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“Become the Queen you’ve always wanted to be, Dwen. It solves all our problems.” Fane seemed so certain that she almost believed him.
“Yes, a coronation is always the easiest option.” Aledwen sighed. If only it was that easy.
“Your people won’t accept your mother as Queen now. Get them to accept you, and you can be crowned. The treaty is void then anyway...”
“Are you sure that will work?” she asked, the excitement really catching now she knew what he meant.
“Yes.” He leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss against her lips again. “Please, Dwen. That will solve a lot of our problems in one go.”
She pondered for a moment. He wasn’t actually wrong. Being crowned as Queen would stop her mother being able to wrestle back power, as well as allowing Fane to accept their mating bond. Though she wasn’t naive enough to believe there’d be no other kick back from that. She was sure there’d be some. Probably from the dragons too if what Drey said about them normally only mating with other dragon shifters was true.
“Okay, let me see what I can do.”
Nineteen
Aledwen wrung her hands together. The nerves were definitely getting to her, which made no sense. She’d taken on her mother in front of the fae just this morning, and yet, now it was affecting her more. She’d even gone as far as requesting all the half-fae, and the wolf shifter protectors were in the room too. They had as much right to have a say here as anyone.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Brandon asked, touching his hand to her arm and leaning in slightly.
“Yes, I’ll be fine. These are my people, they won’t hurt me.”
“We can stay with you if you want.”
“Thank you,” she said, touching his face. “But you know why you can’t. If they say yes, then I don’t want to start my reign with them being scared of my mates. Fear isn’t the way to run a court.”
“You and my sister are going to get on like a house on fire.” He smiled affectionately.
“I’m looking forward to meeting her properly.” She wasn’t even lying. Everything the twins had told her about their sister had made her more and more excited to meet the woman. Plus, she wouldn’t lie, having the in to the Shifter Council would be good. It could mean that Aledwen could start making a difference in the world at large.
“Me too.” He kissed her cheek. “We’ll see you soon.” He trailed his hand along her arm, and joined Drey and Cyprus as they left the room. Aledwen looked after them, longing shooting through her. How had she become so lucky? Just a week ago, she’d been alone and dreading the Birth. Now, she had mates around her, and was about to get the support she needed to become Queen.
Now that was a terrifying thought. Her, a Queen. At eighteen. While it had been part of the plan, it hadn’t been a part of her immediate one. But she’d heard that life tended to take its own path most of the time. She just hoped she was ready for it.
“Good afternoon,” she called, and the noise in the room quieted to a murmur. “First, I wish to apologise for this morning. We’ve since discovered the truth. The Fae Princess of Spring before my mother, died in a tragic hunting accident. My mother has been using elvish magic to hide the truth from you all.”
The murmur rose until it was close to deafening. This was never going to work.
“Please,” Aledwen shouted. “Please, just give me a moment to tell you what I know, and the solution I have. I won’t do anything without your permission, that’s not how I want to work.”
“Did you know about this?” a rather large fae called out, her long blonde hair not doing her any favours either.
“Not until last night. Something my mother said tipped me off, and with the help of the representative of House Paige, we worked out what was going on. This morning was the confrontation of my mother.”
This time, the murmurs were quieter, but they only made Aledwen more nervous. She really wasn’t sure how to take any of this. Were they okay with her? Or did they hate her as a result of what her mother had done?
“I’ve been hidden away for eighteen years so no one would notice my hair colour. But now it’s too late, and I’m needed to perform the Birth.” Aledwen took a deep breath, feeling a little bit calmer now she knew she was right. There really wasn’t any choice in any of this. For them or for her.
“But what does that mean now?” someone asked.
This was it. the moment she had to put forth the one idea that may not go down very well.
“My mother signed away the magic of Spring,” she announced to the room, holding her hands out in an attempt to calm the outrage she knew there’d be. “And there’s only one way to get it back. According to the latest treaty, I need to marry the elvish High Lord. But that’s where the problems start.”
The room had gone completely silent now. Which surprised her. She hadn’t realised she’d be such a good public speaker. Though admittedly, she’d never had a reason to try.
“I’m already mated. And that marriage would break the sacred bond I have with those men.” A lot of the fae looked around the room, probably trying to spot Drey and the twins. “They’re not in the room, we felt that would be unfair on you all with the decision I’m going to ask you to make.”
“And what is that?” one of the half-fae asked.
