“What I told the King is none of your concern.” His words are strong, but I can hear the fear in his voice.
I sigh loudly and slouch. “If you don’t tell me, I won’t hesitate to let my parasitic friends here delight themselves on your perfect, Fae flesh. You know perfectly well that we Bloodbane aren’t the compassionate type.”
He clenches his mouth tightly shut. I shrug and lower the blade to his leg. The sheen of the Oakswald on the blade is bright at this angle. I grin, even if he doesn’t give me what I want, I’ll certainly enjoy watching him waste away. They always writhe so powerfully they bite their own tongues off.
“Wait,” the messenger blurts. “I’ll tell you.”
“Oh, good,” I purr.
“General Kane discovered one of our border towers completely destroyed and the bodies disappeared. There were signs of a struggle, but no remains,” the messenger says quickly, panting.
I purse my lips and meet the young witch’s eyes, testing her. “Tell me what this means.”
“Altair knows we’re coming,” she says, narrowing her eyes and staring out towards the mountains.
“It means one of our covens needs to be punished,” I snap.
The messenger shifts against me. “Can I go?” He asks nervously.
I smile and tilt my head. “Of course.”
With a flourish, I slip my blade over his knee, slicing through the thin layer of skin and flesh. He howls in pain and fear. Without touching the blood coating the blade or the residue of the Oakswald, I slip the dagger into its sheath. The Fae man is panting uncontrollably, clutching at his knee as his skin slowly disintegrates.
“They’re eating rather quickly,” I muse. “Must have been hungry.”
“You said,” he moans, trailing off.
I ease my broom away from the tower. “I lied.”
Cackling, I release my hold on him and watch as he drops several stories to the cobblestone drive below. The young witch and I rocket away from the palace and back to the mountains. Maaz and Sadal must be told of what we’ve learned. Any suspicions from Altair could give him enough time to move against us before we’ve managed to secure our army. There is no time for games anymore. War is on the horizon.
Chapter 8
Verity
I take a long sip of wine as the Fae woman sighs dramatically. The wrinkles around the corners of her eyes deepen as she scowls. “I’ve never liked mortals,” she quips. “I’ve always found them to be stupid and petty creatures. It’s a pity that King Altair is forced to marry one because of the curse.”
Irritation sparks in my chest, and I squeeze the flute of wine in my hand imperceptibly. Since Altair left me, Thal has been leading me through the calmer crowds of Fae, introducing me to nobles of significance. This woman has spent the last several minutes complaining loudly and often about mortals.
“He could kill me instead,” I say, cocking a brow. “The curse would be just as broken as it is now.”
The woman purses her thin lips. “Perhaps you think you’re funny. Our King is a man of honor.”
“I never said he wasn’t.” I finish off the wine and search for another.
Beside me, Thal already has one in hand. He exchanges my goblet for a new one with a flourish. “Watch yourself, mortal, Fae wine is strong,” the older Fae woman warns me.
“I’m sure Thal will know when to cut me off.” I smile sarcastically. “Until then, I will enjoy this delicious wine while the rest of the Fae participate in their giant orgy underneath that very arch.”
“Savages. We Fae have long since outgrown those ancient rituals,” she says.
“Not all, apparently.” I raise my glass. “To willful and petty creatures.”
The woman narrows her eyes at me, as if she senses the sarcasm dripping from my words. “You’re the perfect example of why most Fae can’t stand mortals. So young, and yet you think your cleverness is impressive. This is exactly why you don’t belong on the throne. I could never stand for it.”
I lower my glass, my eyes filled with quiet anger. “You could never stand for it? Could you have given up your life and family for one man?”
Without another word, I take a long drink of the wine and smack my lips together. She curls her lips in a deep frown but I only give her a simpering smile. I pivot and stomp through the crowd towards an empty corner for some peace. Navi has drifted off to make large sweeps through the crowd in a circle around me, leaving me with Thal.
“Do you know who that was?” He asks, chuckling low.
I eye him. “I’m sure introductions were made but I made a point of forgetting once she decided to insult all of humanity.”
“Lady Reina Yointus; a very powerful family.” Thal leans against the pillar beside me and smiles. “I fear you’ve just made an enemy.”
“You don’t look very afraid,” I say bitingly.
“Oh, I’m more amused than anything – and impressed.”
“Impressed?” I laugh mirthlessly. “I’m sure Altair will be anything but impressed.”
Thal moves quickly, filled with deadly grace. He leans close to me, his breath brushing my ear. “Altair has grown much more serious, like an old man. A man like that could never please a woman like you.”
“A woman like me?” I laugh, stepping out of arms reach as his fingers graze up my arm.
He isn’t fazed by the distance I’ve put between us. Thal closes it in an instant. “Willful and childish.” He grins.
I smirk and roll my eyes. For an instant, I almost thought he was serious. “Yes, those are very important qualities in a partner. Where is Altair?”
It’s been almost an hour since he disappeared. My cheeks heat as I remember the passion we shared just before he rushed from the room. I don’t know what got into me, letting him kiss me like that in front of a room filled with strangers. But for the first time in a long time, I
