Free Fist of the Furor by Frankie Rose, R. K. Ryals, Melissa Ringsted

full of belching, quarreling dignitaries with complaints and opinions that would never be addressed. The king sat at the head of the table, his eyes roaming the crowd before rising abruptly. His departure caused a momentary lull in conversation, eyes tracking him as he strolled to his throne in the Hall of Light. I watched as he sat, his eyes on the main stairwell just beyond the hall. Princess Gabriella had returned moments before, her dress and hair as perfectly immaculate as when she’d left. She didn’t smile, but she whispered with her ladies, a smug expression on her face.
    “It’s strange, don’t you think?” Maeve asked, her eyes on the princess. “I mean, we’re just sitting here eating while the prince is … well, you know.”
    Daegan speared a piece of roasted meat with his knife and snorted. “I don’t know what else you expected. It’s royals after all.”
    Oran sighed at my feet. “I don’t understand all of the fuss. Animals don’t even need bedrooms.”
    I would have laughed if it had been anyone other than Cadeyrn. Somehow laughter didn’t seem right. It had been almost seven months since I’d lost Kye. The pain still ate at me. Cadeyrn had understood that. He’d helped me through the worst of the grief, and he was giving my people his support, aiding us in a war that was prophesied to kill him.
    My gaze stayed locked on the king, on the way he massaged his temples when he thought no one was looking.
    My appetite was gone. “I’m finished.”
    Standing, I pushed away from the table, ignoring Maeve and Daegan’s stares. Lochlen reclined, his fingers steepled, his gaze following me as I moved into the Hall of Light. Ryon and Oran shadowed me, but they kept their distance. The attention the nobles gave me felt like a heavy weight on my back.
    The king stiffened, his eyes on my approaching figure. “I am not attending questions.”
    My gaze raked his bearded face. “I can help the headaches, sire.”
    My offer of help wasn’t what he was expecting to hear, and a fleeting look of surprise slid across his features quickly replaced by a scowl. “You intrude, rebel.”
    Shrugging, I stepped forward, fully aware of the king’s personal guard standing post behind the throne, their silent, emotionless faces alert.
    “I can fix it, Your Majesty. It isn’t much, and I’m not sure if I can keep them away, but I can help.”
    The king’s eyes lifted, locking on something over my shoulder. By the commotion in the dining hall, I knew Prince Cadeyrn and Princess Catriona had returned. I was suddenly glad I hadn’t remained at the table.
    “Your headaches, sire?” I asked.
    The king’s gaze met mine. “You can really help them?”
    I nodded. “It’s part of my gift.”
    Lifting my hands, I started to reach for the king, but was stopped short when his guards reached for their weapons.
    Freemont waved them away. “Stand down. Let the girl approach me.” His gaze swept my face. “I don’t agree with my son, you know. You disturb me.”
    In the end, I didn’t touch him. My hands stopped just short of his head, my power reaching for him. My palms burned.
    “Because of the prophecy?” I asked.
    I swept my hands over the top of his head, pausing when the burning in my palms intensified. I wasn’t sure what caused his headaches, but whatever it was, my magic had located it. Concentrating, I poured power down through my hands while calling on Silveet and the forest. They answered.
    “Partly,” the king replied. Sweat beaded up along his brow, his eyes widening. His guards grew anxious. “It’s said you will bring darkness to our family.”
    The burning in my hands lessened, fatigue working its way down into my limbs. I fought the urge to yawn. “Darkness has already found you, Your Majesty. Your cousin, Raemon, would have come for you whether I existed or not.”
    Exhaling, the king sat back, his jaw slack, relief evident on his face. My hands fell away.
    “Incredible,” he breathed.