Song: you should see me in a crown - Billie Eilish

I stayed in the study watching the sunrise behind the mountains of Kingstown through the windows.

I watched the sleepy city hundreds of feet below come to life with the sun. Eventually, the sprites in the night gave way to the sun and with it the city bustle. I heard the common city noise-- the voices of people as they woke, the cars as they went about their morning. The boats and ships docked in the harbor and I imagined most were fishermen bringing in the day's haul.

It almost seemed normal.

I watched families meet and children dance and run around a fountain near the gates of the Keep. I could hear their loud laughter despite being so high up.

I smiled as I watched a little boy and girl hold hands and splash each other in the fountain.

I heard someone's pounding footsteps approach the room. Knowing it was one of only two people, I didn't turn.

"Oh, you're awake. Good." Asmo cleared his throat. "I was going to take the box to breakfast for you to sign the parchment."

"I signed it hours ago," I only said, resting my head against the pillar I leaned against. "It's in the box. It's ready."

There was barely a moment's hesitation. "Good." He chuckled. "You can't imagine how popular this particular law is. Vyssen has been on me for days about it."

"Hmm," I answered as I watched the city. "Weddings are a wonderful occasion."

"This will be the biggest party in decades. The Council is paying close attention to this wedding as is everyone else."

I took a drink from the tea in my hands. "Faeries are known for their parties," I repeated quietly. I smiled watching the children run back to the buildings near the fountain. "What's Kingstown like? I want to see it one day."

I heard him approach but he maintained his distance, not crossing to behind the desk where I was. "Busy. Very much how Paris was like when we visited. My apartment is near a block full of very well known restaurants. It attracts faeries even from the other queendoms since Warren came into power. The nightlife, however, is relatively quiet."

"I prefer the quiet."

"I will take you one day." After a moment, he spoke again. "The man from the cabin. He's been laid in one of the rooms downstairs. When you're ready I can take you."

My eyes didn't tear from the children below. "Did you know that I don't remember anything from before I went to my human parents? I walked out of the woods on my own and found them. I made them my parents. They don't even know how old I was." I smiled as the boy splashed the girl with water from the fountain again. "I want to believe that I probably had a care-free childhood like those kids down there." I shrugged. "Maybe we all did. Sometimes I wonder if they saw what would happen coming or only a few did and warned the others. I always wondered if I would ever meet someone that would tell me the answers, that would tell me why I survived but the others didn't." I sighed. "No one in any of the parties ever talks about it, or even ask me about it."

"They're all ashamed of what they participated in. Looking at you reminds them of their shame."

I turned to look at him. "Including you?"

His eyes didn't waver. "Yes, including me. I participated until Robyn's plans expanded to all of the Light fae. Despite what people think of me, I will not kill the innocent. That's when I told Warren. He had isolated himself in his home in the mountains after his wife's death, he had no idea. He was the only true heir and the only one that could command Robyn's opposing forces."

I looked away. "Was it Tenebrous that gave Robyn the idea to kill the rest of the Light fae?"

"No one knows except him."

I sighed, looking back at the mountainside as I rested my head against the pillar again. "The man in the cabin-- the very last thing he said was Tenebrous. I think they're the ones responsible for what happened to him and the girl." I paused. "Since Chelie came here, have you or the guard learned anything new?"

I heard him sigh. "No. The journals are useless, the men that were captured won't talk. Conventional methods are not working."

I peeled myself from the window and turned fully to him. I didn't flinch as I spoke, steeling my resolve. "I want to speak to them. Their leader, whichever one it is."

Asmo was already shaking his head. "He won't speak to you, Emylin."

"I will make him."

He tilted his head as he watched me. I could see curiosity in his dark eyes. A small smile quirked his lip.

"Do you think he'll be afraid to see the queen of the Underworld, a light fae, holding his life in her hands?"

He chuckled and I could see him attempting to hide a devious smile, looking towards his shoes. "Why, Emylin, that would be absolutely blasphemous."

"Good," I said as I began to leave the room. "Bring him to the throne room in half an hour. I want answers." I stopped and turned to him. "Don't tell Damien."

I was able to find the vaults of the Keep on my own. I walked in, picked the tiara Perri always chose for me and walked out. It was small and perfect with stones that resonated with power that hummed through my fingers when I touched them. They were purple and green and blue with other colors I couldn't quite place. They sat on the obsidian metal that seemed to absorb all the light around it.

I wonder if my ring was made from the same material.

I dressed into one of the dresses Perri had picked for me once. It was all black with more leg exposed than I was used to. The long sleeves were lace, the ends of which wrapped around my middle finger and thumb giving them a gloved look. The lace wrapped around my arms but stopped at my shoulders, exposing them. A dark black corset hugged my middle meeting the lace that decorated my collarbone.

I put on the tallest black heels I could find and let my hair down naturally, fitting the tiara on top to pinch my hair away from my face.

I tried to emulate how Perri would dress me for the parties. I even applied eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lipstick. I would always shy away from the extravagance of the details. I never wanted to draw attention, I hated it.

But now I embraced it.

I wouldn't be timid anymore. For the first time, I would own the title Damien gave me.

Because I earned it.

My heart skipped a beat as I watched myself in the mirror before leaving my room. I didn't look like myself. I really did look like I fit the role.

I owned the title as I made my way down the throne room. My heels echoed in the large, empty space as I made my way down the long aisle to the large thrones. The larger of the two thrones beckoned me to it, it called my magic.

And my magic responded. I could feel it singing in my veins, giddy and excited to be made whole again.

Asmo waited for me on the left of the larger one, his arms crossed over his chest. A small smile hinted his lips as I approached.

"I don't want to hear how ridiculous I look," I said as I took my seat on the larger throne.

My throne.

My hands flexed over the arms of the throne as I reveled in the way my magic seemed to answer its call.

Why had I avoided it for so long? It felt so natural.

He chuckled deeply. "On the contrary, I would say you fit the role perfectly. You were born to be queen." His hand took my chin gently, tilting it in his direction. My eyes found his and my breath caught when I saw the intensity in his gaze. "I will bow to no one else, Emylin. You are my queen."

I swallowed, lifting my chin out of his reach, uncomfortable with his words and actions. My heart hammered in my chest. I wanted to laugh and cry at his words. I never thought I would find myself in the situation where I would embrace being queen with Asmo, of all people, at my side.

I looked ahead of me and exhaled slowly, relaxing on the throne. "Send the prisoner in."