It tells me to be more.
“It is with great honor that I call my son Prince Ian, along with Princess Penelope Brave, to speak with you today.” Queen Rosaline’s words ring out, calling me back to the present. She turns around, motioning us forward to stand by her side. King Liam nods with reassurance as we begin our slow walk to the front of the stage. The crowd quiets, anxious breaths mixed with awe. The queen greets us with a kind, but firm smile, reminding us of the serious words we’re tasked to deliver. Then she turns to address the crowd once more. “Prince Ian and Princess Brave have come to announce a new treaty that was signed last night. While the terms of the treaty may surprise you, I encourage you to listen with open minds. I personally oversaw the drawing of this treaty, and I have full confidence it is the final piece in securing our safety. Let it be known that today, and forevermore, Theron will not be subject to outside threats from Orien’s rule.”
The crowd erupts in cheers, loud whistles, and hoots that hurt my ears. Thankfully, Ian raises a calming hand in the air. In an instant, the waves of chatter begin to fall. “Greetings, good people of Theron. It is with great humility that we come to speak with you today, asking for your acceptance as we announce our new treaty with the kingdom of Orien. As you know, Princess Penelope and I were matched to marry at an early age, a deal drawn up by our mothers long ago. While we respect our parents’ intentions and their desire to have both Orien and Theron live peaceful and free, we quickly learned that this treaty came at a price.” He pauses, eyes finding mine to make sure I’m ready. I squeeze his fingers, knowing I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be. “That price was our hearts.”
Silence covers the tiny square, even the most vocal of villagers coming to a halt. Their pale faces gaze up at us, confusion evident in their frowns. Ian immediately notices the difference, but rather than stopping, he plows ahead in an effort to avoid any resistance.
It’s a smart move, one I’ll have to remember when it’s my turn to speak.
“You see, since the moment we met, Penelope and I have had a very special connection. We quickly learned that, together, we could solve problems, settle arguments, and calm the tides of rivalry that have always existed between our two kingdoms. The only problem was that we were never in love. As time went on, we soon came to realize that this missing piece was a factor neither us could live without.” He hesitates, the crowd growing edgy, waiting on the very words they never thought they’d have to hear. “It is with great sorrow that we announce our betrothal has come to an end. Penelope and I have chosen not to marry.”
His declaration is like a firelight of its own, exploding across the faces of Theron and lighting up a brilliant red. The scene before us changes, molding its shape like a twisted magic we’ve yet to see. Gone are the quiet people with hopeful eyes, replaced by ones with an overwhelming sense of fear.
Their angry shouts surround us, covering our souls and robbing our breaths.
“But what does that mean for us?”
“You said you’d keep our kingdom safe. How can we be safe if we cannot trust Orien’s rule?”
“Queen Rosaline said it herself—she’s the strongest we’ve ever seen. What will happen when she goes back to Orien and changes her mind? We’ll be right back where we started.”
On and on, they continue. Each question a scathing blow against my skin. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the queen step forward, her face a mask of hidden fury as she attempts to settle what we could not control. But I can’t let her do that.
I have to use what little power I have left.
“Please!” My yell rises above the panic, but it’s not what catches most people’s attention. No, that has entirely to do with the flame resting snuggly in my palm. “Please. Allow me to explain.”
The crowd freezes, watching the carefully stoked flame as it moves through my fingers like a mythical dance. Alive. Free. At peace. All the things this magic was meant to be.
All the things I aim to give it.
“I know you call me the Girl of Fire. The one who can burn twice as hot as her father from another land. And to be honest, you are right. I am fire. I am heat. I am the burning candle left unchecked. But most of all, I am true.”
Ian raises his palm, a gesture of faith and goodwill for his people. Slowly, he inches his hand over to mine. When his skin is close enough to feel the burn of my magic, I extinguish the flame, its orange glow fading out of sight. I clasp his hand, taking it into my warm palm.
