Seren couldn’t move. The crowd parted, making a single path all the way to the throne. And to the King. Eric held Seren’s hand tightly and started moving them forward. Their instinct wanted them to hide behind Eric but they were too frozen by fear to do anything but keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Time moved slowly. Seren felt their stomach churning. They stopped before the platform where the king’s throne sat with the King standing before it. He looked down at Seren with an unreadable look.

“Please, come with me.” He said finally. Holding out his hand for Seren. “You may wait.” Eric tightened his grip on Seren.

“I’d rather not, if it’s all the same.” Eric said icily. The two stared at each other and turned the rest of the room to ice.

“It isn’t all the same. You will wait.” The King said every word was a blade sharp enough to split light. “They will be returned, unharmed, momentarily.” Eric squeezed Seren’s hand hard but reluctantly released them. Seren looked up in surprise, their voice had left them. Leaving them unable to protest. Shaking, they took the King’s hand. He pulled them up onto the platform and led them back behind the thrones and through the door that waited there.

“That’s a darling dress,” the King said. Seren still couldn’t speak. Behind the door was a large private parlor to rest for the royals, complete with guards who stared at Seren distrustfully.

“I knew your father,” the King added as he waved off the guards and led Seren further into the palace. “He used to come with Lady Winters every year, I remember he was the favorite for a while. Lady Winters swore he would take over the family when they stepped down but then he met your mother and things derailed.” Seren swallowed hard. Icy tears bordered their eyes. But they tried to hold themselves together, willing themself not to break anything.

“I’d heard about you when you were born.” The King continued, still leading through halls that were nothing but a blur to Seren. “And all the business that came after. It was tragic. But presently, I’m more interested in what your experience has been as fae-touched.” Seren couldn’t look him in the eye, only at the ground.

“You can speak, I promise I won’t bite.” He tried to joke with them. Seren only shrugged. They stopped walking and against better judgment, they conjured a little memory of the doctor’s office before them. A ghostly echo wavered through the halls;

“What did the doctor say that my dad doesn’t like?”

“You’re autistic.”

“I see,” the King said, sympathetically. “Well that’s all right, you can tell me when you feel like it.” Seren nodded, he took their hand again and led them into a room with double doors. Painted with fairies and flowers.

It was a nursery. Dark, with only the pale moonlight entering through the windows. But that wasn’t the source of light. Sitting, confused, in a white rocking chair, was a glittering fae.

They had silvery white skin and long silver hair that was braided loosely over their shoulder. They rocked back and forth with a little pale blue bundle in their arms. The fae had pale icy purple eyes that softened instantly at seeing them.

“Who is this?” The fae asked.

“This is Serenity, they are the Winters child.” The King introduced, letting go of Seren’s hand and shutting the nursery door. “Serenity, this is my wife; the Queen, and our child; Villo.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Serenity Winters.” the Queen said, their voice was a whisper. Seren nodded, not correcting them about Seren’s name yet. The Queen gestured them closer, “Come say hello, Villo.” Seren looked up at the King who smiled in utter infatuation at his family. Seren looked back at the Queen, who had moved the bundle’s blanketing aside for Seren to see what was inside.

Seren crept closer until they could see the baby’s little round face. A little pacifier bobbed in and out of the baby's mouth. Little brown eyes with no pupil and a small tuft of blonde peeked out of the blanket at Seren.

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"They're fae-touched, just like you." They Queen said.

"Wait. Why are they fae-touched? Shouldn't they be just half fae?" Seren whispered. The Queen gave a small laugh.

"Not quite. A fae can't reproduce naturally, we can't have our own babies, we have to rely on surrogates, people who can have babies and are willing to have one for us." The Queen explained. Still rocking the baby. "Then when we give love to the babies, we give them a gift. This, making them fae-touched."

"Where do new fae come from if they can have babies?" Seren asked.

"If a fae-touched is dipped into the silver well in the fae realm, they become fully fae." The Queen said. Seren's jaw dropped.

