Atlas’s capture does nothing to quell the chaos churning through Aphelion. I’d hoped it would simmer some of the boiling tempers, but all it’s done is stoke the fires.

I suppose I was being too optimistic. Or rather, naive.

They know he’s alive, sitting in a cell, and they want his head. But the low fae won’t be satisfied with Atlas’s death alone, and I understand. Undoing the century of damage he caused will take a long time. Laws need to be repealed. Reparations need to be made. I have no actual idea of what the finances of this kingdom look like—that has never been my responsibility—but I hope we can do something to compensate them, even though gold can never make up for the stripping away of one’s dignity and rights.

The problem is I’m already acting on a thin edge of authority, and I don’t have the power to do any of this.

A fact I’m reminded of as I sit in the council chamber to Tyr’s left as the heads of the districts continue to argue. He didn’t want to join us, but I convinced him that he needed to be here. He’s been spending most of his time working with his magic, trying to regain enough power to destroy the ark. For now, it sits safely in the study in its case. I’m not sure what he’s waiting for—how will he even know if he has enough magic unless he tries?

But Lor and Nadir said we have a bit of time, and I’m not pushing him yet.

Erevan sits across from me, and no one in this room trusts him. They know he’s the Primary now, but these nobles all hate him.

“He blew up half of my district!” the head of the Twelfth District, Virgil, shouts. “What is he even doing in this room?”

Every eye swings to Erevan, who glares at Virgil.

“You all deserved it and worse,” he says, his voice cold with fury. He’s not even trying to win them over. I sigh and rub my forehead with two fingers, trying to massage away the ache building behind my left eye.

Though Atlas initially encountered some opposition to his new rules when he took over, the nobles quickly realized that it was beneficial to have the low fae corralled and “managed.” They could pay them next to nothing to work in their homes and businesses, and any complaints were swept under the rug. They became far too comfortable with this new normal. There have been grumblings from a few corners of late, but not enough to compel anyone into upsetting the status quo.

So Erevan is right about all of it, and I understand the source of his anger, but this baiting isn’t getting him anywhere.