The faint hum of Sylvain’s portal had barely dissipated when I heard the sharp rap of knuckles against my chamber door. I turned, the weight of her words still heavy in my mind.

"Enter," I called, already dreading who it might be.

The door swung open, and Allyster stepped inside, his presence as commanding as ever. His golden hair caught the faint light of the room, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his yellow eyes. His expression was carefully neutral, but the tension in his shoulders and the subtle twitch of his jaw betrayed his unease.

"Who were you talking to just now?" he demanded, his tone laced with suspicion.

"Myself, since I’m not allowed to have friends," I replied evenly, crossing my arms as I moved to sit at the edge of my desk. "Did you need something, Allyster, or are we back to interrogating me for daring to breathe out of turn?"

His eyes narrowed, and he stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him with a deliberate click. "Don’t play coy with me, Ciara. I know someone was here. The wards on your chambers shifted."

Of course, he’d noticed. Allyster had always been hyper-vigilant, and nothing escaped his attention. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "If you must know, I was speaking to Sylvain. She asked about the alliance."

His expression darkened instantly, his carefully maintained mask cracking. "You let a dark fae into your chambers? Are you out of your mind? After everything—"

"After everything, what?" I snapped, cutting him off. "After they offered to help us while my council has done nothing but undermine me at every turn? At least Sylvain listens!"

Allyster’s gaze hardened, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "They’re manipulating you, Ciara. You’re playing right into their hands."

"Maybe I am," I shot back, my frustration bubbling over. "But at least they treat me like a queen, not some figurehead to be shuffled around and silenced whenever it’s convenient."

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his golden eyes blazing. "You don’t understand what you’re dealing with. The dark fae are dangerous, deceitful—"

"And you think you’re not?" I interrupted, my voice rising. "You and the council have done nothing but remind me of my inadequacies since the day I took the throne. If I’m such a terrible queen, why do you even bother pretending to care?"

For a moment, there was silence, thick and heavy between us. Allyster’s jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, his imposing figure towering over me.

"I bother because I swore an oath to protect you," he said, his voice low and fierce. "Even when you insist on making it damn near impossible."

I stared at him, my chest heaving with the weight of unshed tears. "Then protect me by letting me do what I believe is right. Let me lead in the way I see fit."

His laugh was bitter, almost mocking. "Lead? You think making reckless alliances with the dark fae is leading? You’re not thinking like a queen, Ciara. You’re thinking like a desperate girl trying to prove herself."

The words stung more than I cared to admit, but I refused to let him see the impact. "And maybe I am. But desperation doesn’t mean I’m wrong."

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as if searching for patience. "I won’t let you destroy yourself—or this kingdom—because of misplaced trust."

"You don’t have the right to make that decision for me," I said coldly. "I am the queen."

For a moment, he just stared at me, his frustration palpable. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.

The sound reverberated through the room, and I let out a shaky breath, sinking back against the desk. The weight of his words and Sylvain’s lingered, pulling me in two opposing directions.

I’m unsure how long I had been alone in my chamber. Time seemed to drag on, or maybe it flew by.

The knock at my chamber door was brisk and unyielding, the kind of knock that made my stomach sink. I knew who it was before he even spoke.

“Ciara, the council requires your presence,” Allyster announced, his voice muffled but firm through the heavy wood.

I sighed, setting down the book I hadn’t been reading and smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles from my gown. “Let me guess, they’ve decided they need to lecture me again?”

There was no reply, only the sound of the door creaking open as Allyster stepped inside. His expression was as unreadable as ever, but the tight set of his jaw told me this wasn’t just another routine summons.

“They’re waiting,” he said, his tone clipped. “Don’t keep them longer than you already have.”

“Charming,” I muttered under my breath, rising to my feet. I followed him out of my chambers, the click of my shoes against the marble floor the only sound as we made our way through the winding halls.

When we reached the council chamber, the atmosphere was already oppressive. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the long windows that cast streaks of late afternoon sun across the polished table. The council members were seated, their expressions varying from stoic to downright hostile.

“Take a seat, Your Majesty,” Hawke said, his voice dripping with a formality that felt more like a command than a suggestion.

