I opened the door and requested for coffee to be brought to my chambers, then hurried to my dresser. The broken pieces of Morgana’s staff remained perched against the stone wall. I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away. Sadness pinched my day, as it often did when I thought about her being gone. Slowly, I was learning to live with their losses, but I always grieved them.
A maid walked in with a tray of coffee. I hushed her, and she placed it on the dresser, then gave me a small smile before leaving. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans lifted my spirits. I poured the dark liquid into one of the two china cups and sipped. “Ah.”
I glanced at Blaise’s clothes, strewn over my dresser. There was a bulge under the thin fabric of his pocket, and something poking out. I hurried to it and pulled out a little box. Curiosity begged me to open it. Arching an eyebrow, I clicked it open.
My heart skipped a beat. A gold ring encrusted with a large sapphire glistened at me. Inside the ring were words engraved. I squinted, evaluating them carefully.
For the best half of me.
It was a wedding ring. Was that why he’d sent the tiara all those months ago? Had he known even then where we would end up?
He snored, shifting himself onto his side. My eyes widened.
Inhaling sharply, I replaced the ring inside the box and pushed it back into his pocket. I hurried to the armchair and table, closing my eyes. Fireworks erupted inside me as I thought about being Blaise’s wife. I loved him with all my heart, and the idea of spending a lifetime with a king at my side wasn’t as scary as it used to be—not when the king was him. Together, we could unite our kingdoms, and Magaelor was in need of healing and reuniting.
I was strong on my own and would always put Magaelor first, and now with Blaise at my side, we could achieve something great. Two kingdoms as one.
After I finally stopped smiling to myself, I glanced at the window again, reminding myself of today’s schedule. Today I would be going to visit the people of a town outside of Imperia. While they had struggled to learn to live without ancestral magic, I offered them alternatives. Word had spread about being able to use spirit. Many tried but gave up when it didn’t offer quick results, like ancestral magic had. However, communities who did prefer it erupted all throughout Magaelor. It would take time, but I knew the kingdom would come together and find its own magic systems. Gone were the days of my father’s rule. Even Lord Abor had gotten on board with most of my decisions—not all, but he was good at protecting the Crown’s treasury and he pointed out certain things, pushing me to make the difficult decisions I needed to.
Gregoir and Louis were imprisoned in Ironwall tower for their part in trying to dethrone me. Gregoir was given a lesser sentence, but Louis would remain there for the rest of his miserable life. I couldn’t lock Penelope away for slipping a secret, but because of her, everything had almost been ruined. She was sent home, with her title taken away.
Mai remained my lady-in-waiting along with Nissa, who had finally agreed to go back with Corbin. He had promised the days of playing games were over. I would wait to see how long it would last. Florence remained at court. She spent the first month after Adius’s death resenting me, but she was coming around.
I readied myself for the trip out of Imperia. In the ashes of chaos, death, and pain, opportunity rose, giving Magaelor the chance to become a diverse, strong place where Mangaloreans weren’t divided. Trade routes were opened, and the threats of war from Berovia were over. While fractured, most of the people had banded together.
It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t whole. But Magaelor was ours, and it was worth fighting for.
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The novella, Ruin, can be read at any point during the series. It’s set a century before The Fate of Crowns and describes the life of Evangeline, an important historical figure of Berovia. The solis princess who was locked away and cursed the Objects of Kai. Ruin follows her final days and describes the pulls of the ways of necromancy and sacrificial magic.
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GLOSSARY
Anumi:
A large wolflike creature with black fur and red eyes, native to Magaelor and Inferis.
Amulet of Viribus:
The Amulet of Viribus gives the wearer super strength and agility, but its curse will kill any whom the wearer loves.
Ancestral Magic:
Used mainly by lunas in Magaelor. It uses the element spirit by taking energy from the spirit realm. Ancestral magic leans toward offensive and defensive magic more than wellness or healing. Those who use this magic are close to their ancestral roots.
Crown of Discieti:
Its wearer can compel any creature or human. It is cursed to make the wearer feel loneliness and an inability to love or feel deeply, even if they only wear it once.
Dagger of Ruin:
Can kill an immortal with even a scratch from the blade. It will turn a mortal mad if they so much as stare at it for too long.
