Indebted

80

Esti looked behind her. A woman Esti did not know was somehow standing with Dot of all people. Dotty eyed the border, "Seems The Dragon Court has a few tricks The Council hasn't seen before." The Council members one and all had their jaws hanging open. More than half the werewolves had shifted, and Melody looked on the verge of shifting into something too.

Esti turned the opposite way and looked at her friend Zinnia, alive, so close but still apart thanks to the border spell and- Esti's eyes went wide. "You're pregnant?" Esti hissed under her breath, looking at the handsome forest fae who was glued to Zinnia's side. Opal immediately sensing the pregnancy. Both Zinnia and her partner blushing so sweetly as they held hands. Smiling at each other and clearly in love as they both turned back to look at Esti.

Zinnia eyed the costume of a Queen Esti was wearing from the other side of the border that no one could cross. "I always knew you were something special, this-This is something else Esti." Zinnia said, her high arched eyebrow, teasing Esti just like they had done so many times stealing cookies and human fashion magazines from forty years ago on a boring court afternoon. The good memories, and brief chance to ignore the present and luxuriate in a time long past ended abruptly.

Zinnia turned to look at the man by her side, gathering her strength before looking back to face Esti. Never letting go of his hand. "Esti, this is Birch." Esti watched Zinnia's hand moving protectively over the barely sparked life in her belly. "We're bonded now, my family doesn't know." Zinnia looked heart broken and stressed in a way Esti had never once seen her friend.

A brief glimpse of the girl Esti had once been clear to Atticus as he watched Esti and Zinnia together. Zinnia looked towards where they both knew the castle was. Still so far away they couldn't see it. "Is it as bad as I heard at court?" Esti asked her friend. Strangers telling her, and printed pages were one thing. Esti wanted to know what Magnus had done in his rage after she had been whisked away directly from someone she trusted.

Birch protectively pulled Zinnia under his arm. Atticus was stood right by Esti. "There are hunters, and more demons and witches who stink of dark magic at court. The jails are full! Holly, Miss Nigella, Norman the boiler man, all of them in the cells." Zinnia was rushing her words. Birch was supportive, but he didn't know, didn't not understand how quick and how bad this change had been.

The flood gates gad been opened up, as Zinnia finally had ears who innately understood, "Magnus reduced so many people to slaves. The castle is filthy, things are breaking down, The Fowler sisters led an exodus, are hidden somewhere in Sovran land, we've heard Magnus dropping rocks and fire balls on the rebels from the sky, I have no idea who made it there, or if they are ok." Zinnia had gone pale. Heart racing. Saying everything out loud made it all more real. She had named the monsters causing her bad dreams.

"We're going to help Holly, help everyone. I promise you Zinnia." Esti said. Not having any idea how she would, only that she was going to do everything she could. It wasn't fair, but Esti felt like everything was on her shoulders. Magnus had gone mad, because of her. Esti had so many questions. Zinnia had revealed so much. Except an important detail was missing.

The Sovran Court did not have Fae. They did not mix. A unspoken rule to keep separate since the descent. One the current Fae queen seemed content enough to maintain. Esti's eyes flicked towards Birch, "How did you meet?" Esti dared to ask. Hearing Laurel, Damon and Delia all arguing over their next move, Melody, Raven, Marzipan, and Marisol in fighting ready stances. Atticus arguing for every one of them to stand down. Esti knew half of the new people that had caught them all off guard and Atticus knew enough that the name Zinnia was a friend. Atticus trusted Esti, and they all thought she was a Queen then they should let her lead when it was clear she knew more than they did.