Daivon turned to Bran. "Why do we even need a king?"
"I'm not a king," I hurried to say.
"No, you're not," Bran agreed, taking over. "You're my prince, Torian. Mine. Aspen? She's nice. Hell, we all agree on that. Wilder? He's a fucking badass. Hawke? Well, he's awesome, but he never tries to be a duke. He's always following you around like some damned servant, and he's more than that!"
"And in the halls, people are standing up for Winter now," Axel said. "Shit, I've heard a few say they wish they'd been born to that season. People actuallywantAspen as their queen, and she lets them! She fights for her people! She gives them something to be proud of, even if it's not as easy as going unnoticed."
"I heard a lot want to swear their fealty," Pascal said. "I mean, the jesters tried, and that put it in people's heads. Then that whole thing with Ms. Linden? Her magic changing like that, right in front of everyone?"
"That's what I mean!" Bran said. "Torian, you're good at punishing those who hurt Aspen's people, but you know what you suck at? Standing up for your own - because we're not all bad!"
"Some of us have been trying to show you that," Axel said.
And now my head was whipping back and forth, trying to watch all of them at the same time. "Ok, so what do you want?" I asked, mostly because I didn't know what else to say.
"See?" Bran huffed, tossing his arms up. "Our leadership is all shit!"
"Hey, hey, hey," Daivon said. "Torian's still a person. And you know what? I bet he didn't ask for this either."
"He didn't," Hawke said.
"No, let him finish," I begged.
Because I'd never thought about things like this. Bran was right. I'd been so focused on stopping my mother, saving Aspen, and getting this right that I'd never bothered to think about anyone else in my season, but I did have subjects. There werefae beneath me in the seasonal hierarchy. More than that, fae power was like a pyramid, but the more power we had, the more responsibility we got to go with it.
"Some of us are actually loyal to you, Torian," Axel said. "I mean, why do you think we're out here every day? Because we need to learn how to use a sword?"
"I... Uh..." I stared blankly for a moment before dropping my head in shame. "I thought you were trying to get special favors."
"It's what he knows," Aspen said, moving to my side. "Guys, my brother wasraisedby the Mad Queen. He's had, what, a year and a half of seeing normal people?"
"No shit?" Bran asked.
I nodded. "I was trapped. The Mad Queen may have kept me in a gilded prison, raising me to rule, yet I escaped. I came here because I didn't like what was there, but I've never seen anything else. I didn't get to watch the news, see movies, or any of that."
"He only learned what not to do," Keir said, offering me a reassuring nod.
"And yes," I admitted. "I was sure you four had some bigger plans. You wanted to find our weaknesses or something. I even wondered if you might be a part of this mess."
Bran stepped closer, right into my face. "I'm not." And he lifted a brow. "Am I lying, Torian? We both know you can hear the truth. Well, how's this? I hate the fuckers who are hurting my friends. I despise the idea of one season being the 'right' one, and I will fight to protect any fae, no matter how weak, which season, or anything else." His words rang completely true.
"Shit," Axel said, "Bracken's been training us to work with the Morrigan, Torian. The fucking Morrigan! You know, fighting for the people - of either season."
"Against the Hunt," I pointed out.
"Against threats," Axel corrected. "And sure, the Hunt has been the biggest one, but clearly it's not the only one. I didn't askto be Summer, but you know what? I'm also not ashamed of it. I happen to like my season. I just want to finally be able to beproudof it too."
"How?" I asked.
"Accept them," Pascal said. "Torian, having my queen recognize me? That feels good. I mean, isn't it the least you can do? Find those from Summer who you can be sure aren't trying to sabotage your one court idea and lift them up."
"I'd swear to you," Bran said almost shyly.
"Same," Axel agreed.
"Yeah," Daivon said. "I mean, I'm not big on courts, but - "
"Knight!" Jack cawed, sailing across the open room to land hard on Daivon's shoulder. "Knight!" he said again before looking over at Bran. "Prince." Then Axel. "Prince." But he had to twist his head to see Daivon while on his shoulder. "Knight!"
