He deserved it.
“I removed the poison from her room. And I did it so the council would not look into her death any further.”
“Yeah, because you’re in bed with the council,” I snarled. “You said they destroyed your family.”
“I didn’t —”
I turned and ran out of there. I needed space to figure out my next move.
I hurried to Zoe’s office. To my relief, I found Zoe herself at her small desk.
“Lucas removed the poison from Freya’s room,” I told her.
Zoe didn’t look as surprised as I’d expected her to. “I know.”
“You know?” I stared at her in disbelief. “Then why aren’t you having him arrested or whatever the hell it is the fae do?”
Zoe rose and set a small crystal on her desk. “I asked him to remove it. I couldn’t have the council getting hold of it.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
“You don’t think Nick and I are doing nothing about what happened Freya, do you?”
I hesitated. I had thought that. “Yes. You said the matter was closed.”
“To the council, yes, whilst we figure out what happened. I know you and your friends have been doing your own little investigation, but you need to let us handle it,” Zoe said.
“You think someone here at the academy did it,” I realised. “Who?”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“Then make it simple.” I put my hands on my hips.
Zoe shook her head. “I can’t talk about it, not here.”
“Where then? Don’t I have a right to know? She was my mentor — my friend.”
“She wouldn’t want you put your life on hold for her either,” Zoe replied. “I asked Lucas to come here and help. He’s a good man, and he’d never hurt Freya. Please, just let this go. You need to be focused on your powers, not solving Freya’s death. Let us grown-ups handle that.”
I scoffed at that. “I’m part of this. I was there when she died, and I got accused of the crime.”
“You’re not family. Only they have knowledge of this. We need you to keep it to yourself. No running off to tell your friends, okay?”
I blew out a breath. “Fine, what have you found so far?”
“Silvy. Go to your class. Focus on that, or you won’t have any place left here at the academy.”
Chapter 12
The day of the legacy reading finally arrived. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or not.
I had to endure more lessons with Lucas. Despite Zoe’s insistence, I still couldn’t say I trusted him much. We had made progress. I had gained some control but still had a long way to go.
Zoe had said I needed to get this meeting over with and that it could bring me some closure. She still refused to tell me anything about her and Nick’s investigation. Even Tristen and Alec hadn’t found anything new and said I needed to concentrate on my powers. I didn’t want to lose my place at the academy, but I still wanted to know what happened to Freya.
The reading would be held at the Goodwin Castle. Tristen offered to come with me so I wouldn’t make an idiot of myself with all the fae customs.
“Do you think I’m dressed okay?” I asked Mel when I walked out of a shared bathroom.
I had put on jeans and a sparkly blue jumper.
“There is no dress code for a legacy reading. You look fine.” Mel gave me a quick hug.
“I still don’t see why I need to go. I doubt there is any mention of me in the legacy statement.” The memorial had been hard enough. I just wanted to get today over with, but I knew I would never completely move on from Freya’s death until I found out who had killed her and why.
“It’s an honour to be invited. Plus, you wouldn’t be invited unless you were named in it. Freya must have left you something.”
“I shouldn’t be there.” I ran a brush through my long blonde hair. “And Freya doesn’t need to leave me anything. She has already sent me enough stuff.” I motioned to the pile of boxes over by my wardrobe that I still hadn’t opened yet. “That custodian agreement is null and void now with her gone, anyway.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“That will be Tristen. I shouldn’t be more than an hour or two.”
“Readings can take up to several hours from what I’ve heard.”
I groaned. “Great.” Opening the door, I gasped when I saw how smart Tristen looked in a suit. “I look awful. Maybe I should change.”
“You look gorgeous.” Tristen gave me a quick kiss. “Come on, we need to get going.” He took my hand, and we headed out.
We headed outside to the transportation circle. It still felt strange being transported from one place to another. It boggled my mind how my body could be transferred into energy and sent somewhere else. But it was the fastest way to travel.
We soon reappeared outside the Goodwin Castle with its yellow stone walls and rows full of beautiful flower beds. Despite the gargoyle statues that stood by the front steps leading up to the castle, this place always felt welcoming to me. It felt like a home —not like I’d expected a small castle to feel.
Nick and Zoe were waiting for us when we walked into the foyer.
“Thornwood, what are you doing here?” Nick frowned. “You know only people named in the legacy statement are allowed to sit in on the reading.”
“I know the drill.” Tristen nodded. “I am only here for Silvy.”
I glanced between the three of them. “I can’t be named in the statement, can I?”
One of these days I would understand all of this stuff. I would probably write a book on it. Maybe I would call it Fae Culture For Faelings and Humans. There had to be more faelings out there. Or maybe the fae would start having children with humans since their numbers were dwindling, and I was living proof not all faelings were bad.
“It means you are named in Freya’s legacy statement,” Zoe answered. “You have to be there to bear witness to it, or the statement will be declared invalid.”
