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Stark faces met me every which way I looked.
A sea of fae stared back at me.
Collectively, they all turned toward their fallen queen. Then every Solis Guard and castle guard soldier that still stood brought fists to their hearts before bowing toward Lissandra’s ashy remains.
The looking glass’s magic still showed the truth of the king. It continually blazed through the sky like a meteor.
I didn’t need Norivun’s sensory affinity to knowthat all of them were beginning to understand the truth. Reality was sinking in to all of their expressions. Anger. Betrayal. Disgust. It was evident on their faces. Looking glass magic couldn’t lie. The king had deceived them.
“All hail the queen!” each of them shouted, their last tribute to the monarch who had ruled their land with a kind hand and soothing embrace as their shouts of respect rang through the courtyard.
Nuwin’s sobs continued. The youngest prince remained collapsed on the ground.
I ran a hand along his back, but I knew it was a trivial touch. Nothing I could do would comfort the brothers.
Fisting my hands, I wished so deeply that I could turn back time and stop what had just occurred. The pain and torment streaming from my mate barreled toward me on our bond, so great that I nearly barreled over.
“Nori,” I whispered.
But his expression remained distant, his features devoid of the light that had grown in him over the past few months.
“She’s really gone?” he finally said.
A tear leaked onto my cheek. “She is. I’m so sorry.”
I felt it the moment acceptance hit him. A torrent of lashing agony streamed along our bond.
My mate’s head tipped back. A slamming wave of his power cracked open the earth beneath our feet. An anguished scream tore from his throat. It blazed through the sky as fissures appeared in the courtyard. The castlewalls began shaking, and the entire remaining outer wall trembled under the force of his unleashed magic.
The land vibrated around me, robbing me of breath and hope as the tormented cry of a destroyed son burned through the realm.
CHAPTER 29 - ILARA
Isat beside Norivun in the council chambers. Lord Crimsonale and Lady Wormiful had arrived only minutes after Norivun’s magic had been unleashed upon the castle. Dozens of fae from the factions had been with them, more appearing with each minute as word spread of what had occurred.
But they’d all been too late.
While the king had been destroyed, the queen was also dead.
Even though we’d saved the continent, we’d failed Queen Lissandra.
I placed my hand on my mate’s thigh. His muscles jumped beneath my palm, stiff and unyielding. It was the only reaction my touch elicited.
Norivun sat on his chair around the circular table. Nuwin stood by the window. All four of the crown prince’s personal guards had positioned themselves around the room. I’d healed them before we’d enteredthe castle, but even though their flesh was smooth and their injuries gone, haunted looks remained in all of their eyes.
“Would you like me to get you anything?” I asked Norivun.
He didn’t reply. Not even a flicker of recognition passed over his face.
My breath caught. He hadn’t said a word since his magic had unleashed on the realm.
Outside, the constructo fae were hard at work, but the fissures Norivun had created in the soil had gone so deep it would be a miracle if the land was once again whole by spring.
I removed my hand and leaned back in my chair. My eyes drooped, but I fought the sheer exhaustion that barreled through me. We were all tired, dirty, and beyond fatigued, but we couldn’t rest yet.
The door to the chamber banged open, and Lady Wormiful bustled into the room, a female I didn’t recognize right behind her.
I straightened from beside Norivun. “How is the reconstruction going?” I asked Taberitha.
