“None of this was up to probability. It was predestined. I don’t think there’s anyone in this room that believes all of this was accidental.”
“What are you suggesting?” Lunelle asked.
Astra set her face, mimicking her mother’s queenly mask she’d studied her whole life.
“I’m suggesting that we do what none of you could for thirty years. We tell people the truth. And we do it quickly. We make a bold declaration and topple the Lunar Court. Rebuild it from the ground up. Show the other courts what’s possible, and tell them exactly what’s preventing them from all living much better lives... maybe we wouldn’t need Solan’s buy-in at all. If enough Solarians knew the truth, maybe that’s all it takes. You said yourself, we’re the stewards of the Living Courts’ sentiments… if we rebelled… wouldn’t that spread like wildfire amongst the human realms?”
Oestera’s gaze held hers from across the table, a tangle of complex colors weaving into a tapestry she’d have to learn to read.
“We bear a responsibility to the Living Courts to be thoughtful, but revolutions do not come without bloodshed. You’re the queen now,” she said, her tone strong despite a nervous current rising over her shoulders. “For however long you decide to hold the title. You tell us what to do, and we’ll do it.”
A thrill rose in Astra’s chest, alluring—not at all the fear she expected to feel.
“I want all the Nova chapter leaders assembled immediately,” she said, looking to Maeve and Alastair.
Alastair’s lips twisted into a satisfied smirk. “Right away, Your Highness.”
As he exited the room, Maeve hot on his trail, Astra fell back into a chair near her mother, crossing her ankles and stretching her arms.
“Mother?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Who in the Nether is Alastair?”
Oestera’s eyes closed softly, a choked laugh escaping from her chest as she turned to Lux. A lapis sadness pooled in her eyes.
“I am so sorry, Luxuros. I feel we’ve handed you an endless parade of life-altering news over the last day and I’m sure you’re reeling, but you should know this, too. When your father was younger—before he met your mother, before he met Leona—he was attached to a Jovian dignitary, a young woman named Naomi. She presided over one of Jupiter’s moons and, though she was not a demigoddess, she practiced very similar Lunar customs. Humans rarely realize how powerful they actually are, and Lucian would not hear of it. He felt she polluted the Solar Court with her intuitive abilities. So he sent her away.
“None of us knew about Alastair until The Flare. He was one of the Jovian courtiers lost in the Rift. He didn’t know the truth about his lineage until his Ascension, and I believe my mother used his powers to her advantage after severing her tie to Lucian. He had been a young recruit of the original Nova rebellion, and when he arrived in the Court Above, he immediately contacted us. We’ve been working together since.”
Astra shook her head. “So Alastair is... he’s?—”
“He’s my half-brother.” Lux nodded as if this made the most sense in the world.
“Yes,” Oestera murmured, patting his hand. “We don’t believe Solan knows of his birth, but we’ve never been able to confirm it. His abilities with dreams have been extremely useful to us as we’ve bided our time.”
Astra felt a blush creep over her, her eyes flickering over Lux’s face.
“Is that what caused all the dreams? His meddling?”
“What dreams?” Nayson asked, his interest piqued.
Luxuros shook his head, eyes still glued to the table.
“No dreams,” he muttered, his throat closing around yet another secret.
Lunelle’s quiet giggle beside her was all the answer Astra needed, but she clarified anyway.
“I think every Tethered couple has those dreams, As.” She cast a longing stare toward Mirquios who looked about as mortified as Lux did.
“Ah, of course,” Astra cleared her throat. “Ameera? Should we prepare for the Nova Captains’ arrivals? I think... you’re in charge of that sort of thing now?”
Her eyes slipped toward her mother, who nodded subtly.
“Right away,” Ameera grinned, unable to hide her excitement as she bounded from the room.
“If I could have the room, I think the commander and I have a few things to discuss,” Astra said.
