As soon as the latch on the door clicks, I whirl around on my heels. “Your Majesty?” I ask, knowing it's enough of a question to understand. Veyra and Finn look at each other, unsure.
“Talk. Now.” I don’t ask, I demand it. Thunder booms again, making all three of us startle this time. Finn chews nervously on his lip before he motions to a chair. “Have a seat, Echo.”
I take a bagel and do just that. I bite into it, and at the exact same time, I learn that the man who came in his pants while eating me out last night is the king of the fucking goblin realm.
Chapter Eight
Veyra and Finnick take me through the long explanation of how Finnick’s mom was Wren, the goblin queen that Miryn usurped. It turns out that Finn’s father was a human who met the same fate as my mother. Wren also found Veyra and tasked her with hiding Finnick, but wanted him to stay in the goblin realm, for one day, he would be king. Miryn never knew of Finnick, but they needed to be extra cautious.
Veyra knew of a couple that had been trying to have a child for many years and immediately took Finn to them. They lived tucked into the mountains, keeping to themselves, raising Finn in a house full of love and knowledge.
Wren began conspiring with a witch who had also had a child taken from her by Miryn. After months of secret research, watching Miryn’s every move, and learning that her weakness was herself, they devised a plan. A local glass worker was secretly tasked with constructing a mirrored throne as a “gift” for Miryn.
When it was time to be presented, Wren led her into the room of mirrors. She played as if she were eternally grateful for all Miryn was doing for their realm, but it was a trap. When she sat on the throne and looked at herself in all ofthe mirrors, distracted and enthralled by her own beauty, Wren and the witch performed a binding ritual. The guards heard Miryn screaming and the sound of glass shattering, but they did nothing.
Wren and the witch sacrificed their lives to bind Miryn into the mirrors by making a bargain with a deity looking to fill his body count quota, and gave them direction for the spell they weaved. They wanted to ensure that no other parent would feel the way they did and decided that this was worth the sacrifice.
The castle was finally rid of Miryn. Veyra came in and collected the pieces of the mirror throne and distributed them far and wide between the realms, never to be put together again for fear of releasing her.
Wren was honored as The Glass Queen when the realm gathered to mourn her, and the witch was dubbed The Shardbinder.
Things ran pretty peacefully for years, using stand-in nobles with Veyra as their right hand. When Finnick reached adulthood, he was collected by the royal guard and brought home.
“And now here we are,” Veyra concludes.
We had moved a few times throughout the day, and we just finished dinner.
I’m gobsmacked. It’s a lot of information to take in over just a few hours, but I’m processing it pretty smoothly so far.
“So, if she’s bound, what are you both stressed about?” I ask. They’ve seemed to be on edge all day, but I haven’t asked why until now. Veyra considers my question for a moment, dabbing her lips with a cloth napkin.
“Well, love, it hasn’t stormed since the day Miryn was bound.”
I look at Finn, who smiles sadly. “The mirror you found at Veyra’s- it was part of the throne.” He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “It came with you.”
“So now she’s back?”
“She never quite left. When she was bound to the mirrors, it seemed done. When we brought Finn back to claim the throne after he hit adulthood, there were some…questionable happenings. Things breaking, mostly. But it died off as well. This,” she says as she motions to the storm outside, “is only getting worse.”
Brecht clears her throat timidly, getting our attention. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Your Grace, but I’ve run the bath for Lady Claudia as requested.”
My face heats as I stand to go with her. “Please, just Claudia.”
Finn grabs my wrist gently as I walk by him, stopping me so he can stand and kiss the top of my head. My heart flutters, and Brecht and I make our way to the bath.
It was exactly what I needed. I feel much more relaxed than I did, and I’m excited to see Finn. Alone. Okay, I’m downright giddy to see him. I walk down the halls as fast as I can without looking ridiculous, and when I’m near my room, I see him. I open my mouth to say hi, but he’s staring into a mirror at the end of the corridor, angled so he can see around the corner. I wave, but he doesn’t react. He’s focused. I watch him for a moment, curious.
His face goes pale, and he physically recoils. I didn’t see anything touch him, I didn’t hear what he seemed to be listening to, but he looks hurt. Defeated. I want to call out to him, but he’s gone, rushing in a different direction before I can get his attention. I stand there for a minute, wondering if he’s coming right back, but when he doesn’t, I head to my room. Maybe he will come in here. Maybe he needed to wash up, too.
I busy myself by organizing all the clothes that Veyra had brought to me this morning, making my bed, and lighting the oil lamp next to my bed when it got too dark to do things without it. Still, no Finn.
I go through all of the drawers, cabinets, wardrobes, and the vanity. It’s late now, and he still hasn’t shown. I shut the doors leading to the balcony and slowly walk to the door to the hall, peeking out briefly to see if, just maybe, he’s coming.
I stay a bit longer than I intend, just hoping. When I yawn for the third time, I decide it’s time to give up. I close my door, crawl into my bed, turn down the flame on my oil lamp, and curl into myself.
I don’t know what I’ve done, or why he isn’t here, but being without him hurts more than I care to admit, even if I’ve barely known him.
I miss him.