“Ciara.”

The voice came from the shadows near the corner, and I turned to find Astrid standing there, arms crossed over her chest, her expression dark. I hadn’t even realized she was there—she had been so quiet, her presence so still. But now, she looked furious. Her eyes, usually so gentle, were narrowed with disappointment.

“What the hell were you thinking?” she snapped, her tone sharp as she approached. “Leaving Ember in the square like that. Leaving with no protection. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”

“I didn’t—” I started, but Astrid held up a hand, cutting me off.

“Don’t. Don’t even try to justify it, Ciara. You’re the queen. You can’t just run off into the unknown like that. You left everyone behind, and now look at the mess you’ve made.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Astrid’s glare silenced me before I could speak.

“You think you’re the only one working to keep our people safe? Do you think you’re the only one who cares? We’ve all been doing everything we can to protect our people—” She shook her head in disgust. “You make one stupid decision, and it risks everything.”

I flinched, feeling the sting of her words. The guilt gnawed at me, and for a brief moment, I regretted my impulsiveness. But at the same time, the anger in me flared again.

“Then what do you expect me to do, Astrid?” I snapped, walking toward her. “Sit here and twiddle my thumbs while you all decide what’s best for me? I need to do something. I need to make choices, even if they’re hard.”

“You need to think before you act,” she shot back, her voice low but heavy with frustration. “Not just for yourself, but for all of us. You're not just some... some child anymore, Ciara. You're the queen. Start acting like it.”

The weight of her words hung in the air like a suffocating fog. She was right. I wasn’t a child and needed to stop acting like one.

I dropped my gaze, letting out a shaky breath. “I know. I just… I didn’t think.”

“Clearly,” she muttered, the edge of her anger softening but still present.

I clenched my fists, the weight of everything pushing down on me. “I’m sorry, Astrid. I didn’t mean to be so reckless. But I can’t just sit here and do nothing anymore. I have to make a difference.”

Astrid’s gaze softened just slightly, her arms uncrossing. She moved closer, her voice quieter now. “I know you want to make a difference, Ciara. But you can’t do it alone. And you can’t do it if you don’t listen to the people who are trying to protect you.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but I closed it again. The truth of her words settled inside me like a bitter pill.

With a final sigh, Astrid turned to leave. “You will have posted guards around the clock. Don’t try to leave again. If you do… I will personally make sure you never leave this room again.”

She pounded on the door, and the outer guard let her out. And with that, was gone. The silence in the room was deafening. I was locked in my chambers, the weight of my decisions hanging over me like a dark cloud. Would I be able to fix this? Would anyone trust me again after everything I’d done?

The thought gnawed at me, and I sank onto the edge of my bed, my head in my hands. The anger, frustration, and guilt were all too much. I had no idea how to fix the mess I’d created.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door as if willing to open it to offer me some escape from the suffocating silence. The heavy lock that had been placed on my door felt like a cruel reminder of the mess I had made, of how far I had fallen in the eyes of those who should have been my allies. Every so often, Dierdre would bring me food, her eyes full of pity but her lips sealed tight, never saying a word about what was happening outside my room. She left me in peace, though, and in some twisted way, I was grateful for that.

I hadn’t seen anyone else since Astrid’s sharp words—I hadn’t heard much from them. My thoughts consumed me, dragging me further into a spiral of frustration and regret. What had I expected? That they would let me make alliances with the dark fae without hesitation? Of course, they wouldn’t. I had acted rashly, driven by impulse, and now I was paying for it.

When Allyster arrived midway through the next day, I sat at the small table, pushing the remnants of my breakfast around with a fork. His appearance, looming in the doorway, felt like the inevitable moment when everything would come crashing down around me. I stood slowly, preparing myself for whatever tirade he had ready. His expression was cold, his jaw tight with suppressed anger.

“It’s time,” he said flatly, his eyes not meeting mine. “The council is waiting.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the words got caught in my throat. There was nothing to say. I had already made my bed and had to lie in it.

The walk to the council chambers felt like an eternity. The heavy silence between us was deafening, but it wasn’t until we reached the doors that I truly felt the weight of what was coming. Allyster didn’t even knock. He just swung the doors open with a force that made the room tremble.