“What does that mean? Did she leave something for me?” Maybe that was why Elsa had given the grimoire to me. Because she’d already known Freya had left it to me.
No, that sounded too presumptuous. I didn’t deserve the grimoire since I wasn’t a Goodwin. Plus, I intended to give it back after graduation. I doubted Freya’s sisters would welcome me into their family; neither did I expect them to. Elsa had probably only been nice to me because she knew about the custodian agreement.
“Come, let’s go inside. The reading will begin soon, and we need to be ready for it when the representative gets here.” Nick motioned for us to follow him.
A beam of light shot down from the ceiling as we entered the foyer. I knew from coming here before it was a fae security thing. It scanned Nick and Zoe, then washed over me. My skin tingled from its touch, but it didn’t hurt. It hovered on Tristen a little longer and I froze, fearing it would strike him down. After a few seconds, it finally faded out.
Does it think you’re a threat? I asked him and grabbed hold of his hand. Are you okay? That scared me.
Tristen shrugged. Thornwoods aren’t very welcome in other royal homes. My mother is ruthless for one thing, and I can’t say my father is any better. They may have programmed the sensor to keep my family out.
Won’t they get into trouble for that, given who your parents are? I’m glad you are nothing like your parents. I gave his hand a squeeze.
Elsa appeared and threw her arms around me. “I’m so happy to have you here. You must meet my other sister, Zinea. I know she’s very excited to meet you.”
I gave Tristen a look. Am I the only one who finds this odd? Why would anyone be excited to meet me?
He shook his head. No, she’s never that welcoming. Maybe they do want to welcome you into their family. Neither of them had children or any heir to the Goodwin line. You came pretty close to being Freya’s daughter.
; “Come, the reading will begin soon.” Elsa motioned all of us inside.
We headed into the main sitting room with its plush cream carpet, dark red walls with a gold filigree border, and an overstuffed cream sofa.
A portrait of a blond-haired woman hung over the fireplace. It looked like Freya in an elegant gown. She had to be around my age then, or maybe a little older. It was hard to tell how old someone was with the fae because they took centuries to age. My heart twisted at the sight of her.
“Zinea will be right in with some tea.”
I took Tristen’s arm and led him over to another corner of the room. “They said I’m named in the legacy statement, what does that mean?”
Tristen shrugged. “It’s not anything to worry about. People are named in legacy statements all the time. She might have left you something, or she could have left a final request for you. It could be anything.”
“A request? Like what? To not screw up at the academy?”
“I have no idea.” He shook his head. “People make such a big deal out of legacy statements, but only family members are left stuff. Lots of fae make requests of people before they die.”
Nick and Zoe had fallen into a conversation with Elsa. But I couldn’t make out their words.
“Am I going deaf?” I rubbed my ears.
Tristen snorted. “No, they have muted their side of the conversation. It’s a spell.”
Right, I’d seen him do the same thing when we were together in public. I should have remembered, but I was too nervous. My stomach twisted into knots, wondering what Freya might have asked of me in her statement. If she had known something might happen to her, why hadn’t she sent me a message?
“Is there anything I need to remember during the reading? Like any customs?”
“I think I have told you everything. You’ll be fine.” He kissed me and I smiled.
Another woman dressed in a long black velvet dress came in carrying a tray of drinks. She looked like Elsa, except her hair was flaming red and she had dark eyes.
“That’s Zinea, the youngest Goodwin sister,” Tristen whispered.
Zinea froze when she caught sight of me and Tristen.
Told you people aren’t big fans of my family, Tristen said. I hope they don’t ask me to leave. Although I wouldn’t blame them for not wanting me here. Legacy readings are private matters.
Zinea regained her composure and set the tray down. She came over. “You look so much like —” she stopped and threw her arms around me. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
Is all this hugging a fae thing? I asked Tristen.
He stifled a laugh. No, I think it’s you. I think they are happy to have you here.
Hey, I’m not huggy. I don’t do hugs. Well, except with you, but that’s different.
“I am Zinea, but you can call me Zee.” Zinea beamed. “I’m so — it’s good to have you back here. I never got the chance to meet you when you were here with Freya.”
“I — I am sorry for your loss,” I mumbled, unsure what to say.
“Zee?” Elsa called her over and Zinea’s voice faded.
“Why are they being so secretive?” I asked Tristen.
“It’s probably because I’m here.” Tristen grabbed a handful of chocolate biscuits. “I don’t think they want to say anything in front of me in case it gets back to my dear old mama.”
“Please tell me she won’t be here.” I groaned. The last thing I wanted was to come face-to-face with his mother again. If she saw us here together, I knew there would be hell to pay.
I had been so focused on getting through this event I hadn’t thought to ask who else would be here. Tristen had only mentioned an official would come to read the statement itself, but he hadn’t said who it would be.
“No, one of her representatives will be here instead. She wrote to me and complained she couldn’t go.”
I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Thank god for small mercies.
