The palace was as eerie as it was breathtaking. The foyer wasn’t guarded by soldiers but by colossal statues of stags. It was carved entirely from white stone and—call it strange—but the creature looked alive when she stared into its eyes.
Violet swallowed nervously. This place practically humd with power. Yet she was struck by the grandeur of divine beauty that seed to echo through every wall.
The hall stretched endlessly, its high vaulted ceiling inlaid with starlit glass that mimicked the real night sky. The floor was made of smooth moonstone tiles that reflected the stars above, giving the illusion that one walked on air. Floating lights drifted lazily through the air like fireflies.
A fountain stood at the center, its water glowing with magic, rising and falling in gravity-defying shapes—wings, crowns, and celestial patterns. The air slled faintly of sweet jasmine, while hauntingly beautiful lodies echoed through the corridor, though no singer could be seen.
"Wow," Roman breathed, his eyes gleaming like a child taken to a one-of-a-kind amusent park. Violet could only wonder about the chaos he could cause in a place like this.
She silently prayed her mother had a sense of humor. If not, they were dood.
"Co this way," Lila said, leading them toward a throne room at the far end, frad by an arched entryway.
The throne hall was vast, illuminated by natural light streaming through a do of glass and leaves. The throne itself was imposing, but Violet’s attention was on the woman standing on the dais, her back turned to them.
They kept walking until Lila suddenly halted and turned.
"This is where you stop," she said to the cardinal alphas.
None of them protested. They knew this mont was private, belonging to Violet alone.
Violet felt their gazes on her back as she followed Lila forward. Her heartbeat quickened with every step until the dais lood ahead, draped in soft light from the open do above.
Then Lila dropped to her knees and bowed her head low.
"Your Majesty," her voice carried through the vast chamber, "the princess has returned."
Violet froze.
She stood awkwardly, unsure what to do. Was she supposed to bow? Or curtsy? Or say sothing royal?
Before she could even decide, the Fae standing on the dais turned, and the breath left Violet’s lungs.
The sight of her mother hit her like lightning.
Queen Seraphira was simply divine.
Violet finally understood where her strange purple coloring ca from. Her mother’s hair was a cascade of Violet, silky and long. It was braided in parts and threaded with beads, while the rest flowed freely down her back in true Fae fashion.
Her eyes were deep athyst, the kind that caught and held light. Even her lashes shimred faintly, tipped with gold dust. Her skin was soft and flawless, not marked by ti or age.
She was so young and ethereal that anyone looking at them could have mistaken them for sisters instead of mother and daughter. Violet almost felt jealous.
The Queen stepped forward, her every movent graceful, and deliberate as though the very air parted for her. She took her ti, descending each step until she stood directly before Violet.
For a long heartbeat, they simply looked at each other, mother and daughter, strangers bound by blood.
"I—uh—Hi? I an, greetings... your majesty? Or should I say mother—Queen—uh..." Violet stamred hopelessly.
Queen Seraphira’s lips curved, and she laughed softly.
It was the sweetest sound Violet had ever heard, like bells ringing in a dream.
The awkwardness in her chest doubled, but she couldn’t help smiling shyly.
Then, with quiet certainty, the Queen reached out and took Violet’s hand. She lifted it and pressed their palms together, fitting them perfectly.
At first, Violet only felt warmth, then suddenly, a surge of energy burst through her veins. It was nothing like the thrill of Alaric’s lightning. It flooded her, wrapped around her, and filled her until her heart pounded against her ribs.
She gasped softly, her magic instinctively rising to et it. For a fleeting mont, mother and daughter’s auras intertwined, Violet light and shadows dancing together, glowing between their joined hands.
The Queen’s eyes softened.
"Blood of my blood," she whispered, voice trembling with emotion.
"What?" Violet whispered back, barely able to speak through the lump in her throat.
"Your father would whisper those words to you when you were in my womb," Queen Seraphira said, her gaze growing distant, filled with mories. "I never truly understood those words until now."
Her voice broke slightly, and then she smiled, radiant and proud.
"My daughter."
Violet’s heart twisted painfully at the words. She had imagined this mont a hundred tis, but nothing compared to the real thing. The warmth, the recognition, the strange ache that ca with finally belonging sowhere.
Queen Seraphira pulled her into a hug. Violet hesitated for a breath, then lted into it, her arms wrapping around her mother tightly.
Queen Seraphira cupped Violet’s face, her athyst eyes soft and glistening. "I know," she began, "that no excuse could make up for the ti we lost. But you must know this, my daughter that not a single day went by that I didn’t ache for you. I missed you so terribly, I thought I would lose my mind."
Her voice cracked as she went on, "When your father took you, I nearly went mad with grief. If it hadn’t been for the priestess assuring that you were alive, I would have died of heartbreak."
Her words broke into sobs. "I’m so sorry, Violet... for everything you had to face alone."
Violet felt her mother’s arms tighten around her again desperately as if the Queen feared she would vanish if she let go. Tears slid down her mother’s cheeks, warm against her neck.
Violet’s throat ached, but she gently patted her back. "It’s okay," she whispered softly. "I’m fine now. I don’t hold any of it against you."
For a long while, they simply stayed like that.
Finally, Queen Seraphira drew back, brushing at her tears and smiling faintly through them. "Nothing will co between us again," she said firmly. "You’re ho now, in your rightful place, Princess of the Fae Realm."
Violet forced a smile.
She wasn’t so sure about that yet. Because no matter how beautiful this realm was, there were people waiting for her back in the human realm.
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