"Now that we’re on the same page," Annequin said, "I was hoping you might permit me to remain here a while longer. To observe, to understand the ways of the Free Fae. Progress between allies begins with familiarity, after all. And when you choose to visit Astaria, you would be afforded the same courtesy."
She paused, then added lightly, "As I mentioned, this is also a rare opportunity for me to rest from the endless demands of my people."
Queen Seraphira hesitated, her fingers tapping lightly against the rim of her goblet as she considered the request. Understanding Annequin a little did not mean trusting her. If anything, the longer the Queen of Astaria spoke, the more Seraphira sensed how much was being deliberately left unsaid.
Annequin noticed the hesitation immediately.
"You still don’t trust me," she said.
Seraphira did not answer. She lifted the goblet to her lips instead and took a slow sip.
Annequin released a weary sigh. "Then let’s do this another way. I’ll swear an oath."
That got Seraphira’s attention.
"Oaths among the Fae are binding," Annequin continued. "We can swear it to your goddess. I believe that should be sufficient."
The goblet hit the table with a dull thud.
"Before we do that," Seraphira said, "there is something I want to know."
Annequin tilted her head. "Oh?"
"What is your ability?"
There it was.
"Excuse me?" Annequin asked.
"You heard me," Seraphira replied, her voice firm, and unyielding. "Show me your gift."
The air between them tightened as power pressed against power. For a long moment, neither queen moved, neither willing to yield ground.
Then Annequin exhaled.
"Fine," she said, pushing herself to her feet. "But there’s one thing."
Seraphira’s eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Don’t scream."
A scowl immediately crossed Seraphira’s face as she straightened, her instinct sharpening. If this was a threat, she would meet it head-on.
Annequin walked several steps away, creating distance between them. She rolled her shoulders once, as if loosening tension she’d been carrying for far too long, then drew in a deep breath.
The first thing Seraphira noticed was the sudden drop in temperature.
The air became biting cold, raising gooseflesh along her arms. Oh. A winter Fae. Seraphira realized it at once, her gaze flicking to Annequin’s blue hair, now seeming darker, and deeper.
Then the shadows came.
They poured out of Annequin like smoke, thick and rolling, swallowing the Faelight as they spread across the room. The darkness itself was unsettling—but it wasn’t what sent fear clawing up Seraphira’s spine.
It was the eyes.
Glowing red. Dozens of them.
No, more than dozens.
The shadows shifted, taking form, rising into shapes that breathed and watched and waited for command. This was not a single beast, but many. A legion.
Seraphira shot to her feet, her chair scraping sharply against the floor as she stumbled back, her heart hammering. Power gathered instinctively at her fingertips, but for the first time in years, it felt thin.
"Goddess have mercy..." she whispered, her voice barely sound as she stared into the abyss staring back at her.
Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the shadows recoiled.
The red eyes vanished one by one as the darkness folded inward, retreating into Annequin’s body with frightening ease.
Then the room returned to normal, warmth seeping back into the air. And silence reclaimed the space.
Annequin stood there calm, and cautious. She carefully watched Seraphira who remained frozen, her pulse roaring in her ears, and the image of those watching eyes burned into her mind.
Her confidence made sense now.
Queen Annequin was not afraid of harm coming to her, not when she carried an army within her. If it came down to a direct confrontation, Seraphira honestly didn’t know who would win—and that realization unsettled her deeply.
Finally, Annequin spoke. "I didn’t want to show you that until you trusted me at least a little." She tilted her head, studying Seraphira. "Although you handled it better than most. Others usually run screaming, calling me a monster." She clicked her tongue, oddly amused. "Or perhaps this is just a delayed reaction and you’ll still chase me out of your kingdom."
She seemed entirely content with either outcome.
"How—?" Seraphira began, still reeling.
Annequin raised a brow. "You mean how my parents managed to create a creature like me?" she asked casually, as though they were discussing weather. "Well, for starters, my father is an extremely powerful winter Fae who was turned into a Dark Fae at birth. Long story." She waved a hand dismissively. "My mother, on the other hand, is half Fae, half human—and she shares her body with a demon."
She smiled faintly. "So you can imagine what happens when two beings like that procrastinate. They give birth to me — the impossible."
Seraphira stared at her, speechless.
Annequin added quickly, "And that’s just me. My siblings actually got the better end of the deal."
"You have siblings?" Seraphira asked, genuinely stunned.
Annequin nodded. "My mother is half human, which means she isn’t limited by the Fae’s reproductive difficulties." Her tone was dry. "Both my parents are currently on a mission to repopulate the extinct Dark Fae line. At present, they’ve produced thirty-five children."
She clapped once, slow and ironic. "Congratulations to them."
Seraphira felt her temples throb. Goddess help her.
"They’ve had several centuries to manage it," Annequin continued. "Which is why the throne was handed to me while they continue their little project."
That was it.
Seraphira turned back to the table, poured herself a drink, and downed it in one gulp. Then she poured another. And drank that too.
She reached for a third only to find the goblet empty.
"Goddess," she muttered. "I need more wine."
Just when Seraphira thought she had it bad, it turned out someone else had a far worse story.
Annequin asked innocently, "So, am I still swearing the oath, or should I pack my troublesome ass and leave your kingdom, Queen of the Free Fae?"
Seraphira squeezed her eyes shut. She prayed to the goddess she hadn’t just invited catastrophe into her realm.