Reign the Earth (The Elementae #1)(71)

Thessaly’s gaze flicked between me and my husband. “I do not have a solution, my king, because I am not the Three-Faced God incarnate. Where is your solution?”

Calix paused, a hint of a smile on his face, his gaze narrowed on Thessaly, appreciating the moment. “You do not have a solution because it is beyond your capability to judge, High Vestai,” he told him. “You and your daughter are here as fearmongers, but my people are not taken in by such antics.” He paused again, rubbing his mouth thoughtfully. “The God relies on his people to stand against such injustice and sin. Going forward, any of my people who have information about the Resistance or a sorcerer in their midst will be rewarded in coin,” he said. Again, murmurs and gasps rose through the hall. “And my commander shall act accordingly. We will not submit to fear; instead we shall let true justice be our guide.”

My gaze shot to Kairos. Rian had to be warned about this—he and all his organization would be at risk. Kairos nodded at me, turning and leaving the hall.

Thessaly started to say something, but Calix stood.

“Everyone is dismissed!” he shouted.

The guards sprang into action, shepherding people out of the hall, and Calix sat back down to watch them leave. Galen didn’t move, and so I stayed still, watching as Adria gave me a forlorn look over her shoulder.

The moment the doors shut behind them, Calix sighed. “I don’t want to hear it, brother.”

“Clearly,” Galen said stiffly. “Not an hour ago you agreed that plan would tear the city apart. And now you’ve just publicly enacted it, without consulting me.”

Calix stood, turning to his brother. “Because I’m king. I don’t need to consult you. I swear, I will find a reason to divorce that man’s tongue from his head. Using his daughter as a way to come at me—and my wife.”

“But, Calix, people will be falsifying information for money,” I told him. “Instead of peace, you’re going to have civil unrest.”

Calix glared at me. “He’s not wrong, you know. Think of what a reaction I would have if I flung your lifeless body off the battlements for your brother to see.”

My stomach turned that he could even threaten such a thing so easily—and moments after he had defended me. “Don’t speak to me of Rian. He left the desert when I was a child for this Resistance. I lost him years ago. And I have left my family behind for peace between our peoples. In spite of him.”

“Good,” he snapped. “But still. He needs to remember that we have you, and I will do with you what I want to stop him. They will collect information in the courtyard. You will be there, for everyone to see. For everyone to be reminded where my queen stands.”

“As you wish,” I said, raising my chin. “But if I’m going to be there, the rest of the women of the court will be with me.” He opened his mouth, yet I continued. “And we’re going to give away as much food as we can purchase or spare. I won’t have our people desperate and hungry.”

“Fine,” he snapped. “Whatever you see fit.” His gaze flicked to Galen. “See that the queen does as she’s told.”

Galen didn’t respond. I stood from my chair and walked slowly down the stairs. Galen followed.

“Wife,” Calix snarled, and I turned. “Don’t forget to wear your crown.”

I swallowed. “As you wish, Calix.”


Galen and Theron trailed me in silence back to my chambers, where the ishru helped affix the crown to my hair. It was light, but I still felt the awkward weight of it on my brow, blotting out my face and my skin and my family until all they would see were three silver branches.

Once the orders had been given to the palace cooks, storekeepers, and women of the court, we assembled in the courtyard. Adria was there, looking small and ashamed, her mother by her side with her arm around her.

I waved Galen and Theron away from me. I was here, and I didn’t need them by my side in a courtyard that was full of guards. The women of the court all watched as I approached Adria.

“Go,” I ordered them. “See that everything is set up to feed our people.”

The women scattered at this, still looking over their shoulders to see how I would react to Adria. Domina Thessaly didn’t say anything, but she was looking at me with such worry on her face.

“How could you do that?” I asked Adria, my voice quiet and low enough that the others couldn’t hear. I kept my face as even as I could, but I couldn’t help looking at her with an accusation in my heart.

“I didn’t want to,” Adria told me miserably. “I didn’t know he would say those things about you. He doesn’t really believe them, I swear it.”

My throat worked and my chin rose higher. Calix would rebuke her, loudly call out her disloyalty, and dismiss her from service. He would use this excuse to get what he had always wanted.

And in that moment, I saw the temptation of it. I could taste how sweet the words spoken with anger would be in my mouth.

I thought of Calix making me apologize to him months ago, leaning his face close to mine and saying, That is power.

“My queen, please—” Adria continued.

“Stop,” I said, holding up my hand. I would never believe in Calix’s brand of power. “I’m sorry that I was so concerned with myself yesterday that I didn’t consider how you were faring. I cannot hold you responsible for your father’s actions. Do you wish to keep attending to me?”