“Youcan’t stop it,” I cut in.“All I need is the signature of a queen.”
Hertransparentwings flutter quickly behind her, their light flickering on the dark-purple walls.Seething, she slamsthe file shut.“Do not play us as fools,Your Majesty.A little anttoldme that the brownie you’re proposing to is in jail.”She glancesaround the table, a sneer twisting her black lips.“With the charge oftrying to enterthe human realm.”
The angry murmurs turn into sounds of triumph.
“That is punishable by death.”
“I am well aware,” I replywith a shrug.By the time the brownie standstrial, her use to mewillbe over.“I am to marry her, notabsolveherof her crimes.Whatever you decide her punishment should be, so be it.I trust you to be fair.”
Tanya’shand slipsinto her robes.I shift my legs under the table, ready to shove my chair back should she attack.Keeping my eyes focused on Petre, I watchTanya– and the others in my peripheral.
“We will not grant her leniencybecause she’s a brownie,”the unofficial leader of the Court says.
“I would expect no less.”
Something akin to pride fillshersilver-and-green eyes.I dream of carving them from her dead body.“You would subject the girl to a royal’s death rather than let her die as a commoner?”Petreasks, arching a thin brow.
As a commoner,she’ddie quickly and painlessly.But as a royal, she’llbe made into an example.She’llbe tortured for weeks, maybe a month or two.She’lldie in agony and all because I haveuse of her.
I shrug.“She is a criminal.She will face whatever is her due.”
My stomach clencheswith guilt,butI ignore it.Iamtoo close to let a singleperson, a brownie no less, come in the way ofthefutureAurelia wanted.
Pushing back from the table, Istand.My eyes scan the twelvewomen, lingering onTanya’scloaked hand before returning to Petre.“We’ll wed this evening.Her coronation will take place in three weeks.”
Turning, I make my way to the door.I listen for the whisper of a flying blade.But only silence followsme out; Iholdno illusions that the roomwillremain that way after Iamgone.
As theservantin the hall closesthe door behind me, my gaze locksonJace.He’s leaningagainst the wall, tossing a knife into the air.As our eyes connect, hecatchesthe blade.He slidesit into the sheath up his sleeve,thenpushesoff the wall and followsme through the castle.
“I take it that went well,” my head of securitysays, histealeyes scanning my facebefore moving to sweep the hall.He glances at the hands of everyone we pass, looking for weapons and clenched fists.He reads their faces, looking for shifty eyes and beads of sweat.
I nod.“No one tried to stab me this time.”As we move down the hall, heading for the outside, I ask,“Have you heard from Nicholas?”
“No.”
I frown.How longdoesit take to propose to someone?He should’ve given me an answer before the meeting.Now he’stwo hours late.A few years ago, I would’ve wondered if he wasflirtingwith them.But since he got the scars on his face, he barely leaves his chambers.Only coming out when duty calls but never for a second longer.
The tension in my shoulders ripple up my wings.Has he had a panic attack?The desire to go check on him curls in my belly, but I know he hates being seen like that.The last time I tried to help him, I only made it worse.
Perhaps once I’m no longerking, I’ll have the time to become what he needs.The muscles in my neck knot all the way up to my skull.“Tell Nicholas to find me in my study after he gets my answer,”I say.
Jace raisesa brow just to annoy me.HeknowsI hate thefucking gesture – and not simply because Ican’tdo it like hekeepssaying.
“Don’t you think you should at least meet herproperly?Giveneverything you’re going to put her through, it’s only kind.”
I glare at him.“What would be kind is if she never meets me before her death.”
Unfazed by my tone, hewavesa hand.“She’ll have to at her coronation.You’ll be the one putting the crown on her head.”
“I am aware.”
We step out onto this floor’s balcony,looking out from the trunk of the tree.All of Kholar, the capital city of Raza, spreads out on the branches before us.The inner city is packed full ofwooden, archedsky scrapers with hundreds of fairies flying between them.Suspension bridges connect the middle of the buildings, criss-crossing up multiple floors as flying uses a lot more energy than walking.
The tightness of the city sprawls out along the branches, leading to dome-shaped homes that look like mere knots in the wood.Sunlightcutsthrough theleaves surroundingourcity, baskingusin a golden glow.Various crow steeds and messengers dart through the air, but they’re the only birds that call this place home.All others normally give us a wide berth – we might be smaller than them, but we do love a good hunt.It’s better for them to go to Brownston for an easier meal.
AsJace and Itaketo the air,the sound of metal clashing against metalrises with us.Young war cries and yelps of painintermingle with it too.Looking over at the training fields, I watch as hundreds ofkidspractise their sparring.Armed womenand menwalk between the masses, stopping here and there to give extra aid to those struggling.
Landing on the balconybelowthe onewe just left, I head inside.With this being my personal floor, there are more guards at the entrance, and they all stand at attention as I pass.
