ANDORRA FIDGETED in her seat. Princess Carling sat across from her, a pleasant smile on her face. If she turned her head slightly, she would be able to make eye contact with Coralia, but she was avoiding eye contact after what had happened with Roseria.

"My dear, I've heard a little bit of the rumblings happening around Anlithamy. And rumor has it that someone is trying to have you killed."

Should she be ashamed? Andorra wasn't sure, but it was shame that rushed through her.

"Yeah, that prick Anders. I swear, if I ever get the chance to get my hands on him..." Coralia mimicked strangling a neck. Princess Carling shot her daughter an exasperated look, but then turned back to Andorra.

"Prince Anders is who Anlithamy chose. But you don't need him."

Andorra knew this: Roseria had said the same thing. "I need the Golden Crown."

"Yes, but that isn't the only way. Did my daughter tell you about the Crown?" Princess Carling looked over at Coralia with a flat look. "You know what I say about talking of the olden age without present context."

Coralia put her hands up. "Don't blame me. Blame Roseria."

Princess Carling pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ah yes, Roseria." She settled her gaze back on Andorra. "Yes, you could search for the Golden Crown. Finding it would immediately put you on the throne without the acceptance of the Royal Counsel. However, I should warn you that no one has seen that crown since your parents. Finding it will be challenging, and there is another way. Not easier, but also not borderline impossible."

Andorra's mind swam as she tried to keep up. Sometimes, jumping feet first into a whole new world was confusing. She had so much to remember, and yet she continuously felt like she was falling behind.

"The Royal Counsel helps guide the next ruler after Cornomus makes the decision. They guided your parents, for example. After the sudden disappearance of your parents, Anlithamy had geared up for the newest leader. And I feel that you should know... Anlithamy had originally chosen Prince Puck."

Andorra flinched as if someone touched the back of her neck with ice. "Prince Puck? Is that why he hates me?"

Princess Carling waved her hand to dismiss the notion. "He doesn't hate you. Prince Puck follows the rules, and when Cornomus did not choose him, he declined. When Anlithamy found out that Cornomus had chosen you, they pivoted. Forcing you to marry in order to take the throne was a way to go around Cornomus's choice, but Prince Puck would never marry you just for the throne. Not when he strictly believes in the word of Cornomus."

Andorra tried to imagine what it would be like to marry a man like Prince Puck. For one, he was incredibly old - elderly compared to her - and second, that would be a loveless marriage. A dangerous marriage. And she would become Aihfie and Callum's step mother.

The thought made her recoil. "Uh, ew."

"The Royal Court currently has members who would like to see the current method of leadership fall. When your parents were named King and Queen, they lost belief in Cornomus to choose the right leaders. Which is why they've picked Anders to become King, despite the prophecy."

Andorra's head spun. She had never been a religious person when she was a human. She'd never stepped foot in a church. She'd never believed in God. And now, her entire life seemed to revolve around the fae god, who may or may not even exist.

"Tell me this. How did anyone even figure out the prophecy? Do people go to church here? I don't understand."

"The Prophet announces all messages from Cornomus. She is the direct link between our people and Cornomus. She had announced your birth, and your lineage. She also announced you to be Queen." Coralia was the one who chimed in, pulling out a chair to join them at the table. "She's one of the oldest creatures in Anlithamy."

Princess Carling pinned her daughter with a dark look. "And you shouldn't be speaking of her, unless you want to bare the wrath of her."

"Oh mom, c'mon. She can't hear this conversation. And even if she could... she can see the future. I'm not very afraid of her hunting us down."

"What if she wanted to pass along a fake message?" Andorra couldn't help but think that anyone claiming to have communication with a god would abuse that power.

"She can't. Any and all messages from Cornomus are written in the stars. We eventually hear the message after the Prophet has passed it along. She just gives it to us first, and in detail. She isn't to be messed with. Andorra, you need to understand that faeries do not act like humans. Sivelle is tens of thousands of years old. She would not be making up stories for entertainment. And if she heard you say that... let's just say you don't want to get on her bad side."