Elves:
Elves are peaceful creatures who appreciate and recognize all magic. They use natural magic and mainly practice healing. They are humanoid creatures with pointed areas and prominent features. They are excellent at wielding and creating weapons, and they can see well in the dark. They are close to nature.
Light Fae:
Live in Berovia and are inclined more to healing and following the rules set by the faery monarchy. They have wings and can fly.
Dark Fae:
Dark fae are darkly inclined fairies who do not abide by fae magic laws once set by the light fae monarchy. They live in Niferum. They have wings and can fly.
Elemental Magic:
Used mainly by solises in Berovia. It uses the four elements: water, fire, earth, and air. Elemental magic leans toward defensive spells and learning to balance nature. Those who use this magic are close to nature.
Foresight:
Foresight is limited, and those who use it are only allowed to see what destiny shows them. All timelines can change at any given moment. No path is set in stone. Foresight is difficult to master. It can be used through tarot readings, tea leaf readings, runes, crystal ball gazing, and direct visions.
Forest Nymphs:
Small, shy, and rare creatures with powerful foresight and natural magic.
Lunas:
Lunas are sorcerers who use ancestral magic and live in Magaelor.
Magic Wielders:
Make staffs for lunas.
Mercreatures:
They are immortal creatures who live in the water. They reside toward the northern coasts of Magaelor, as they prefer colder waters. They attack ships and kill and drown unsuspecting sailors.
Mugroot:
Used as a general medicine. It can heal mer-venom if applied quickly. The plant is native to the north of Magaelor (in fae territory) by the Snowy Peak Mountains.
Natural Magic:
Used by pixie/fae/unicorns/elves/mercreatures/forest nymphs. This magic is created within themselves. Natural magic is the purest form. Natural magic leans more toward wellness and healing spells.
Necromancers:
Necromancers are powerful sorcerers who have the ability to bring the dead back to life. They use souls to power their magic and govern ritualistic and sacrificial magic in others.
Pixies:
Small, winged creatures who have extraordinary healing powers
Ritualist/Sacrificial Magic:
Used by necromancers and few sorcerers. It is also known as black magic. The magic leans more toward offensive spells and can be used to severely harm others, even kill.
Relics:
Used by solises to channel t
he elements. They are usually an antique item, like jewelry, usually an item handed down through generations.
Ring of Immortalem:
Will grant any mortal immortality for as long as they wear it, but the curse ensures that if it is ever removed, the wearer will die.
Solises:
Solises are sorcerers who use elemental magic and live in Berovia.
Shadow Markets:
Markets used for exchanging goods and services prohibited by the monarchy. Each has a gatekeeper who only gives out keys to trusted sellers and buyers.
Staffs:
Used by lunas to channel ancestral magic. They are given to young wealthy lunas when they turn seven at the academy. That is the age they are first taught magic.
Sword of Impervius:
Can kill an immortal but will burn the flesh of the person wielding it.
Spellmasters:
Spellmasters have mastered natural magic and learned to combine it with foresight. It is the most difficult to learn and master. They collect wishes to fuel their powers, which are almost as strong as souls, and can grant desires for people.
Unicorns:
Horned, horselike, rare and pure creatures with incredible healing powers.
Wishes:
Wishes are the soul’s desires. With it, the person would have the power to control them. The other person must give permission to have the wish taken from them.
ALSO BY REBECCA L. GARCIA
THE FATE OF CROWNS WORLD
The Fate of Crowns
The Princess of Nothing
The Court of Secrets
Ruin
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Rebecca lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and son. Originally from England, you can find her drinking tea, writing new worlds, and designing covers. She writes young adult fantasy. She devoured every book she was given and fell in love with magical worlds, and when she got older, her imagination grew with her. She implements royalty into her books because she adores historical monarchies.
When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, you can find her traveling and hosting book signings with Spellbinding Events.
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Table of Contents
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
THE FATE OF CROWNS
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THE PRINCESS OF NOTHING
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THE COURT OF SECRETS
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
THIRTY-EIGHT
THIRTY-NINE
FORTY
EPILOGUE
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GLOSSARY
ALSO BY REBECCA L. GARCIA
The Fate of Crowns: The Complete Trilogy: A YA Epic Fantasy Boxset Page 86