“You see, a smart young girl once told me that magic is only as powerful as the one who wields it. And as I’ve come to learn, it is only as evil as one’s desire. To my father, this magic is a gift, but to me, it is a curse. A curse I sometimes wish I’d never discovered. But then I remember you.”
I look out into the crowd, meeting each face and finding encouragement as the hardness of their gazes begins to fade away. “Because if it were not for this magic, then who would put an end to a tyrant’s reign? Who would bring safety back into your homes? Who would make our lands a place worth living for again? The answer is not simply me, but rather those around me. Every welcoming face. Every brave heart. Every kind soul. Together, we make this magic what it should be, and so, together, we decide how to use it.”
The people of Theron begin to nod their heads, slow approval of the proposal I’ve revealed. But just as Queen Rosaline had predicted, there are some who still wear a heavy scowl, eyes lidded and cast with doubt. It’s not that Theron’s people do not want to believe me; I know they do.
It’s that they’ve had too many scares in the past.
One man, probably close to my papa’s age, steps out in front of the stage. He looks up at me, eyes pinched with suspicion. “We understand you aim to help us now, and for that, we are forever grateful. However, the king and queen of Theron promised us an everlasting peace. A kingdom free from fear and threat. Who is to say you won’t change your mind once your father is dead and you’ve inherited Orien’s throne? We can’t let the most powerful woman go based on her desire to do what’s right. We’ve been tricked before.”
A small pocket of villagers murmur beside him, agreeing to his words. Ian holds up his hand once more, lulling them to listen. My stomach tightens, knowing what comes next. “We understand your claims, and we’ve thought them through ourselves. Although I know Princess Penelope is a woman of her word, she has proposed an addition to our treaty.” He smiles, giving me encouragement in the only way he knows how. “Penelope? Would you like share your news with the good people of Theron?”
I raise my chin, looking out into the crowd as they stare back at me. In the distance, a hawk caws in the sky, a brilliant flash of brown weaving between the clouds.
Weston has returned, and it’s all the encouragement I need.
“As Prince Ian stated, we anticipated your concerns, and by my next actions, I hope to alleviate your fears.” I close my eyes, allowing a deep breath to flood my lungs. When I open them again, everything is clear. Right. Just as it should be. “I, Penelope Brave, choose to give up my claim as rightful heir to the Orien throne.”
A rush of voices fills the air, shock and disbelief lining their tone. I raise my voice in return, hoping they’ll hear me out enough to let me finish. “In addition, my little sister Viviana will also denounce her claim to the Orien throne. For the time being, my mother and my papa will rule in our place. When they feel he’s ready, my cousin, Reeve of Theron, will take his position as the last remaining rightful heir to the throne. While Viviana and I will remain active citizens of Orien, as well as staunch allies with Theron, we will not be a part of the ruling of any kingdom. In this way, we can assure that our father’s blood, no matter how righteous my sister and I may be, will never hold power again.”
Cheers erupt through the crowd, chants of happiness echoing in the square. On the outside, I grin wide, flashing my teeth as I reach out for Ian’s hand. Relief settles over his face as he squeezes my fingers, letting me know it’s over… let
ting me know we’ve done well. And in a way, he is right. We did give his people what they wanted—a future without the fear of fire raining down on them from their neighboring kingdom. Without my title, I am powerless—nothing but a discarded tool to hide away in the dark. The people of Theron know I would never go against my mother, who happens to be one of their own. They also know I’d never go against my cousin, who is Theron’s blood through and through.
But there is another part of me that knows this is wrong.
Today, I made a choice, not only for myself, but also for the very ones I hold dear—Vivi, Aras, and Reeve. With one decision, I have twisted their fate, turned it into something different and called it my own. Vivi will come back to a life without a future set in stone. Aras will come back to a woman without a home. Reeve will come back to lead a kingdom he once despised. And my parents? They will come back to a broken land, tasked with rebuilding it again.
As for me, I got what I wanted, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel right in the least.