The council room fell silent as we entered, the faces of the members turning toward me with varying degrees of disdain, disappointment, or neutral curiosity. Rune was sitting at the head of the table, his expression unreadable as usual, but there was a hardness in his eyes when they met mine. Always the skeptic, Hawke sat off to the side, his arms crossed in a guarded posture. Rowan was there, though he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else but in this room.

Allyster strode in, his presence filling the space like a thunderstorm. He didn’t waste time. His eyes snapped to mine, a flicker of contempt in them. “You wanted to speak of an alliance with the dark fae. You’ve had your time to think. Now we discuss this foolishness.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. But the tension in the room made it difficult to breathe, let alone speak. I had made a mistake, I knew that, but I wasn’t going to let them dismiss my voice so easily. “We need allies. The dark fae are powerful, and if we’re to have any hope of holding our position—”

“You have no understanding of the dark fae,” Rune interrupted, his voice like ice. “They are not to be trusted. Do you truly think they’ll offer us anything more than betrayal? The blood of our people is not a currency you can barter with.”

I bristled, my heart pounding in my chest. “I know the risks. But we cannot continue to live in fear, Rune. If we do nothing, we’ll be crushed under the weight of it all.”

Rune’s gaze narrowed, his lips thinning. “You are a child, Ciara. You cannot even protect yourself, let alone your people.”

I could feel the heat of shame creeping up my neck, but I stood my ground. “I’m the queen, Rune. And I will make decisions that I believe are in the best interest of my people. If you cannot accept that—”

“You’re not the ruler we need,” Hawke cut in, his voice quiet but firm. “You’re a figurehead, Ciara. That’s all you will ever be unless you unlock your magic. I’m not saying I disagree with your position, but you are not the one to lead us through this. Not like this.”

My chest constricted as his words hit me like a physical blow. I wanted to argue, to scream, but the reality of what they were saying was sinking in. Allyster wasn’t done. He stepped forward, his eyes hard as stone. “If Drakaris ever returns to this realm again, I will kill him myself. He is a threat to this kingdom, and you—” He pointed at me, voice dripping with disdain. “You are a liability. You are not a ruler. We need someone strong to lead us. And you, Ciara, have proven you’re not that.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. The words hit harder than any blow. The silence in the room was suffocating. I had expected resistance, sure, but not this complete rejection. They didn’t want me to lead. They didn’t believe in me.

I wanted to argue. To fight. To tell them I was more than a figurehead. But the words got stuck in my throat. Instead, I stood there, feeling the crushing weight of their condemnation.

Rowan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice softer but still resolute. “I think we’ve said enough. The decision is made.” He turned toward me, his expression almost apologetic. “We don’t trust the dark fae, Ciara. Not now, not ever.”

And just like that, it was over. My plea for an alliance with the dark fae had been dismissed. My authority as queen had been questioned. They had decided what was best for the kingdom, and I… I was nothing more than a title.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. “Then what am I supposed to do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Rune’s cold gaze met mine, his lips curling into a faint sneer. “You will do as you are told. And stay out of our way.”

I wanted to fight. To scream. But I couldn’t. They had made their decision. And I was left to pick up the pieces of a broken dream.

The words hit like a slap across the face. Before I could say anything, everyone was already leaving the council room.

The air inside the chamber was stifling. It felt like my world was unraveling. They’re blatant disregard for my position. I needed space without thinking. I reached the door before Astrid was beside me with a spear in hand.

“Your Majesty, I must insist on you returning to your chambers,” Astrid’s voice was firm, her eyes as cold as Allyster’s was.

I hesitated, looking into Astrid’s unwavering gaze. “Astrid, please. I need to be alone for a moment. To clear my head.”

She didn’t waver, keeping her stance resolute. “I cannot allow you to wander off unguarded, especially after the recent events.”

Knowing I couldn’t dissuade her, I nodded in defeat. “Fine, but give me some space. I need some air.”

The weight of the decision made in the council room is still heavy on my shoulders. My thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. Astrid walked a few paces behind me, her presence feeling like a silent judgment.

I spent the remainder of the day locked away in my chambers.