My stomach dropped, and my gaze darted from Osmos to Rosalind to Captain Maith, who each looked like they were holding their breath. “Do you think I take after Melusina?”
“No, Your Majesty,” Rosalind blurted. “But Queen Pressyne punished us severely for our transgressions.”
“We heard from a number of sources that you slayed two sluagh lords while you were still human,” Captain Maith added. “It’s difficult to know what to expect, especially now that you’re radiating so much power.”
I resisted the urge to place a hand over the piece of cornerstone.
Drayce wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Ricinus and Abrus were trying to capture Queen Neara’s father. She defended herself admirably.”
They exchanged nervous glances.
My shoulders sagged. It probably didn’t help that I walked around wearing leather armor and a belt full of iron weapons. Humans would have understood why I reduced Crom Cruach to liquid in the throne room, but perhaps faeries thought I should have just declined his offer.
Now that I had joined with the palace’s magic, it felt more like a home, but I couldn’t let myself relax until I defeated Queen Melusina and her supporters.
“It’s been less than a week since I became fae, and I’m not going to get everything right,” I murmured. “And I’m still learning about what it means to be the Queen of the Faeries.”
Behind us, the sofa creaked. I glanced over my shoulder to find Aengus staring at me through sleepy eyes and not looking the slightest bit nervous.
I turned back to my secretary and smiled. “Thank you for showing mercy. In all the excitement of freeing the souls from Crom Cruach and pursuing a harp to awaken my mate, I forgot about the sprite. Where is she?”
The tension in Osmos’ shoulders relaxed. He rose from his seat and walked to the nearest window, his hooves clopping on the marble floor. A birdcage stood in the sun, covered by a thin cloth.
“Cathbad was kind enough to weave a cage of oak stems. This fabric lets in the light but blocks out sound.” He pulled off the cloth, revealing a loosely-woven, upside-down basket, complete with acorns and oak leaves.
The sprite sat on a little cushion in front of a half-eaten bowl of green berries. She wore a short dress of autumn leaves, held together with green tendrils. As soon as her dark eyes met mine, she rose from her seat, her mouth opening and closing.
“Please, Your Majesty.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she backed away and raised her little palms. “I’m sorry for cursing your mate.”
Still irritated from last night’s attempt to abduct me in my own palace, I clenched my teeth. “The last time we spoke, you weren’t so generous with information. Do you have anything else you’d like to share?”
She nodded, her long antennae rocking back and forth with the movement. “The Fear Dorcha is in the Summer Court palace.”
I paused. He was probably staying there because Melusina still believed herself to be the queen and what else could satisfy her but a palace?
I folded my arms across my chest. “What else?”
“Isn’t that enough?” She pressed her hand against her chest, now standing with her back against the cage’s wall. “I thought this information would buy my freedom.”
“I’ll be lenient if you tell me something that will help defeat the Fear Dorcha,” I said.
The sprite dipped her head. “He has a group of females working for him, who capture anyone in the Summer Court who isn’t asleep. And he keeps hounds outside the palace. One of his dogs sniffed at a doe he kept at his side, and he swallowed it up with a black sludge. A minute later, the dog was dead. I think that’s how he fights. Please don’t tell him I told you.”
Inhaling a deep, satisfied breath, I placed a hand on her cage. That was consistent with everything I learned about the Fear Dorcha.
“Thank you.” I glanced at Drayce, waiting to see if he had anything to add.
His expression clouded, and he glowered into the cage. “Pyrenaica, is it?”
The sprite flinched. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll do anything to make amends.”
Osmos wrung his hands. “Oak sprites can repair most wooden items, including those that wield immense magical power.”
“Fine.” Drayce leaned his head toward the bars. “Will you repair a magical staff in exchange for a pardon?”
“Yes.” The sprite nodded for emphasis.
Drayce drew back and walked to the middle of the room. He lowered himself on the other sofa and folded his arms. I exhaled a long breath. This would be the last time someone attacked me or my mate in the palace.
If the sprite could fix the Dagda’s staff, then I could avoid becoming the living sword of a reclusive demigod. Now, I just needed to defeat the Fear Dorcha and whoever else was helping Melusina.
I indicated for Osmos to place the cover back on the sprite’s cage and turned to his desk, where Rosalind, Captain Maith, and Cathbad took their positions. “Everybody, gather around the sofas. I want to know what else we’ve found out about the Fear Dorcha.”
The others hesitated for a moment before joining Drayce and me on the sofa. Drayce sat at the furthest end away from everyone, with me at his side. Rosalind sat at my other side, and Aengus scooted up to the end of his sofa to sit closest to her. Captain Maith lowered himself into the seat next to Aengus, and Cathbad took the final seat and the furthest end.
Osmos poured out cups of tea and sat in the armchair. Cathbad twisted in his seat and glowered at Osmos, who stiffened.
I turned to Drayce with a frown, but he gave his head a quick shake. Taking that to mean that we had more urgent business than the druid’s feud with my secretary, I took a cup and turned my attention to Aengus. “You probably know the most about Fomorians in this room. What can we expect?”
He rubbed
