The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1)(93)

I touched his shoulder. “Magic is already banned in Aecor. It has been for almost ten years.” Thunder rolled in the west, rattling the windows in their frames. “I know my parents wouldn’t sign it, but it makes no difference to me anymore. I’ve been to the wraithland. I’ve seen firsthand what kind of danger it poses, not just to the Indigo Kingdom, but to us. Unless the wraith is stopped, the Indigo Kingdom won’t be here to shield us from it forever.”

Patrick shook his head. “If you think you can peacefully take back Aecor, you’re delusional. It’s not going to happen. People there have lived under the tyranny of a false king and overlord for a decade. Our men have been sent to the wraithland to fight battles not theirs. But this battle is theirs: they want to fight for you.”

“They won’t have to.” I lifted my chin and addressed the Ospreys. “Come with me. I’ll take you somewhere safe while I negotiate for our kingdom.”

“There’s a monster down there,” said Paige. “It’ll be in Skyvale soon, if it’s not already. We could just let the city burn.”

I closed my eyes, remembering the drawings on walls and fences: charcoal-colored knives with messages written beneath them, begging for help, or gratitude for a life. I remembered the refugees outside the city, pleading to be saved from the beast that must have followed me here.

I remembered the fiddler I’d rescued, the neighborhood I’d protected by killing the wraith cat, and the nights spent wearing Black Knife’s mask as the two of us helped everyone we could find. I remembered how right it felt to help them, to give them hope.

“No,” I said. “We can’t just let the city burn. There are good people there, and they don’t deserve to die simply because they aren’t our people.”

“We can’t stop a monster, though.” Melanie glanced from me to Patrick, and back. “We shouldn’t have to.”

No, the Ospreys shouldn’t have to, but I did. I’d have to face what I created—and soon. “I don’t expect you to stop it. I expect you to get to safety and help others there, as well. Skyvale has two armies and a police force, and tonight, they’ll have me. I’ve been to the wraithland. I’ve killed wraith beasts before. I can help with this one.”

“This one is screaming for you,” Melanie said. “It’ll kill you.”

“Maybe. That’s a chance I’m willing to take, in order to enter peaceful negotiations to reclaim Aecor.”

“I can’t allow you to do this.” Patrick narrowed his eyes; the scar over his eyebrow stood out white in the flickering light.

I turned my still-bruised cheek toward him. “Will you hit me again to stop me?”

Patrick flinched. It was small, only for a moment, but the other Ospreys saw it, and they gasped. Connor and Theresa edged toward me.

“You’re my princess,” Patrick said. “My future queen. No matter what you do, I will never again strike you.”

“Will you follow me tonight?” I forced myself to breathe evenly, to not show the way my heart pounded and my head spun with terror. I was challenging Patrick. Asking him to bow to me for once.

“Not tonight,” he said. “Not when I know you’re wrong.”

“I’ll follow you.” Connor’s voice was small, frightened, but he stood at my side with his chin high.

“So will I.” Theresa closed the distance between us, and a moment later, Carl and Kevin joined them. The Ospreys were voting.

Oscar, Ronald, and Paige crossed the room to stand by Patrick, leaving Melanie in the middle, pale and still.

“What will you do, Melanie?” I kept my voice soft, and our eyes met for a heartbeat. “Whatever you feel is right.”

Melanie gave a slight nod. “Thanks.” And with hesitating steps, she walked toward Patrick.

“Mel,” I breathed, shivering against the chill of all the blood draining from my face.

“Sorry.” She took Patrick’s hand and kept my eyes. “I just think he’s right. There’s no peaceful way for you to get your throne back. I know you’re going to try, and they’ll protect you when you need it.” She nodded at Connor, Theresa, Carl, and Kevin. “And while you try it your way, we’ll build your army.”

Tension snapped between the ten of us, the Ospreys split down the middle.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Theresa whispered.

I touched her hand. “It’s all right.” I cleared my throat and spoke louder. “It’s all right. Be safe on your way to Aecor. Put a cushion on the vermilion throne for me.”

Patrick’s eyes were steel on mine, a sword or knife or thundercloud sky. “Until we meet again, my princess.”

With that, I gathered my half of the Ospreys, and hurried them out the door.





THIRTY-THREE


I RUSHED MY Ospreys through the old palace, into their rooms to grab their jump bags—packs filled with a change of clothes and all their most important possessions: notebooks, childhood toys, or miniatures of their parents.

There was only one thing I needed to find: a signet ring, far too small for my finger now. My father had given it to me on my seventh birthday, after I’d made a few too many attempts to take his much larger one. I’d been wearing it when I’d awakened that night, and since then I’d kept it on a chain, hidden among my most personal belongings.