"Of course, there's a catch. Haven't you learned enough? Nothing comes free in the Fae realm." King Oberon's voice carried a hint of pride as he spoke. Had it been his other sons, they would have eaten this up—Theodore especially—without thinking it through.
But Aldric wasn't like his brothers. He had foresight and shrewdness, qualities befitting a king. Oberon let out a wistful sigh. Aldric would have made the perfect ruler for Astaria, but such a move would tear the kingdom apart. Not that Valerie was a bad choice. In fact, he would have been perfect if he could overcome his doubts and be more open-minded.
Aldric, however, possessed a hunger for achievement and a certain streetwiseness. It was the same hunger that had laid the foundation for Astaria— the unification of the Fae realm.