Andorra agreed with Carling; she didn't want to get on anyone's bad side.

"So... continue. What does the Royal Counsel have to do with becoming queen without Anders? Especially if they love Anders. I have to gain their favor, right?"

"Yes. It seems Roseria has a loose mouth. They can move you into the throne without Anders, but gaining their favor will be difficult. But not if you continue to train at school, and you continue to learn about Anlithamy."

Coralia nudged Andorra. "What about that true intentions potion that Roseria gave you?"

Andorra took out the vial and looked at it. She turned it over in her hand, wondering why Roseria would give it to her. What Roseria wanted her to use it for. Roseria seemed to dislike Anders, and if Andorra could get her people to agree, then becoming Queen would be easy.

"Anders wants to kill me. And I have a true intentions potion. What if I made Anders confess his plan to murder me in front of everyone? On my Coronation? Would that be enough to sway them?"

Princess Carling paused to think, her head tilting slightly to the side. "It could. But only if the people of Anlithamy fall in love with you, just as we have. Andorra, you need to show your people who you are. What your true heart desires. They need to trust you like they trusted your parents."

Andorra swallowed thickly. People had always hated her. Had always doubted her. But she needed to be strong, like she had been in those final moments in the human realm. When she'd taken all of the snow clan people over. When she'd defeated Noah's father.

She needed strength, and she needed hope.

* * *

"You're being awfully quiet. Well, maybe not more than usual, but something is bothering you." Coralia turned to look at Andorra with an inquisitive glance. "Is it what my mom said?"

Andorra and Coralia sat on a small wooden bridge that rose over a rushing river. Both girls were seated so that their legs dangled down towards the water, their arms resting on the guard rail. The sunset was high above them, burning the world and setting flame to the red leaves of the trees. It was a beautiful sight, maybe the most beautiful thing Andorra had ever seen.

But she wasn't enjoying it.

"What is a Rali?"

She'd heard Callum talk about it, but she wanted more information. She was ashamed to admit that she wanted to know about them because of Noah.

"They're protectors of the Winter Fae. Think of them like animals that can be called on a whim to protect. Most use them as protection, some use them as ways to spy and receive information. Some even have their Rali do their dirty work." Coralia eyed Andorra. "Why are you asking?"

"I saw Callum's Rali. And... and I think Prince Puck's. I was just curious. And I heard Cornomus had one as well. Does that mean he was once a winter fae?"

Coralia was quiet for a moment, her eyes trained on the sunset before them. It was unlike her to be quiet, so Andorra didn't interrupt the silence that she was met with. It was clear Coralia was being careful with her words.

"There are a lot of myths surrounding Cornomus. He was the most powerful fae to ever exist. Before him, it seemed that the fae were lawless creatures, scouring the world and killing everything in sight. We were like rabid animals. Cornomus though didn't want to live that way, thought we could be something. He made us into something by creating the society and civilization we get to enjoy today.

"He took the role of leader at the time, before Anlithamy was split into Courts. During his time, fae ran wild through Anlithamy, using their powers without finessing them. Cornomus set up the first court, the Royal Court, where he pulled one of each type of fae to join him. The first Royal Counsel, if you will. He set out to create a world for us, and he did just that. But, it is said that these evil creatures also roamed Anlithamy with us. These creatures called Daemonium."

"Wait!" Andorra stopped Coralia, flinging her hand up. "I know about them! They came to Earth. To kill me, or bring me back here, I don't really know. But I've seen them!"

Coralia whistled low. "And you're here to tell the tale... I think it's more concerning that someone has the power to resurrect them. They were destroyed when Cornomus died."

Andorra opened and closed her mouth. "Wait. You're telling me that Anlithamy didn't send them? To get me? Or to kill fae from Earth?"

"Well, I'm a kid. So what do I know? But I thought they were extinct."

Andorra felt a weird, unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach. But she had to ignore it, because if she didn't, then what did that mean? Someone was resurrecting evil creatures?