I hesitated for a moment before sitting at the head of the table. Allyster remained by the door, his presence like a looming shadow behind me.

“We’ve called you here,” Hawke began, his hands folded neatly on the table before him, “to address the growing concerns about your recent decisions—or, more accurately, your inability to make sound ones.”

I bristled at his words, my hands clenching into fists beneath the table. “If this is about the alliance with the dark fae—”

“It’s about much more than that,” Rowan interrupted, his voice cold and detached. “Your frequent disregard for tradition, your impulsiveness, your willingness to gamble the future of this realm on foolish whims.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but Hawke held up a hand to silence me.

“We’ve deliberated extensively,” he continued, “and it’s become clear that the kingdom would be better served under... collective guidance.”

My stomach dropped as he slid a parchment across the table toward me.

“What is this?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to remain composed.

“It’s an agreement,” Hawke said, his tone maddeningly calm. “By signing it, you relinquish your title and authority to the council. In exchange, because of your lineage, you’ll be allowed to remain in the palace—nothing more.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared at the parchment, the neat rows of text blurring together as my mind raced.

“You want me to resign,” I said slowly, the weight of their betrayal settling over me.

“It’s what’s best for the kingdom,” Rowan said, his expression devoid of any sympathy.

“And if I refuse?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Hawke’s smile was cold. “Then we’ll have no choice but to force your cooperation.”

I looked around the table, searching for even a glimmer of support, but found none. Allyster’s face was a mask of neutrality, offering no indication of where he stood.

“You can’t do this,” I said, my voice rising with anger. “I am the queen. This is my realm, my birthright!”

“And you’ve proven incapable of safeguarding it,” Hawke replied, his voice sharp. “This is your chance to step aside gracefully, Your Majesty. Don’t make us force your hand. You have no magic or power and honestly don’t even know how to rule.”

I stared at the parchment again, the inked words taunting me. The weight of their expectations, their disdain, was suffocating.

“I won’t sign it,” I said finally, my voice trembling but resolute. “You’ll have to find another way to take what’s mine because I won’t give it to you.”

The room fell silent, the tension crackling like a live wire. Hawke’s expression darkened, and I saw Rowan’s jaw tighten.

“Very well,” Hawke said after a long pause, his tone cold and final. “Then you leave us no choice.”

Allyster’s grip on my arm was firm, his jaw set as he led me from the council chamber. I could feel the storm brewing in him, the tension radiating off him in waves. The humiliation of what had just happened still stung, but I forced myself to stay upright, my head held high despite the whirlwind of emotions tearing through me.

We didn’t even make it to the door before the sudden hum of magic filled the air, and before either of us could react, the shimmer of a portal materialized in the corridor ahead. Sylvain stepped out, her movements as smooth as water, her leather armor catching the dim light. She looked between Allyster and me, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief.

Several members rose to their feet, eyes wide with alarm, hands instinctively reaching for the hilts of ceremonial blades they didn’t dare draw.

“Oh, how delightful,” she drawled, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Did I interrupt something important?”

Allyster’s eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on my arm. “What are you doing here? This is none of your concern.”

Sylvain tilted her head, her expression mockingly thoughtful. “I could say the same about you manhandling your queen like she’s a wayward child. But then again, I hear subtlety was never your strong suit, was it?”

“Leave,” Allyster snapped, his voice like a whip. “You have no place here.”

Sylvain’s grin widened, and she took a deliberate step closer. “Oh, but I think I do. You see, I couldn’t help but overhear your little coup attempt. Very bold of you to try and unseat her. Do your council meetings always have such riveting drama?”

Allyster’s face darkened, his golden eyes blazing with fury. “This is a matter of the kingdom. Stay out of it.”

I glanced between the two of them, my head spinning. Sylvain’s sudden appearance had thrown Allyster off balance, and while I appreciated the distraction, I wasn’t sure how this would end.

Sylvain turned her gaze to me, her tone light but pointed. “And how are you, little light? I see they’re treating you just as poorly as ever.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Allyster cut me off. “She’s fine. She doesn’t need your interference.”

