She huffed again and draped a wing over my body. Its warmth sank into my bones, and soon I was pulled into a restless slumber plagued with dreams of fire and blue-grey eyes I couldn’t escape.
I awoke to a light knock, then a creaking door. Apprehension shot through me, but Sorae didn’t move an inch. If she wasn’t attacking, that must mean…
I bolted upright, her wing tumbling off me along with my blankets. At the door, Luther stood with a man shrouded beneath a heavy brown cloak. The man tugged on the hood until it fell to his back.
“Father,” I breathed.
His caramel eyes darted wildly around my face, my clothing, the room, the gryvern. He couldn’t take it all in fast enough. Finally, they settled on the space above my head.
“It’s true,” he whispered. “You really are the new Queen.”
Luther, who was once again looking every inch the emotionless Prince, gave me a long stare. “I expect you’d like to speak in private.”
“We would,” my father answered on my behalf.
Luther held still, awaiting my confirmation. His iron facade cracked the tiniest bit, a hint of concern leaking through.
I managed a faint smile. “Yes. Thank you, Luther.”
His throat worked, hinting at words unsaid, before he gave a shallow bow and excused himself.
I stared at my father as I struggled to bottle my sea of thoughts into words and sentences.
“Did you know?” I asked. “Did you know I was a…” I hesitated, still struggling to admit this new reality out loud.
“I had suspicions,” he admitted. “When your eyes changed.”
“Did you ever ask Mother?”
Guilt worked its way into the creases of his weathered face. “No, I didn’t.”
“You suspected all these years, and you never said a thing? You just let her drug me with the flameroot to keep me hidden?”
“It was her choice to make.”
“You’re my father, you’re supposed to protect me,” I snapped, my voice rising. “Even from my own mother, if you have to.”
“You still consider me your father, then?”
My temper broke, and my eyes dropped guiltily to the floor. “Of course I do. What I said that night—I didn’t mean…”
He walked over and grabbed my arms, pulling me in for a fierce hug. His voice turned rough. “I said things I regret, too. I lost my temper. I was so scared there would be no one left to protect you and Teller when I left for the war.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, Father.”
He clutched me tighter. “I’m sorry, too. My sweet Diem, I love you so much.”
My heart consumed my entire chest, burning through the anger and shame I had been holding in since that night.
He pulled back to look at me. “Teller knows, doesn’t he?” I nodded, and he huffed a laugh. “I knew that boy was acting funny. He kept making excuses to spend time with me at home. He hasn’t done that since he discovered girls.” He angled his head. “And Henri?”
I flinched and nodded again.
He squeezed my shoulder. “He’ll understand. If he truly loves you, it won’t change how he feels.”
I didn’t know how to tell him that those words didn’t make me feel any better.
“Father, tell me the truth. Do you know who sired me?”
“No. I never lied to you about that.”
“Do you have any idea who it could be? Did Mother work with any Lumnos Descended in the army?”
“None that I know of. She had you while she was away on her final mission. I assumed it was someone she met during that time.”
“Where was it? Who went with her? Did she—”
“I don’t know any details. It was highly confidential. She wasn’t even supposed to confirm a mission happened at all. Only the King of Fortos would have the authority to tell you.”
I sank back down onto the couch, rubbing at my face. “I have too many questions, and no one can give me answers.”
My father joined me, and silence passed as we both steeped in the boil of this mystery that had consumed both of our lives. His hand swept across my shoulders and tugged me close. I looked up, and my heart squeezed at the gentle understanding I saw on his face.
“You know none of this changes how I feel about you, right?” he asked. “You’re my little girl. You always will be, whether you’re Descended or mortal or anything else.”
Burning filled my eyes. I nodded and blinked furiously to push the emotion away. “Have you heard about the Challenging?”
“Yes. Others were discussing it at the funeral.” From his bitter tone, whatever he’d heard didn’t bode well for me.
“You’ll survive it,” he growled. “It’s just another battle. I’ve taught you everything you need to know.”
“It’s a battle of magic, not weapons or fists,” I said hoarsely. “They’ve been training for years. Centuries.”
“A battle is a battle.” He tapped a finger on my temple. “The weapon in your head is more important than the weapon in your hands. You’ve always been my bravest soldier. As long as you keep fighting, I know you can win.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “With any luck, I won’t have to. I made a bargain with Remis Corbois to claim his House in exchange for their help.”
The Commander side of him took control again as he gazed into the distance with a glassy stare, no doubt engrossed in strategy and warfare. He gave a curt nod. “Good,” he said finally. “I don’t trust him, but I would rather he be your ally than your enemy. You’ll need advisors, and he is a powerful one.”
“I do need advisors,” I agreed. “And I want you to be one of them. I have meetings soon with the Twenty Houses. I’d like you to attend as the military advisor on my Crown Council.”
He held up a palm. “Diem, I’m not sure that’s wise.”
“You advised King Ulther.”
“In private, not on his Council. And certainly not in meetings with other Descended.” He gave me a hard look of warning. “I know how these people operate. They won’t like my being there.”
“I can’t trust anyone here,” I pushed. “I need one person in the room, just one person, who isn’t going to stab me the moment I turn my back.”
I sensed his turmoil as he frowned and weighed the bigger threat: abandoning me to the wolves or making himself the juicy bait that sent their mouths frothing.
“Please,” I begged. “I can’t do this alone.”
He scratched at his chin. “I suppose if I’m advising a Crown, the army might rescind my orders to deploy for the war. I could stay with Teller until he finishes school.”
I beamed. “It’s settled. You’re my newest advisor.”
He grunted a reluctant agreement. His eyes wandered over my shoulder, and I glanced back to see Sorae watching him with curiosity.
My smile spread at the wonder illuminating my father’s eyes. “Do you want to meet her?”
Sorae puffed her wings in a show of welcome, though my father paled, taking it as a warning.
He hesitated. “I saw the Ignios gryvern a few times while in the army. He’s a mean, nasty brute.”