“You hear that?” Virgil exclaims. “How can we support a king who believes this of his most valuable citizens?”

Oh shit, that is precisely the worst thing he could say.

Erevan presses his hands to the table and stands up, leaning towards him.

“Most valuable citizens?” he hisses. “No one in this room is more valuable than anyone who lives out there.” He scans Virgil from head to toe. “In fact, I might argue the opposite is true.”

“How dare—”

“How dare I? How dare you sit here in your fancy clothes and with your fancy houses and cast aspersions on people you’ve all taken advantage of and who are just trying to survive?”

Erevan slaps the table.

“The only right thing to do is repeal every law against the low fae,” he says to a chorus of shocked whispers and gasps. “I had hoped that you sycophants would finally see reason and agree because it is the right thing to do, but the longer I sit here listening to you windbags, the more I realize you are all lost causes. You care for no one and nothing but yourselves.”

Erevan hunches forward.

“You are not the king here yet!” accuses a female High Fae—the head of District Thirteen. Or is it Fourteen?

“No,” Erevan says, “but Tyr agrees, and he is the king. In case any of you have forgotten?”

Every eye flicks to Tyr, who sits quietly with his forehead crumpled in worry. It’s actually more emotion than I’ve seen from him in a while. Tyr does agree with Erevan. I’ve been there to witness many talks the two of them have had over the past few days. Well, Erevan talks, and Tyr nods and listens, but I understand that in Tyr’s heart, he knows Erevan is right. He will free my brothers and me from our chains, and I know he wants to do the same for the people of his kingdom.

Something in me suspects he’s waiting for Erevan to come around to the idea of ruling. He’ll descend when he knows Aphelion is finally in good hands. The thought sends a cold dread spreading through my chest, but I know it’s selfish to wish he’d remain here with me. And I also want him to find peace.

“Is this true?” Virgil demands of Tyr, who opens his mouth and closes it. Though Tyr is the king, he cannot repeal laws with impunity. The council was created many years ago, and any significant decisions like this must be voted on. While technically no one could stop him, it would be of little use to repeal the laws if there is no one actually to act on his wishes.

Though he can allow the low fae to move from The Umbra, these windbags, as Erevan so eloquently put it, can’t be forced to welcome them.