"So, Cornomus died... with them?"

"Well, in order to kill them all and destroy them, Cornomus used all of his power to seal them away. And when he did, he killed himself. And myth has it that Sivelle, the Prophet, had been there for his death. She tried to bring him back to life, tried to save him, but when it failed, she wrote him in the stars."

Wrote him in the stars. Whatever that meant. If Andorra ever met Sivelle, she would have to ask.

"And just like that, he became God?"

"Well, Sivelle could contact him. And after he had worked so hard to bring civilization to our people, they were devastated and lost by the news of his death. So when Sivelle announced that he existed in the stars and could communicate with her, they leaned into that. He was the leader, and they still wanted to follow him and his path. So, he appointed each member of his Royal Counsel to be in charge of their own Court. A space where fae with similar powers could work together and train. And he chose a leader of Anlithamy to help bring his words to life. And that is the story of Cornomus."

It was nothing like the story of God on Earth. It was startling to find out that the prophet, who still lived, had met him. Had known him.

"And he picked me. Told Sivelle that I was to be the next queen."

"Honestly Andy? I think it's because you're human. We are getting very horrible in our old ages. Some of the fae in charge have been in charge for centuries. Seeing you, and your human heart, is refreshing. Cornomus knows we need an outsider to help. And your parents, despite what some may think, were good people. Strong people. Smart people. They wanted a united Anlithamy. A world where we thrived instead of killed each other. And they gave birth to you. That goodness that Cornomus saw, he saw in you too."

Andorra leaned her head against her arms. She thought on that for a moment. "And he had a Rali?"

Coralia snorted. "I forgot you'd asked about that. Yeah, he did. He was a winter fae. His Rali was something called a firebird."

Andorra lifted her head immediately. "Wait. Like Flayre? Like, with the Rabium Bellua?"

"Yeah! Wait, you know about that?"

"From English. We're reading a book about it." Which... Andorra hadn't done the reading for yet. She would have to remember before class on Monday. "So his Rali was Flayre?"

"Yeah. Flayres can be a bad sign though. They have been seen as bad luck, or the first sign of losing yourself to addiction, or to personal demons. The Flayre shows up when you begin to lose yourself. That's the whole deal with the Rabium Bellua. She was approached by a Flayre, and when she tried to capture and tame the Flayre, she became a monster. She almost destroyed Anlithamy because of the firebird that lived inside of her, destroying her soul. It has been said that only Cornomus could tame a Flayre, as evidence by the fact that one was his Rali. But this doesn't stop fae from attempting to capture ones they come across. It's a deadly hunt."

A deadly hunt for a powerful firebird. "What is the benefit of capturing one then? If it kills you?"

"Power. They believe that capturing one will make you as powerful as Cornomus. Perhaps even make you into a god. But when the Rabium Bellua destroyed Anlithamy, it became a cautionary tale that the Flayre will kill you and society if you attempt to capture its power. Only fools are after the Flayre now."

Coralia stood up, stretching as the sun began to disappear behind the mountains. She held out a hand to Andorra, waiting for the Princess to take it. "C'mon. Let's go back home before people start to worry. I'm sure Callum is having a conniption because you aren't with momma."

The thought of Callum freaking out by her absence made Andorra smile. She took Coralia's hand to help pull herself up. "He deserves it. He was a real jerk earlier."

A jerk, but a jerk that tried to protect her. A jerk, but a jerk that was worried for her. And what did she do? Not listen and leave Princess Carling's home.

He was a worry wart for no reason. Andorra rolled her eyes thinking of his strange concern and worry for Andorra, even when she wasn't around Anders. But, as Andorra began to open the in-between, she made direct eye contact with a man standing about a hundred feet away, his arm holding a bow that was poised to shoot.

He was crouched low, against the side of a tree. There was absolutely nothing distinguishing about him that would tell her who he was if she had to recount this moment.

Right as she made eye contact, he let go of the arrow, aiming it right for her heart.