The garden had been maintained carefully by the court of Light, even more so knowing that it would be their Queen's last resting place. The Dark King himself laid her in her silk and taffeta casket. Light sprites came closer, covering the casket in a crystal dome. The Dark King touched it lightly and a spider work of evergreen vines wove around the casket.
"So beautiful." One of the sprites whispered. "A special resting place for our gentle sweet Queen," Ifrinn said.
The Dark King looked back at him. With eyes like iron. "Are you going to erect the gates?" The King asked. "Are you going to attack us?" Ifrinn countered.
"That time has passed. The Courts of the Dark and the Light once had peace. It's time that we went back to that." The King said. "Such a change of heart," Ifrinn said. The King's jaw tightened, his body tensing for a moment before he relaxed his gaze on the Queen's coffin.
"I did love her." The King said. "I loved her even when we were on opposite sides. I never meant to make that killing blow." He said, sounding regretful. "She never wanted any of this. She dreamed if a day where the two of you could be together." One of the Queen's handmaidens said. The King glanced back at her. She smiled softly. "The Queen had many secrets, some that she wanted you to know." She said. Pulling out a black leather-bound notebook.
"The Queen kept letters that she never sent in this book. Most of them were for you. And some for the daughter she never got to know." She said, handing the notebook to the King. The King looked down at the notebook, his hand going over the top of it almost reverently. He looked at the girl, who looked unique as a light fairy with her darker violet hair and her glowing silver eyes. Her wings the only hint to her light fairy status. "What's your name?" He asked quietly.
"Adeena." She said, bowing slightly. "Thank you for giving me this, and for guarding the Queen so loyally all these years." The King said. Ifrinn frowned at his words, looking between the two with concern. "There's someone whose needs your loyalty now. If she is one day rule in her mother's stead." The King said. Ifrinn looked at him in surprise. "You can't mean to..." Ifrinn said, watching the King with wide eyes. Bastien looked down at him with his arms crossed. "I would trust that you will keep the Light Kingdom safe? Will, you not?" The King asked. "Of course, my lord," Ifrinn said bowing. The King nodded. "Adeena, come with me. There's something we must discuss."
Three Months Later
"You know your grounding could've been a lot worse." Discord said, much to Davenna's annoyance. "Having to rebuild the entire gym without magic isn't exactly my idea of a good time," Davenna said.
Discord grinned, tying her hair in a bun as she grabbed a paint roller. "At least you 're almost done." Discord said. Glancing around at the gym that looked much newer than any school gym she'd ever been to.
"You're going to get me in trouble, helping me," Davenna said with a scowl. Discord snorted. "Because Prince and Artie haven't come by to lend a hand every so often." Discord said. "How? Can you tell?" Davenna said, sounding alarmed. Discord shook her head.
"It's not noticeable, in a way that Marcus or Hunter would be able to tell, but I've been around them long enough to know their handiwork." Discord said as they both painted over the newly nailed wood on the gym walls.
"Wow. It's almost like I was never here." Davenna and Discord froze as they heard the King's voice. They turned slowly, looking at the King who wore a simple sweater and dress pants, looking more like a professor than an evil dark King. "What are you doing here?" Davenna asked. "I wished to talk to you. If I may." The King said politely.
"I have a choice?" Davenna asked. "Yes, if you wish not to see me. I will leave right now and never darken your doorstep again." The King said. Davenna put the roller back in its tray, glancing at Discord, who went back to painting.
Davenna wiped her hands on her already stained jeans and walked over to the King. "And what do I call you?" Davenna asked. "I've had many colorful names in the past, but my name is Bastien. When your mother knew me she called me Bast." He said simply. "My mother," Davenna said thickly. "The Queen of Light."
"I know that all your life you've only had two fathers, and it seems cruel fate, that your mother was taken from you as soon as you met her. That is no one's fault but mine." Bastien said sorrowfully. "I didn't know her." Davenna said, "or why she never looked for me."
"Ifrinn was the one in charge of your safety. He put you through a pathway to this world from a willow tree in the fae garden that borders both the Kingdoms. She went back to help you mother. When he went back for you, he found you in the care of two men, both strong and loving. He knew you would be safe. So other than looking in on you from time to time he let you be." The King said.
"Where is Ifrinn now?" Davenna asked curiously. "He's acting as regent of the Light Court," Bastien said, smiling slightly at Davenna's raised eyebrows. "Technically, the Light throne is yours, as her daughter," Bastien said, raising a hand as Davenna opened her mouth to protest. "I know you're not ready to be Queen. In fact, I'm glad you are here in school. There's a lot more you can learn. And there's someone who was at your mother's side all her life. Who can teach you all you need to know." Bastien said.
Davenna smiled. "I'd like that." She said with a smile. "Good, and I know you have two fathers' but would it be alright if I came by from time to time?" Bastien asked. "Sure," Davenna said.
Bastien smiled. "I'll leave you to your punishment," Bastien said, backing away. "Thanks," Davenna said snarkily. Bastien took one last look at his daughter before exiting the gym. As he rounded the corner, he was unsurprised to see Zira leaning against a wall.
"Come to enact your revenge?" Bastien asked shrewdly.
Zira smirked. "Maybe one day when you're unprepared for it," Zira said, falling into step beside him. "How's your wrists?" He asked. Zira raised her sleeves, showing Bastien the twin vines that decorated her wrists now. "Irina, she's a friend with Ice powers healed the burns into a design," Zira said with a shrug.
"I always wanted a tattoo," she said, glancing at Bastien. "Adeena said you were going to be around, sometimes," Zira asked. "Not to cause trouble. Not for too long anyway." Bastien said, frowning.
"The Dark Court doesn't do well without supervision," Bastien said. Zira giggled. "They aren't all bad. Are they?" Zira asked. "Being dark isn't the same as being evil," Bastien said thoughtfully.
"I am sorry. For taking you, and everything that happened afterward. But you should know. Your powers is a legacy. You have the power of both light and fury in your grasp. Your powers are limitless. You can do anything. Be anything. I might not be the only person to ever come after you." Bastien said pointedly. Zira nodded.
"Warning is appreciated," Zira said, stopping at the doorway. "Until the next time," Zira said, putting a handout. "The Next Time," Bastien said, shaking her hand. Zira watched Bastien leave the darkness, chasing the light as the sun went down and a new night began.
At Hunter's Bar,
"So from a scale of one to ten, how in trouble am I in?" Damian asked, wiping the countertop in the kitchen during one of the slower moments at Hunter's Bar. Hunter himself sat cutting veggies very seriously on the table. He grinned at Damien's inquiry. "Is that why you've been avoiding me for three months?" Hunter asked.
"Obviously," Damian said with a raised eyebrow, surprised when Hunter let out a peal of laughter. "Davenna and Zira are home. No one died. So this time you get a pass. We both know that Davenna would've eventually went after Zira. At the moment, Marcus is angrier with the twins than he is with you. That's why he's sending them and the girls on a mission." Hunter said. Damien asked. "There's one more girl left accounted for." Hunter pointed out.
Damien looked at him knowingly. "Katherine?"
"Katherine."