“Has the reading hadn’t started yet?” I frowned, anxious to get this over with. Being mentioned in Freya’s legacy statement worried me. But I doubted it could be anything bad. She’d never been anything but nice to me. “Why do you think Freya mentioned me?” I whispered.
“Maybe she wanted to leave you her grimoire. That’s plausible since Elsa told you to keep it. And she was also your custodian — in her eyes, you would have been like a daughter to her. That’s why she sent you all that stuff.”
I winced. I still had trouble coming to terms with accepting the money, clothes, and other stuff she had sent me. It still didn’t feel right somehow.
I shook my head. “That’s stupid. Either one of her sisters could have kids one day and then they would want to pass on the grimoire.”
Tristen smiled.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Why shouldn’t I smile? I’m with the most beautiful person here.” He leaned in and kissed me again.
I rolled my eyes and blushed. “You are so cheesy. And maybe you shouldn’t kiss me with all these people around. Or else word might get back to your mother about us.”
“Yeah, but you love it.” He slipped his arms around me and pulled me in close. “I have no doubt my mother already knows about us. She can say and do whatever she likes. I’m not giving you up.” I gave him a playful shove, then settled back into his arms. “Hey, this weekend we should do something. Get away from the academy for a while.”
“And go where?” In all the time we’d spent together, most of it had been at the academy on the grounds. Tristen had offered to take me to his mother’s castle for a weekend, but neither of us had been keen on the idea. And he hated going back there. He always said the academy felt much more like home.
“I don’t know. We should do something. Just us.”
“Want to come to Colchester with me? I could give you a tour of my old town.”
As rough as some parts of the town were, I had still grown up there. Other parts weren’t so bad, and I wanted to see the old library there again. And maybe show it to Tristen, too.
It would be nice to feel normal for once and feel like a real couple.
The doors opened and in walked Lady Louisa.
Tristen tensed. Oh crap. No doubt my mum will hear about us now.
I made a move to pull out of his embrace, but he pulled me closer. What are you doing? Tristen frowned at me.
Getting away from you before she notices anything. As Louisa was Maeve’s representative, I knew it would only be a matter of time before the news about me being with Tristen would get back to the queen.
My mother needs to learn I won’t be intimidated by her. I’m not giving you up. His words sent warm fuzzy feelings through me.
Well, we are busted now.
Tristen and I had been discreet when we were together in public. As much as we could, anyway. We didn’t hold hands, kiss, or do anything when we were in public at the academy. Although we did sit together a lot now.
In walked Lucas Melrose next.
“Jesus, what’s he doing here?” I hissed.
“Good question.”
“Is he a representative too?”
“No, his court has no standing and his position on the council was limited at best. He must be here because he’s named in the legacy statement.”
“Great.” I groaned and gulped down my tea.
This was going to be fun. Not. Why of all people did he have to be here? I had been relieved not to have to put up with him today. Oh well, at least it was finally time to get this statement over and done with.
Chapter 13
Elsa called us into the other room, where Lady Louisa took her place in front of an enormous desk. Several seats were lined up there.
I wished Tristen could have come in with me. At least he could have kept me company if I got bored, and he would have been able to explain things to me if I didn’t understand.
Zinea took hold of my arm and led
me to sit at the front. Argh, I wanted to hide away in the back. I’d be at the bottom of the list anyway, so I couldn’t understand why she wanted me with her.
Lady Louisa pulled out a stack of paperwork.
Zinea and Elsa took their places on either side of me. That made me both nervous and a little comforted. I had no idea why, but I felt a weird connection to them.
Tristen, is there any significance of sitting in the front? I asked.
Anyone who sits at the front is usually a family member. Friends and less important people sit at the back of the crowd.
Weird, the sisters made me sit with them.
Freya saw you as family and she was your custodian.
Nick and Zoe took their seats at the back. Heck, I would have been happy to sit with them. At least I knew them.
Lucas took a seat too. I wanted to know why he was here.
Maybe you should have a look around whilst I’m stuck in here, I suggested. See what you can find.
You’re so nosy. Tristen laughed.
Not nosy, curious. See who else is here. How long do legacy readings take?
Anything from several hours to several days.
I groaned. Days? That’s ridiculous.
At least there are only seven people in there. That will make it shorter.
“Welcome everyone,” Louisa began. “We are here to witness the legacy statement of Titania Freya Lucia Mabel Goodwin.”
Titania? What kind of name was that?
It was another reminder that I hadn’t known Freya as well as I thought I did. Now I would never get the chance to either.
“I, Titania Freya Lucia Mabel Goodwin, being of sound mind, body and through no compulsion do make this statement of legacy. I hereby state my sisters, of blood and magic, and everyone here today shall bear witness to this reading,” Louisa continued. “Do everyone here agree to witness this statement?”
What does of blood and magic mean? I asked Tristen. At least I could still commune with him in thought.
It’s a fae term for blood relatives. Sisters could mean a lot of things in the fae world.
“We do,” we all chorused. At least Tristen told me that part.
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