Kade…
Dammit. He was distancing himself from me, and even though I should be happy about it, I found myself missing him. His wise council. His strength and kindness. It was often lonely as a leader, a life filled with responsibility, always having to hold yourself back from others.
As if she had heard my thoughts, a sweet voice shrieked my name, and I spun to find Winnie barreling toward me, her familiar and harassed looking advisor trailing after.
“Sissy!” she yelled again, her brown hair streaming out behind her, and the pure joy on her face lifted my spirits.
Despite my queenly outfit and heavy mecca crown, I took off toward her, reaching out to scoop her into my arms. We hugged for many long minutes, which was eventually too much for a five year old. She wriggled out of my arms, and with a cheeky grin reached out and tapped me on the hip.
“You’re it!” She took off then, shrieking as she ran. I was right on her tail.
Eyes turned toward us as we dashed through the gardens, more than one person surprised to see the queen threatening her sister with tickle monster fingers. My heart felt light, free. It had been too long since I had these moments with Winnie. There was an uncomfortable feeling in my chest when I thought about things I was going to miss by being so busy. It was my duty, and growing up I had felt that distance from both my mother and the Red Queen, but I didn’t want that for my sister. I wanted her to feel so much love that she never had a moment of loneliness. I wanted to protect her from the harsh realities of life for as long as I could.
Picking up my speed, I caught Winnie and proceeded to tickle her until she couldn’t breathe. Which is what big sisters are for. Afterwards we both lay in the grass staring up at the cloudy sky. There was a smogginess to it, typical of the city, but that didn’t bother me.
“Can you see a crow?” Winnie asked, pointing toward a fluffy white cloud. It had wisps spanning off of it, which did look a lot like wings.
“I see it,” I said. “And look, there’s a boat.”
Winnie followed my pointed finger, and her little face was so peaceful as she stared up, snuggled in next to me. Rhett, her fox familiar, scampered across then and lay by her side. Then a heavy warmth and strong burst of energy dropped beside me.
Finn.
Hey, friend.
He nuzzled into my side, and then his mind went soft and fuzzy, like he was on the verge of sleep.
“We go on the boat tomorrow, Ari. I can’t wait.”
Winnie was coming to the summer festival; it was her second time, but her first time as a true queen heir. Rhett had appeared for her just before her fifth birthday, in October. She now wore similar teeth marks to me on her hand, the moment of their bonding.
“I can’t wait either.” I turned to my side, facing her. “It’s going to be so much fun, you’ll be able to play with the other little heirs, and see all the festivals. Lots of food. Lots of fun. Plus you can wear your costume.”
Winnie was going as a mermaid; she had her fake tail and long red wig. The movie was her current obsession.
“I hope I meet a bear friend like yours,” she said, her little hand snaking out to hold mine. “I like Kade. He’s very nice.”
I froze then, my hand tightly gripping her tiny fingers. “What do you mean? How do you know King Kade?”
With all the innocence of youth, she giggled. “Last time he came for your training session, he took a break outside and Rhett fell into the duck pond. I went in after him and almost drowned. He saved me and told me to call him Kade. Said he was your friend. He smelled like a bear but I liked him very much.”
Damn Kade, even winning over my sister. And saving her from drowning and not even telling me! “You need to call him ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘King Kade,’ Win,” I said as gently as I could. “You know how important protocol is.”
She was silent then, just for a moment, before she burst out with, “I hate protocol, it’s yucky.”
I tried to hide my laughter behind a cough, before I pulled her in for another hug. You and me both, kid, you and me both. Protocol would probably be the death of me.
At least ten thousand wolf shifters made the trip each year to the Island. They came from the three boroughs, and also many from around the world. Calista had warned me there would be even more this year, with a new queen and all. Most of them had already landed and were setting up. There would be tents, motor homes, and all of the rental houses packed full of shifters. The Island’s normal residents were aware of the summer festival; they thought it was a longstanding popular music festival with super exclusive tickets. None of them minded though, they usually left and rented out their homes to make money. Any stray humans that caught sight of any weird goings on would be compelled by a magic born to forget.
Nerves had me all tangled inside, for more than one reason. First summer festival as queen and the fae were probably trying to figure out how to kill us en masse. And here we were gathering together to make it easier. Hopefully the Summer Court’s Prince Caspien was managing to keep his army strong. Violet had recently used the flower to let him know that we had a solid plan for fixing the mecca and that it would happen tonight. He’d been thrilled and passed on the news that they’d managed to retrieve his people’s object of power, which was helping a bit, but that circumstances were still dire.
So much rested on this ritual tonight under the full moon. We were placing so much faith in Sir Baladar and his theory, so much faith in mine and Kade’s abilities to manipulate the mecca. I knew I couldn’t fail – I wouldn’t fail my people. But I would be lying if I said that I was supremely confident about our success.