Thirty-One
By the time the crowds dispersed, I was nothing but an empty shell, left to follow the orders of the person closest to my side. The only one who seemed to notice my absence was Ian, and when he informed me of his mother’s request for us to join her for dinner, I could see the sympathy pooling in his eyes.
But sympathy or not, I am here. Staring at my full plate of delicious meats and vegetables, while a rolling sickness builds in my gut. If anyone seems concerned over my lack of appetite, they haven’t said so. Instead, I’ve been subject to conversation after conversation about the success of the treaty and the reaction of Theron’s people. While the king and queen are overjoyed everyone took the news well, I haven’t been able to share their same enthusiasm.
Not when I’ve altered my sister’s future without asking her first.
“You should eat something.” Ian looks up at me from under his thick lashes, the words so quiet I doubt anyone else has heard them over the chatter of today’s events. He glances down the table, watching his parents as they prattle on about the success of our treaty while Tolan and my mother listen dutifully by their sides. “I don’t think anyone would blame you if said you needed to get some fresh air. If it would make you feel better, I can have your food sent up to your room. Maybe after a chance to clear your head, your appetite will return.” He leans forward, voice dropping to a whisper. “You’ll need your strength for tomorrow, Penelope, and I intend to make sure you take care of yourself.”
Yes, a chance to clear my head. It’s exactly what I need. But it’s also exactly what will get me noticed.
“I’m fine, Ian. Sireen brought several snacks up to my room before we left for the announcement. I suppose I’m still full.”
Ian frowns, seeing through my excuse as if it were his own. “Go, clear your head. Just don’t run far. I’ll cover for you.”
I turn toward the end of the table, debating if I should announce my leave. Judging from the way they talk, eyes pinned on each other with little room for interruption, I decide Ian is right—they probably won’t notice my absence anytime soon.
“Thank you,” I whisper, inching my chair from the table.
When he nods, I rise and make my way toward the doors. I don’t look back.
ↄ
The gardens are deserted, the late afternoon sun spreading out across the green leaves, making them shine in the light. It was the silence that pulled me here, begging to give my mind a place to settle and take root. Today has been a whirlwind of drastic changes and tough decisions—the kind I don’t think I’d ever wish to repeat. Although, I’m not sure what would be the point.
It’s already bound to stay with me forever.
At first, my walk is aimless, with no idea where I want to begin or where I want to go. But after a few trips around the entire garden, my feet end up taking me to the very bench where Ian and I first sat together only a few weeks ago. It feels like ages, those short weeks. It makes me wonder what the next few days will feel like.
“I hope you don’t mind some company.” The smooth voice materializes from the walkway, mostly obscured by the purple leaves gently swaying in the breeze. Though I recognize the voice in an instant, it takes a few seconds for her blonde hair and regal dress to appear.
“Not at all,” I say, scooting over on the bench as Queen Rosaline sits down by my side.
An uneasy quiet settles over the garden, no one willing to break the tension between us since she made me don a wedding dress and tell her people I would not marry her son. When she finally speaks, I’m caught off guard by what she has to say.
“I admire your strength, Brave. I would be lying if I said I thought I could make it through what you did today.” My head turns sharper than I intend, her opening words the last thing I ever expected to hear. Her ruby lips tip down in a sad smile, and she pats my hand. The cool of her touch burns like fire. “I’d like to apologize. I had you wear the dress because I truly hoped it would give you a change of heart. That once you saw it on and you stood in front of all those people with my son by your side, you’d realize this was a mistake. You’d realize you really did want to marry Ian and protect Theron with all of your heart.”
I ease my hand away, not sure if I want to hear what else she has to say, but she grabs onto my fingers, imploring me to listen. “But as I watched you stand so confidently in front of those strangers, people who you have never met, yet who you’ve vowed to protect, I realized I had it wrong. Marrying my son is not your destiny. Standing by his side is. I’m sorry, Brave. You gave up everything because it took me too long to see.”
