“I’d rather die than have you manipulate me for the rest of my life.”
“Then aren’t you in for a nasty surprise?” Edon said, glancing at the council. “And I’ve never manipulated you, so there’s that.”
“You have. You do the same thing O’Faolain does.”
Edon stilled for a moment. Then, a slow smile spread out on his lips. “Trust me, little warrior. That’s all you.”
“You mean…” Red shot to my face faster than a bullet. I looked at Mickey. Even his eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement.
“Kella, the queen’s death allowed only members of the council and certain loyalists like O’Faolain to keep a portion of their magic. Edon is neither.”
Awkward silence filled the room.
Edon cleared his throat. “So, now that you no longer put me in the same category as O’Faolain, which was incredibly offensive, by the way…” He gave me a lopsided grin. “Would you reconsider my offer?”
The fact that Edon didn’t further embarrass me persuaded me more than anything else he could have said.
I glared at him, more to cover my embarrassment than anything else. “I guess having you as my consort is better than dying.”
Edon’s eyebrows rose. “Be still, my heart.”
“But swear—”
A light flicked on in Edon’s eyes.
“—this is strictly in name only. Nothing romantic or intimate.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Do you swear?”
“Oh, I swear it, princess.”
A part of me felt disappointed that he’d agreed so quickly, but I shoved it aside. Sure, there might be attraction there, but the guy threatened my life. He wasn’t safe, and I was not going to forget that.
He twisted back to face the council. “Now that part’s taken care of, let’s continue with the negotiations. Next, the council will allow no one within five feet of us during the investiture unless given explicit instructions by me to the contrary.”
“No,” Aaron said. “How can we know that you won’t sabotage the whole affair?”
“Do you have another option?” Edon asked. “Aside from me sabotaging it right now, that is.”
Silence.
“I’ll take that as a no. My third condition is that I have complete access to the heir at all times and I may come and go on loyalist territory under diplomatic immunity.”
Briana’s raised brow indicated that this was no small thing. “Only for two hours preceding the investiture, and of course during the investiture as well. After this, your position as consort to the queen makes your request moot.”
“Make it four hours prior, and I agree.”
Briana looked between Maeve and Aaron. “On behalf of the council, is it agreed?”
Maeve sighed. “It is.”
“Yes,” Aaron sulked.
Briana looked over to Edon. “The word of the council is this: we grant you diplomatic status and complete access to the heir for the time frame discussed, along with the traditional role of escort to the heir prior to and during the investiture with the conditions you have outlined. Do you swear to uphold your end of bargain and allow the investiture to go forward?”
“I swear.”
“Then it is done,” Briana said.
Maeve stood up. “Kella, come with me. It’s time to leave.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Edon said.
Maeve froze before turning to stare at Edon. “Surely you don’t mean…”
“You lost her once. I would hate for her to disappear again.”
“And why is that? A magicless heir is not the coup you rebels have been hoping for. In fact, I’m surprised you’re allowing the investiture at all, bloodbath or no.”
Edon smile held no warmth. “Perhaps because she is magicless, we have reason to hope for change.”
Maeve shook her head. “All that means is there’s one less step to prepare her for the investiture.”
“You mean drain her of all magic so she doesn’t have a fighting chance,” Mickey said with a scowl.
A fighting chance for what? Caleb said I’d need all of my magic to overcome the investiture—and here was Mickey confirming it.
But before I could ask Mickey about it, Briana shook her head and said, “Careful, Miach. We do the queen’s bidding. You understand the consequences of disobedience better than most.”
Mickey’s mouth formed a tight line, and I knew no answers would be forthcoming. At least not around the council members…who were actually my future council members. And the fact that they weren’t treating me like it was getting old.
“Hey,” I said, “future queen here. How about you guys start treating me like it and answer some of my questions? Like why would I even need a ‘fighting chance’ at the investiture?”
Maeve looked away, and Briana shifted uncomfortably. But Aaron just smirked. “We are unable to give you that information, heir. But we will answer any questions you might ask afterward.”
Well, point one for the mysterious elf that visited Caleb. Something was definitely off with the investiture, but I still didn’t believe it would drive me crazy. After all, why would anyone want an insane queen on the throne?
Edon shook his head. “You’ve done a great job keeping her in the dark. I commend you.” He stood. “Well, I can’t say it’s been nice talking with you since that’d be a lie, so instead I’ll say I hope to not see any of you soon—except for Kella, who is, of course, remaining on my land until the investiture. Please, exit the premises as the meeting has officially concluded.”
“But…” Maeve sputtered. “But she needs to stay with those loyal to the queen. She is not safe around the rebels.”
“Didn’t I swear I’d keep her safe? I agree, though, that the more time she spends among my people, the more…confused…they may become. After all, they’ve been hoping for a powerful heir to reign in the investiture—”
Maeve snorted. “It’s impossible for an heir to hold the amount of power required to do that.”
Mickey narrowed his eyes. “You forget, Maeve. Ashlyn nearly overcame it. She would have if—”
“Well, her daughter certainly won’t,” Maeve responded with a bite to her words that felt like a slap to my face. “She doesn’t have a drop of
