Chapter 25

India found the Queen to be quite peculiar. As she walked toward them, her gown a pale blue thin gossamer dress that seemed to glitter as if tiny stars had been woven into the dress, she looked young, not at all how a matriarch should look. Queen Isla came to stand in front of her, and India felt her breath catch in her chest.

“You look so much like her,” she whispered.

“I wouldn’t know. She left. I gather that was a habit,” she answered flatly.

“Ilaide always ran from her problems. It was a trait I wish I had stamped out,” the Queen replied. She walked away, striding towards them as India introduced everyone.

“I am India. Aleks, Sean, and Hilda are my friends.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Isla,” her grandmother murmured, coming to stand in front of Sean. She seemed to stare at him for a long time.

“This one is my kin,” she said. India frowned.

“Kin like–” she paused.

“Kin as in relative. I can feel Ilaide blood in him.”&nb