"That's where all the baby and child kidnapping stuff started!" They said in epiphany.

"Unfortunately. The ruler of the fae… oh I don't want to trouble you with this." The Queen shook her head. A little rain of glitter following their movement. "Not many fae-touched are like you, you know that?"

"No? Why?" Seren asked.

"Your powers, you were given the gift of love from a fae. However, that only gave you access to the ability. Every fae, loved or hated, draws their power from the powerful emotions given to them. It's that love you've been given that makes you strong." The Queen smiled and reached out, touching Seren's hair. "And I hope your power grows stronger as you get older, and you use it well."

“I will, I promise.” Seren said.

“We should probably get you back to… your legal guardian.” The King said, pausing while trying to figure out what to call Eric.

“Right,” Seren agreed. Their mood had greatly improved but they paused before walking away to take the King’s outstetched hand.

“What if people hate me though?” They asked the Queen.

“You can use that as a source of power too.” The Queen said with a shrug. “Hate is just as powerful as love. Just as blinding and nonsensical. But if you use the power the hate brings you, you could become lost to the hatred. Then there’s no telling what you’ll become.” Seren nodded contemplatively. They took the King’s hand with a last look back at the Queen and the little fae-touched baby. Smiling and waving as they walked out the double doors.

“You still haven’t told me what it’s like to be fae-touched in the city.” The King said.

“It’s okay. People leave you alone at least.” Seren shrugged, still a bit giddy. “They don’t keep eye contact once they realize. Cross to the other side of the street.” Their mood plummeted as they thought about the crowd in the ballroom below.

“You’re not always welcome and people like to remind you of that,” Seren said quietly.

“I see.” The King said, leading them back the way they came. “Well you and yours are always welcome here. As long as you live in my kingdom, you’re welcome here.”

“Thanks,” Seren said with a smile.

“Oh and, one more little thing.” The King said quietly as they entered the private parlor behind the thrones. “Don’t reveal that the Queen and new Heir are fae. For now, that can be our little secret.”

“I can’t tell anyone? Not even Eric?” Seren asked, jaw dropped.

“Do you trust him to keep a secret?” The King asked. Seren thought about the butcher’s boy and the elderly jewelry box.

“Yeah, he can keep a secret. I trust him.” Seren said.

“Then I suppose. But I’m trusting you, and that’s an awful lot of trust that I’m giving you.” The King said, eying them seriously.

“I understand,” Seren nodded, equally serious. He smiled and held both of Seren’s hands and squeezed them hard with a smile. He had the guards open the door and he was once more announced with Seren announced again as well as they re-entered the ball room.

Eric was still waiting where he was left, and Seren ran over with a giant smile.

“Where did you go? What happened?” He asked.

“I got to meet the Queen!” Seren said, looking back to make sure that was okay to say. The King nodded as he walked up behind them.

“We should certainly have the two of you over for tea after the holidays.” He said. “The gardens are truly wonderful in the warm weather.”

“That sounds wonderful!” Seren said.

“What?!” Miss Jass cried from the crowd. “That kid used fae magic! They had to!”

“That’s enough.” The King snapped. “I’ll not have anyone being rude to my guests.”

“They were a plus one,” Lady Winters sweetly crooned as she swept up to the platform. “Hardly a guest at all.”

“They are MY guest,” The King said shortly. “Is that not to your liking?”

“As her grandmother-”

“As THEIR parent I think it’s best for you to stop concerning yourself with THEM.” Eric snapped. Lady Winter’s face shriveled in rage but she smiled painfully through it.

“Of course,” she said with a bow.

“Now, would you be interested in keeping me company?” The King asked.

“Yes please!” Seren said. She took Eric’s hand who, while incredibly proud, was very confused. “I can tell you about the history of the city architecture!”

“That sounds great, I think I might even have some fun facts you don’t know.” The King said, Seren’s eyes lit up. They leaned close to Eric.

“Best. Night. Ever.”