“Oh, is that what you call it? Fine?” Sylvain’s eyes glinted with mock amusement as she gestured to Allyster’s hand still gripping my arm. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks more like a hostage situation.”

Allyster released me abruptly, his expression a mask of barely contained rage. “You don’t belong here,” he growled. “And she will never belong there. We’ve made sure of it.”

Sylvain’s smirk faltered for the briefest moment, her eyes narrowing. “Is that so? How very... petty of you. What exactly are you afraid of, guardian? That she’ll thrive in the dark realm? That she’ll find where she truly belongs?”

“Enough!” Allyster’s voice echoed down the corridor. “Ciara is the Queen of Light, bound to this realm by blood. She will never be one of you.”

Sylvain’s gaze flicked to me, her expression unreadable. “That’s not your choice to make guardian.”

I felt their eyes on me, waiting for my response. My heart pounded as I took a shaky breath, stepping forward to meet Sylvain’s gaze. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned recently,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me, “it’s that I don’t belong to anyone but myself.”

Sylvain’s smile returned, softer this time, and she inclined her head in approval. Allyster, however, looked like he was ready to explode.

“This is far from over,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Sylvain raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Oh, I hope not. I’m just starting to enjoy myself.”

With that, she extended a hand toward me. “Shall we, little light? I have a feeling your presence is no longer appreciated here.”

The moment my foot moved toward the portal, the council chamber erupted in chaos. Allyster’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist to stop me. His golden eyes burned with fury as he pulled me back.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he said through gritted teeth. “You can’t just abandon your responsibilities for some dark fae fantasy.”

“Abandon my responsibilities?” I shot back, yanking my arm free. “You just tried to strip me of my title. What responsibilities do I even have left in your eyes, Allyster?”

The other council members began shouting, their voices overlapping in a roar of protests. Rowan looked pale, Hawke tense, and Astrid—well, Astrid’s expression was a mixture of anger and disbelief, her hand hovering near the hilt of her blade as if debating whether to intervene physically.

Sylvain, however, seemed entirely unbothered by the commotion. She raised one hand lazily, inspecting her sharp black nails with the air of someone terribly bored. Then, with a theatrical sigh, she clapped her hands together. The sound echoed like a thunderclap, silencing the room instantly.

“Oh, do calm yourselves,” she drawled, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “Your queen isn’t abandoning anything. In fact, I’d say she’s about to embrace her duties in a long overdue way.”

Allyster turned on her, his posture radiating barely contained rage. “You have no right to interfere in our affairs.”

Sylvain smiled, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief. “On the contrary, I believe I have every right, considering the... upcoming marriage.”

The room went deathly silent. Even I froze, blinking at her in disbelief. “He agreed?” I stammered.

Sylvain turned to me with an exaggerated look of surprise. “Oh, did I forget to tell you he accepted? My apologies. I also assumed your council had already been informed. You see,” she said, her gaze flicking back to Allyster, “while your queen and I are away, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare for the royal wedding.”

The council erupted again, this time louder and more chaotic than before. Allyster’s face was a mask of fury as he stepped forward, towering over Sylvain. “You dare—”

“I dare,” Sylvain interrupted smoothly, her tone deceptively pleasant. “And don’t bother protesting. Written correspondence will arrive shortly with a list of accommodations and expectations. Your cooperation is... well, let’s say it’s highly encouraged.”

Astrid’s hand finally moved to her sword. “This is an outrage!” she spat. “You can’t just whisk her away and claim she’s to be married!”

Sylvain arched an eyebrow, her calm demeanor unshaken. “Oh, I can. And I will. Your queen has made her decision. It’s about time the lot of you accepted that.”

Before anyone could react further, Sylvain reached out and gently took my arm, guiding me toward the shimmering portal. I glanced back, meeting Allyster’s furious gaze one last time.

“This isn’t over,” he snarled.

Sylvain smirked, her voice dripping with amusement. “Oh, I certainly hope not. Drama makes everything so much more entertaining.”

Before anyone could move to stop us, we vanished into the portal, the hum of magic swallowing us whole. Leaving the council—and their futile protests—behind.