I stepped closer to her and placed a hand on each of her shoulders like my own father used to do when he wanted me to hear something important. “Callista.” I spoke in the drekkan’s deep tones, hoping it might help ground her fears. “I will not let her hurt you.” I squeezed her shoulders with the smallest amount of pressure. “I will not let anyone hurt you. Will you trust me in this?”
She nodded, but her nerves did not lessen.
I wrapped my magic around her door. Callista’s gaze followed my power. Unsure of what she saw, but knowing it was related to my magic, I explained. “I sealed your door with my magic. If anybody opens it tonight, I will feel it, and I will come to make sure you are safe.”
The tension I’d felt in the bond disappeared. “Thank you.”
I pulled away from her and bowed, retreating back to my room to prepare for Acantha.
Mylo’s fingertips drummed silently against the table. His face was unusually difficult to read as Acantha listed her concerns. Even I had to admit, she’d made a convincing argument.
Fagan responded first. He also looked more somber than I’d expected. “So, in summary, you are concerned that the fae is manipulating Aedan because he wants to give her freedom to move about the fortress and because he defended her against your attack?”
Her chin dipped in a quick nod. “And he took her to the rose cavern. The Aedan we know would never allow such a security risk.”
I raised my chin as I tried to hold back the disdain I felt for her violent, fear-based actions.
Fagan turned to Mylo. “Security falls under your purview. How dangerous do you think she is?”
Mylo switched from drumming to tapping his index finger only. He shifted his gaze from Fagan, to Acantha, to me, and then drew a slow breath. “I have no evidence that she is dangerous at all.”
Acantha’s eyes hardened. “What about the way she charms everyone she encounters? You think she’s harmless, Aedan thinks she’s helpless, even the D’aeran twins have given up their lawlessness for her! It’s—”
She paused to scowl at Fagan as he smiled and shook his head slowly. Through her glare, she finished. “It’s as clear a sign as dawn.”
Fagan buried his humor. “I know I’m more a guest here than anything else, so I’ll share my thoughts and let you decide what to do.”
I smiled at him. “Your honesty has been a boon to me and my father. I appreciate your thoughts.”
“I’ve heard nothing but good things about her,” he said. “If she could affect everyone the way she’s affected thefew who have seen her, I would turn her loose everywhere I could.”
“Not everyone loves her,” Mylo added. “I’ve had at least a dozen people ask me what I’m doing to protect the population from her.” He nearly rolled his eyes.
“Yes,” Acantha hissed, “but she charms everyone who speaks to her.”
Fagan’s eyes twinkled. “Apparently not you. Nor, I believe, Lady Carmine.”
“Even worse.” Acantha’s eyes widened. “She only charms elves with the potential to marry her.”
Mylo snorted. “I’m married, Acantha. As is Fagan.”
“He isn’t charmed.” She glared at Fagan again. “He’s just keeping his eyes closed because he doesn’t want to interfere too much.”
Fagan sighed. “If you’d like, I’ll speak with her tomorrow and let you know if I change my position.”
Acantha stood. “Acceptable.” She cast her gaze on each of us, but ended with me. “I’ll take my leave. I still need some sleep tonight.”
We all stood as she left. Mylo bowed and followed her, but Fagan stayed standing at the table. “A word, Your Majesty?”
“Of course, Fagan. Any time.”
“I would… caution you with regards to Acantha.”
I raised a brow. “Because she attacked Callista?”
His eyes slanted as he considered his words. “Perhaps. But more so because she did not get her way today. Not in the rose cavern, and not here tonight. She has never chased down the power of the throne, but… she does not like to be wrong. Or put in a place of less power than she has assumed.”
This was a side of my aunt I had not seen. “She’s always been supportive of me.”
