"...what?"
It seemed reasonable. My father had been imprisoned for trying to help humanity, even if his good intentions had led to catastrophe. But he'd meant well.
Ciaran leaned forward, eyes urging me to say yes. This was why he'd given me the key. I grimaced, realizing I'd taken his gift too easily, thinking it was to free my friends. But this? This was bigger. The question was: what did he stand to gain?
"Bad idea, Madeline," Luke said, his voice hard. "Your father might cause another disaster."
"He will? Aisa's been after me this whole time!"
Luke sighed. "I see that now. I can't forgive her if she's responsible for Brigid's death... or becomes responsible for yours." He gave me a look full of his love. "You mean more to me than my faith in Duir. But my obligations make it hard to turn my back on Duir."
"Luke, these Edentrees are like Greek godsâflawed. Are you really siding with someone against me just because they're powerful?"
"I spent my life worshiping her, Madeline. But you are my Elect, and I will serve you." He took my hands, pressing a kiss to them.
"I can't make you give up your beliefs, but these Edentrees are not gods. They're just as flawed as we are."
"I never claimed to be a god," my father interrupted.
I turned to him. "No? You've meddled with humans plenty."
"Only to help them. So many others have powerâhumans should have a chance too." The Straif shrugged then continued, "Change is a messy thing, Daughter. Not everyone desires it. But change and choice are necessary, are they not?"
I glanced at Dominic and Adrian. "What do you guys think?"
Dominic smiled. "I get difficult dads, Matt. I'll back you if you free him, but I understand if you don't."
Adrian crossed his arms. "Seems like everyone wants something from you, but what do you get out of this?"
"That's a brilliant question, Adrian." Then I looked at Ciaran. "Is this the bargain I made when you gave me the key?"
Ciaran walked toward me and went down on one knee. I fidgeted, my heart skipping a beat as I processed the sight of someone as ancient as Ciaranâolder than rocks, older than history itselfâkneeling before me like I held all the stars in the sky. His hands were warm as he took mine, pulling me closer until he pressed my fingers against his cheek. The gesture, so intimate and vulnerable, made something inside me quiver.
"I can't deny it," he whispered. "However, you have all the power here, Madeline. You can name your price."
I stared at him, torn between the pull of his words and the chaos inside me. The memory of that night, when our energies had collided, rose unbidden in my mind. I remembered how his energy had felt, so raw, so electric, fusing with mine like two rivers finally meeting, their currents swirling together in a burst of light and heat. I'd wanted to stay in that place, and I found it almost ludicrous that he thought I had the power when a touch from him could drive me to my knees.
"What's in it for you, Ciaran?" My voice was steady, but beneath it, I felt like I was treading on the edge of a cliff.
"Freedom. Children. Love. None of these things are possible while things remain as they are. I want them, and I want to stay by your side."
The words sent a ripple through me. I thought of the energy that now burned inside meâthe remnants of that night with Ciaran, Brin, and Noc. The lights nestled in my chest, so unfamiliar, yet alive, pulsing faintly. I remember how Ciaran said Trees had children. And now... those sparks of energy were joined with more lights I'd taken from my companions while I was poisoned.
I looked at my companions, and how they had not wanted to be away from my side, wondering what had really happened between us all.
And now, Ciaran's wish. Freedom. Children. Love.
Freedom and love, I wanted those too.
But children? Could I give him that? Did I even want that?
The thought of having a child with Ciaran already made me feel like I was standing on the edge of something massive, something I wasn't sure I could face. But the idea that I might carry the possibility of children from every connection, every spark of life from my companions... that was a whole new kind of fear.
"And?" I pressed, trying to wipe the thought of the possibility that I wouldn't just have his child from my mind.
His smile faded. "I did hope to be your royal consort. I wanted to gain power over Duir's court and free my realm. But I couldn't force you now, even if I wanted to."
Ciaran had been desperate enough to offer me a blank check, handing me control over him with almost reckless abandon. That kind of desperation spoke volumes. And in that moment, it struck me just how deeply entangled I was with these men, how each connection was a potential thread to my futureâone I couldn't untangle, even if I tried.
I turned to my other companions, searching their faces for answers. Adrian was watching me closely, his eyes steady and knowing. He understood. He knew what was churning inside me. Of course he did. He could read my mind, and we'd already talked about it.
"I'm with you Ace... through whatever." He gave me a small smile, and I felt strengthened by it.
"Whatever you decide, I trust you," Jeanne said softly, placing a hand over her heart as if to reassure me that my decision, however difficult, would be right. I wondered if it was possible that I could create a life even with Jeanne.
Beth's voice followed, calm but firm. "Just... word your bargain carefully," she cautioned, her eyes lingering on me as if sensing the turmoil beneath my surface.
My thoughts were more mixed that I might have Beth's child. We weren't exactly friends.
Erick's agreement came quickly, nodding in solidarity with Beth. He knew what stakes were at play. They all did.
