighed and dropped my chin to my chest. “So, you believe I should do this?”

“What I believe doesn’t matter.”

I raised my chin enough so that I could peer at my companion without fully lifting my head. Raven stood in the stable yard with his face toward the rising sun, its rays still hidden behind the treetops to the east. Despite his dramatically mixed heritage, Raven appeared far more at peace than I had felt since discovering who my father was. “How can you be so confident?”

Raven let out a soft, breathing laugh. “Because I know my role and motivation.” His tone conveyed a conviction I envied.

“Perhaps that is my problem. I lack motivation.”

He contemplated me. “What motivated you before Lord Greyson arrived?”

“Taking care of my mother. Working toward a place where I could eventually find a mate and begin a family. Building a place and a life where I and those I love could thrive.”

Rue’s laughter-filled face immediately came to mind. I had accomplished at least one of those goals. Rue was my mate. She didn’t know it yet, but I knew, and my magic had already declared it beyond a doubt. I flexed my left hand as the magic marking that had appeared this morning burned at the thought.

Thankfully, my habit of gloving my hands made it easy to cover. Raven respected my preference of dressing myself, so I had managed to keep him from seeing the mark, at least for the moment. I had no idea what I was going to do about the revelation, though.

“You can still pursue all those goals.” Raven turned toward me. “It won’t look the same, but it is possible.”

I shook my head before he had even finished speaking. “I would have to raze the system to the ground and rebuild it.” Warming to the topic, I motioned toward the house. “I hate pretension, posturing, and all the two-facedness. It doesn’t matter how people dress or how much land they own. It matters what they do.” I sighed. “And the records…” The horrors of what my father did to my mother’s people, the curses he leveled on the Seelie king, the helpless humans he had sacrificed—

“Burn it all.” Raven’s calm voice brought me back to the current moment. He raised a hand as though pausing in thought and then said, “No. If you want my advice, learn the system, gather your supporters, take up the crown, and then revolutionize it all. Do it for your mother, do it for the good fae who have been holding out against your father, do it for the victims. Build a place where you and those you love can thrive.” He paused for a moment. “It won’t be easy. It will take a fae’s lifetime.”

I laughed without mirth. “Good thing I am fae.”

I flexed the fingers of my left hand as the burn in my forearm reminded me yet again that I wasn’t making this decision for myself alone. Rue’s quiet unease nagged at my conscience every time Raven and I discussed my potential future and the options before me.