Reign of the Kelpies. River Kelpie Series, #2

A YA fantasy of royal secrets, kelpie magic, and found family in a Scottish-inspired kingdom. The princess has returned. But something is terribly wrong. With the long-lost princess finally home, the people of Glenmoor celebrate a new era of peace. But within the castle walls, victory feels like defeat. Farrah, once a village girl with simple dreams, now walks palace corridors lined with history she doesn't quite trust.
When an unexpected ceremony places a child in the spotlight, she suspects that some traditions are more sinister than they appear. Far from the castle, Morag the palace fairy has built a fragile life in a desert land, pretending her war is over. Yet when smoke rises on the horizon and old magic stirs, she knows the past is calling her back and that the royal family's legacy is not as secure as she hoped.
As the kingdom's most vulnerable children are drawn into ancient bargains, Farrah and Morag must decide what they are willing to risk to protect them. Return to Glenmoor, where scattered allies learn to trust in a truth more powerful than the crown.