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“Because she’s of royal blood.”
I spin my attention back to the traitors. Tajanna is in the worst shape, her skin little more than paper. Vallda looks almost back to normal.
Except that her whole body quivers. But she keeps her gaze locked on Alia. Her brows furrow. “When we were children, she almost killed me — on accident. It was an accident. Neither of us could control our magic. I didn’t…remember that part. Maybe I made myself forget.”
Beside me, Alia’s breath catches. I tighten my grip on her hand.
“Sovanna and her mother researched it, found obscure legends that revealed how a human and a fey could produce a child with magical abilities. It’s possible if both the human and the fey are of royal blood.” Vallda’s eyes glitter, and she closes them. “That’s how she has magic. That’s another reason we had to get her out of the way. Because she’s a better match than Sovanna ever could be. The best match. A perfect complement. We couldn’t let you know. And we couldn’t let you two be together once Alia’s memories started coming back.”
Vallda’s lips pinch together as she peeks up at me.
I don’t budge. Alia leans closer, pressing her arm against mine.
“I’m so sorry,” Vallda whispers. “I’ve been angry with her for so long, and I didn’t even remember why, and I…I’m so sorry.”
I hold her gaze a moment longer and face Alia. “You said you remember everything. Is this true?”
She nods once and grips her necklace, though it’s only the delicate chain. “My royal blood was bound to conceal my magic, to protect me. But that part was years ago. My father did it. I think it has something to do with…my human nation of origin.” She shakes her head. “It’s sort of a long story, but yes, she’s telling the truth.”
I level my gaze at Vallda again, then glance at the guards around her. “Give her a better cell.” She whimpers. I clear my throat and give her a pointed look. “Continue cooperating.”
The guards pull her to her feet. A second later, they draw Sovanna, Tajanna, and Zeccar up as well. Sovanna glances once at Vallda, who meets her look with a cold glare. Sovanna lowers her head.
Without any sort of fanfare, soldiers take all four from the room. Silent stares follow them. Once the doors shut behind them, those gazes slither toward Alia and me.
I wait a moment and roll my shoulders back. “In case you didn’t gather, Alia will be my bride.” A few scattered claps, but mostly just stunned stares and wide eyes. “You may resume your activities.”
I don’t wait for anyone to respond, just draw Alia through the crowd — which parts for us — and toward my parents. Mother sees us first. She greets Alia with a mutual curtsy and a hug. Then Alia and I turn as one to my father.
Her breath shudders out of her, and she inches closer to me.
My father looks between us a few times, glances at my hands, and squares his jaw. “You know there are implications to this.” He lifts his brows at me and then Alia.
I shift halfway in front of her. “Remember our conversation.”
His eyes narrow. But he nods once. “Indeed.” Then he flashes a genuine smile at Alia. “Milady. A pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Your Majesty.” Alia smiles back and curtsies.
“I trust you will continue to keep him under control, eh?”
She chuckles softly but says nothing.
He clears his throat as he turns away. “We shall discuss what comes next tomorrow, Kirran. Try not to stay out too late.”
Without another word, he takes my mother’s hand and leads her deeper into the crowd. We watch for a moment. A few others glance at us, but none approach. Not till Harran and Reena shuffle between people.
Reena and Alia hurl themselves at each other, and Harran sidles up to me as Reena dissolves into tearful apologies for ever leaving Alia.
“Would you like an overview of the intelligence we uncovered?”
I watch the two women beside us as they embrace again. “Does it affect anything right now?”
Harran shrugs. “Not really. Vaddik said the soldiers who grabbed them were an illusion, though, which I found interesting.”
“Tajanna seems to like her illusions.” I sweep my gaze over the ballroom before settling on Alia.
Reena stands back from her now, though she has her hands out toward Alia’s disheveled dress. In the few seconds I watch, the orange fades to blue, and the shimmering, translucent shapes of flowers spread across the skirt.
