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You are using him. You’d be willing to let him die to save a long line of future queens. This was a game, just like any other, and I could play it just as well as any fae.
I cleared my throat. “I’m just grateful King Vern can be so easily deceived.”
Troi touched the skin of her wrists where they’d been rubbed red and raw. “You won’t pull off something like that so effortlessly next time.”
My brow furrowed. “Why not? I can be clever.”
She snorted. “It doesn’t matter how clever you are. You made a fool of King Vern in front of the entire realm. All the fae kings now know you are a queen to be reckoned with, and they will be on their guard. Trust me, that was the last time you wing a plan and don’t get burned. My guess is the game has already begun to see who can outwit the Mortal Queen who took an arrow to trick a king.”
Any pride from my actions turned into fear for what came next.
Troi drew to her feet. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it seems King Vern didn’t believe he needed to feed one up for execution.”
Her words clung to me as she left. I’d yet to see the repercussions for my actions tonight, but I guessed they’d start with a scolding from Talen for publicly humiliating a fae king without care for the backlash. After that—I’d need to be on my guard.
Bash sank onto the throne.
“Why would you do that?” His expression was more curious than angry. “I’ve gone over it in my head again and again and I can’t figure it out. Why did you put yourself in front of an arrow for my sister?”
“I need you.” I gathered my courage in the face of the mighty fae king. Odette’s dagger in my hand helped. “Now you’re going to give me what I need from you.”
Realization dawned in his eyes. “Don’t offend me by believing I’m as easy to manipulate as King Vern. You have my gratitude, but I don’t technically owe you anything.”
“I know. I also know our alliance bans me from deceiving you. But you will honor my request, or you will find being in an alliance with me to be most unenjoyable.” I let the dagger pause between my fingers, smiling over it as if I was someone to be feared. Inside, all I could think of was how easily he plucked stars from the sky, and how little effort it would take him to kill me.
His stare was cold, and his lips bent in a heavy frown. He drummed his fingers on his knee so slowly I feared he’d merely stare at me until I relented.
But it was he who relented. “Ask.”
I held my head high. “I intend to ask every fae king to stand together and use their power to save the Mortal Queens.” It dawned on me that King Vern would now be a difficult fae to convince to help me, but that worry was for another day. Today was for victory. “You will stand with them.”
Bash’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. “Fine.”
“And second,” I said, “you will attend a dinner party I’m hosting tomorrow night, where you will bow before me to offer an alliance.”
The room was silent until he roared with laughter. “I’ll do no such thing.”
I shrugged. “Then I will tell all your islands how horrible of a ruler you will be, and, one by one, persuade them to pledge their allegiance to my name. You will be a king of nothing.”
I held my breath for his answer, hoping the stern look in my eyes was fierce enough to sway him.
Bash rubbed his thumb over his lip. From behind his throne, Troi had reappeared with a platter of breads and cheeses, but she didn’t come nearer. She wore an amused smile and winked at me.
“I don’t bow,” Bash said stiffly.
“Then I don’t play nice.” I moved swiftly away.
“You cannot force me,” Bash called out.
“I have other options. If you don’t agree, you can consider our alliance broken,” I sang behind me. My chest squeezed tight as I neared the end of the hall. “Good luck getting Gaia to join with you. You won’t see me again.”
When he still didn’t relent, I added one last reminder. “You already told me how the fae love their queens. It’ll be too easy to beckon the lords to my allegiance. You’ll lose your kingdom, all because of your pride.”
He hesitated, but I knew I’d won.
“Fine,” Bash growled. “I will kneel before you, my Queen.” The last bit sounded almost sarcastic, but I chose to ignore that.
The relief in my next breath was more obvious than I intended. “Good.” I lowered my blade. “Just watch. I’ll be the first Mortal Queen to survive the two years.”