This time when I start to pull away, she lets me, and I relish the heat as it races to fight against the cool. While Queen Rosaline’s words ring with truth, there’s one part I need to clarify. “You don’t have to apologize. As queen, your job is to protect your people no matter the cost. As a mother, your job is to make sure your son is happy and prepared to face life on his own. I don’t blame you for any of the decisions you’ve had to make. If our roles were reversed, I may have even done the same. But you are wrong on one point—I didn’t give up everything; I gave it away for someone else.”
Rather than answering right away, she tilts her head to the side, motioning for me to stand as she rises to her feet. Together, we walk through the garden, back toward the palace we’ll both sacrifice everything to protect. It’s not until we’ve reached the long stoned steps that she decides to address my claim.
“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Brave. If your sister were here, she would have done the same. You are both born of the same thread, wild spirits begging to break loose and be free. And Reeve? If he is anything like his parents, he is steadfast, loyal, and determined to a fault. He’ll make an excellent leader for Orien, as it is a role that suits him well.” She stops at the top of the stairs, a rare wrinkle forming in her brow. “But are their feelings alone the only reason you are concerned?”
I startle at her words, at the very idea she wants to imply. That, at the heart of my worries, lies Aras and his reaction to my decision. Obviously, he didn’t want me to marry Ian, but he never suggested anything about surrendering my right to the throne. What will he say when he has learned what I’ve done? What I’ve sacrificed for the sake of us being together?
My mind flashes to the field with the little house overlooking a tranquil pond. The long, covered porch. The white swing, just waiting for the right people to come along and take a permanent rest. In that field, I see my future. I see a dark-haired boy with a perfect dimpled grin. I see a blanket in the grass underneath a sea of never-ending stars. I see Mother and Papa coming for a visit, an exuberant Vivi in tow. I see our children, running through the wildflowers and splashing into the pond.
I see everything, but I never asked if he could see it, too.
Aside from being together, I have no idea what Aras wants. Did he expect to become a prince like he often teased he would? Does he want to live in Orien and he
lp right the wrongs of my father’s reign? Would he be content to spend his days with me, sheltered away from the outside world?
The truth is, I don’t know.
Queen Rosaline places a cool hand on my arm, pulling me back to the present. She offers a hesitant smile before opening the palace door. “I’ve never seen a young man so in love with a woman until I met Aras Renn. And do you know what I find so telling about that?” She widens her eyes, hinting that she knew the truth all along. “He was trying to hide it the entire time. Imagine what his love will look like when he’s finally allowed to show it. Trust me when I say out of all the lives you may have affected with your treaty, the one who will be the happiest is him.”
More than anything, I pray she’s right.
Thirty-Two
The wait is torturous, each second ticking by slower than the next. It’s been hours since I last left Queen Rosaline in the winding halls, and in a few hours more, my father will arrive at Theron’s gates, ready to burn me to death for my betrayal. I should have been asleep ages ago, but my racing pulse made rest impossible. Although I know I should at least lay down in bed, I haven’t been able to sit still, pacing the room like my papa when he’s upset.
Despite the odds, the thought of him calms me, just as it has for the last eighteen years of my life.
It wasn’t long ago that I was in Mother’s chambers, giving them both tight hugs and kissing them goodbye. But it wasn’t a permanent kind of goodbye. It was the kind where I go off to face my terrible father and hope to tell the tale. True to their caring, yet complicated natures, they both assured me I had nothing to fear but my own self-doubt. In their minds, they knew I’d defeat my father. They wanted to make sure I knew it as well. The only reason I left the room slightly happy was because Papa promised to stay hidden away behind the gates, along with the rest of Theron. Since Reeve, Lo, and The Lost plan on stopping the Orien army, King Liam decided he did not need to relocate his people as it was originally planned. I’m hoping every decision works out for the best, but I’m at least relieved to know Papa won’t be in any immediate harm. Like the rest of Ashen, he’ll only come running if he hears my call.
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