And Erick. The man who was my first love, but now by betrayer. I could possibly have his child. The thought twisted my insides. I definitely wasn't ready for that no matter how much progress we made in mending our differences.
Then there was Brin, who looked up at me like I was something larger than life. "You're a goddess in my eyes," he said, bowing low. "You've accomplished so much in such little time. I do not know how to make your choice easier, My Lady."
"Goddess?" A bitter laugh almost escaped me. If only he knew. I wasn't a goddess. I wasn't anything close to that. I was barely keeping it together, barely keeping my fears from swallowing me whole. Poor Brin. I'd sought to give him freedom when I rescued him from the streets. But now he was tied to me. "Sheesh, Brin. I'm definitely no goddess. But thanks for the ego boost."
How had I ended up here? And how was I supposed to carry this much responsibility? Could I make the right choiceâany choiceâwithout dooming us all?
After what felt like an eternity, I finally spoke, forcing my voice to remain steady, even though I felt like my insides were trembling apart. "Here's the deal. First, Ciaran, you keep your vows to me. Second, neither you nor Straif can meddle with humans, harm me, or betray me."
The words felt like chains, binding not just them, but me too, locking me into something I wasn't sure I could escape.
"Done," they both agreed quicklyâtoo quickly.
I pulled the key from my backpack and inserted it into the throne. The black stone crumbled away, and my father stood, stretching.
He itched a spot on his hip and said, "I have had that infernal itch for eighteen years. For that mercy alone, Daughter, I owe you so much."
I smirked despite myself. My father had been imprisoned for eighteen years, and the first thing he focused on was scratching an itch. Meanwhile, I was drowning in the weight of my decisions, burdened by fear, by responsibility, by the uncertainty of what lay ahead. He had been freed, and I felt more trapped than ever.
With a shake of my head, I took off the dragon ring I'd put on before I left for the trial. It seemed like an acceptable gift for the man who helped to bring me into the world, who helped to give the Trees possibilities to continue. Despite my fears, the idea that the Trees could be saved gave me a bit of comfort. "Here, father."
He laughed as he took it. "Oh, Daughter. If it were not for my bargain, I would have greedily accepted this gift, but, it should belong to you. I will have the lunantisidhe make it prettier and give it to you shortly."
He was true to his word, and I had a beautiful new ring on my right finger. I admired the detail the lunantisidhe put into the upgrade. Its scales were raised and numerous, and it had tiny, serrated teeth. The ring appeared to be made of gold but had a blue sheen to it. As I wore it, it felt warm on my finger, almost like fires were banking in the little dragon. Luke looked down at it puzzled."I don't recall that being among your mother's jewels."
"It wasn't; I found it in my room." I slid my eyes away from him, hoping he'd not press. It wouldn't be a good idea for him to know that my birds were little kleptos. I might need their sneakiness later.
He continued to look at it but didn't press, thank goodness. "I've never seen that before anywhere in the mansion."
"Never?" I looked at the ring with more interest. If he'd never seen it before, I wondered who it belonged to. Maybe I was being stupid, keeping it on my finger. I was about to take it off, but Jeanne stopped me.
"No, My Lady, I have a feeling it will be lucky. I have a gift with that sort of thing."
Right. She was a leprechaun. "Okay then..." I put it back on, and then looked up at my father. "Do you know about the earrings I'm wearing? My mother gave them to me."
My father rose from his throne and walked down the steps towards me. As he got closer, his eyes lit up with wonder. "The Chrysaor was the golden sword of Sir Artegall. It also had another name, the Claimh Solais, which once belonged to King Nuada of the Fae. If you put those earrings together, they become that sword, and any you give it to becomes a ruler."
"No kidding?" I said as I touched my earrings.
"I'm too old to kid."
I removed the earrings and touched them together. Nothing happened. "How do I get them to work?"
"You have to have someone in mind to give it to, and you have to know the incantation." My father was staring at them hungrily. "I do so wish that you could give it to me, but it traditionally goes to your royal consort."
"It does, does it?" I narrowed my eyes at them. A sword that gave someone sovereignty. Perhaps the bid to be my royal consort wasn't just for me.
I set my doubt aside for now and asked, "So when do I go to the Emperor of Tears' castle so I can go get that coin?"
Ciaran and my father smiled at me. "This is the Emperor of Tears' castle. I have granted you passage to Dragonis," my father said.
"Why did you wait until now to tell me? Sheesh!"
"We were stalling until we could get you to agree to let your father free."
Of course.
"So what are you going to do now, Father?"
He smiled. "I have many projects in my lab that are long overdue. First, I need to meet with the friendly Trees and tell them of my release. "
"Great, well, let's go then..." I said to the rest.
As we mounted the vaadin, the wind whipping through my hair, I glanced at my father, now free, and Ciaran once again behind me, holding me, whose desires hung unspoken between us.
I'd made my choice, but the weight sat heavy in my chest.
The ring on my finger glowed faintly, as if it, too, held a secret I might not be ready to face. The only thing I knew for sure, was there was no going back now.