Daughter of a Monarch by Sara Daniell Page B

thud.
    “Training with Cohen and Harim will help, Aislin.”
    I love how my grandmother’s voice comforts me almost instantly. Even though I have just met her, I feel like I’ve known her forever.
    “Have you or Harim spoken with my parents?” I place the curtain back in its place by hand.
    “Yes. At first they wouldn’t even let me speak, but then after they listened to me, they said they were willing to give us time before coming to get you. I had to assure them that you wouldn’t be harmed.”
    I scoff. “You can’t promise that.”
    “I know, but I did. Your mother trusts me.”
    “And my dad?”
    “Your mother is dealing with him”
    I sit on the edge of my bed and put my head in my hands. “When do I start training?”
    “In an hour after you eat.” I notice a ring dangling from the chain around her neck. She pulls it off and comes over to me. “Hold out your hand.”
    I open my palm to her.
    “This is your Fae ring.”
    A bright light illuminates from it when it touches my skin. “I’m confused.”
    “It will help balance your Fae abilities. I hope.”
    “This little thing will help my erratic abilities that have a mind of their own? Yeah, right!”
    She laughs. “It should. It was made specifically for you. Wear it on your left ring finger.”
    I put it on and gasp when it glows an amber color. “Is that normal?” It stops glowing almost immediately and returns to its normal silver finish.
    “It accepted you.”
    “So weird,” I mumble as I stare at it.
    She kisses my head and walks to the door. “Get ready and come down for breakfast.”
    I hold my hand in front of my face, gazing curiously at the silver that’s supposed to absorb my Fae magic. Maybe.
    “All right, you odd powerful ring thing. Please work.”

    I don’t like the way Aunt Stella is staring at me. And it doesn’t help that Gregory is sitting next to her. What is he even doing here anyway? Their presence is making breakfast a giant suck-fest. Grandmother could have at least warned me they’d be here.
    Uncle Harim ruffles my hair as he takes a seat beside me. “Morning, Trouble Maker.”
    I smirk as I take a bite of my toast. “I hear you’re training me.”
    “And Cohen.”
    “This ought to be interesting.”
    I hear Helen laugh from the kitchen. “I remember your mother training. Oh how I would have paid to have it recorded.” She chuckles some more.
    “I spoke with the rest of the Regime and calmed the rumors going around Gaia. I’m hoping to come to an agreement that will be beneficial for us all. No blood.” Gregory takes a drink of his coffee and smiles at me.
    “What the hell? Now you’re being nice?”
    Harim kicks my foot from underneath the table. I kick him back and stick my tongue out at him.
    “I’m being very kind, Aislin. And only because your aunt is my wife, and she’s asked me to do what I can to help you. Unlike Terre, Gaia follows rules, and I’ve already broken at least five very strict rules with you.”
    Of course the douchebag had to add something in there about my world. “When can I see my parents?”
    “I haven’t figured that part out yet. Right now the best thing we can do is continue to keep you hidden. And, in the meantime, teach you control.”
    I laugh coldly. “Or watch me fail, so you can kill me.”
    “Have more faith in yourself. I’m sure you have your Versipellis abilities under control. The key is to learn to balance them with your Fae abilities. Or at least that’s what we think will fix your problem. Right now, the two are mixing like fire and gasoline.”
    I roll my eyes. “You seem to know a lot about a half-breed, despite the fact that one has never existed until me.”
    “Watch it, Aislin. He doesn’t have to help you,” Stella says in a warning tone.
    She’s right, but it doesn’t change the fact that the man sitting across from me was adamant about wanting me dead last night. Even though he agreed to give me a chance, I still don’t like