My king walks to the stand, a look of boredom in his eyes. His relaxed stance makes it easier for me to breathe as I take a seat in the first row of pews. The others sit beside me.
Petre leans forwards in her high-backed chair, her long dark nails resting on the table. “King Morningstar,” she says, “youare being charged with breaking the deal you made to marry Evangeline Sinclair. Do you deny this?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrow. “There were thirteen witnesses to that deal.” Her gaze flicks to me. “Lying to the Court is an act of treason.”
“So is blackmailing the ruler of Raza,” he says.
“No one blackmailed you into that,” Coo retorts. “You made it freely.”
“One of you convinced Tanya Silverston to attack me and my wife at the revealing of the vote. She took a vow of silence, thinking you would join her in staging a coup.”
“Baseless allegations –”
“Evangeline Sinclair refused to marry me,” Richard cuts in sharply, “because she wants to track that bitch down.” His eyes go to Petre. “And we all know what she’s like when she thinks she’s been issued a challenge.”
Many of the Dragons shift uneasily, their eyes darting to each other. Only a few, of which Petre is one, look at ease.
“Be that as it may,” Evangeline’s mother says, “that does not erase the deal you made.”
“A deal isn’t honoured by the gods if it’s coerced. I have not been struck dead nor cursed.” He spreads his arms out. “Yet, I told Evangeline I would not marry her days ago. The fact that I am here and in good health is evidence enough.”
The hatred in the air is deafening, and I know they will not listen.
“The head of FI-9,” he continues, “does not acknowledge a deal has been made.”
“Evangeline Sinclair,” Petre spits, “does not hold power over the Court despite how much she might wish it.”
“But I do,” I say as I stand, locking my knees straight so they can’t see my nerves.
“Even when you were married to him,” Coo sneers, “you were never queen.”
I lift my chin. “I am Raza’s queen. I’m just not crowned. Richard and I have remarried, and after my coronation, the first thing I’ll do is charge you with treason if you lie about Richard having made a deal to marry Evangeline.”
There’s a moment of heavy silence as they weigh me and my threat. I do my best not to waver under their piercing stares. Petre finally speaks. “You will have also lied though, which means you, too, will be charged with treason.”
“Then you will deal with me,” Fabia says, rising as she smiles. “Nicholas and I have married. And you can damn well bet that I will execute every single one of you. I will execute your entire family. All your friends. I will surrender our lands to the Okahi, Alzans, and Jokeni. I will sell the rest of Raza into slavery.” She pauses, her eyes sweeping around the twelve Dragons. “And if you think, I will not sacrifice this whole fucking forest to avenge Arienna” –her eyes land on Petre– “you are wrong.”
The room buzzes with a cold rage from both sides. My fingers itch to reach for Richard’s hand, but I force them to stay still. Evangeline told me that any small movement, any glance away from the Court will signal a weakness. If they find out that I’m not the crazy psycho they think I am after I stabbed Stephanie, this whole thing will fall apart.
Leaning forwards, Coo sneers at me. “There is no way you could pull that off without being stopped by FI-9. Your little bluff is… cute.” Her words drip with venom. “But you will never be anything but a brownie.”
“I am the queen of Raza,” I say, lifting my chin. “And I have already pulled ‘that’ off. When’s the last time any of you talked to your seconds?”
Dragons Coo and Chi push to their feet, their palms slamming down on the table. “Where are our daughters?” they both roar.
“Safe. For now.If,”I say, my heart hammering, “you agree to drop all charges against my king.”
“Being royalty does not make you above the law,” Petre says.
“Nor does being on the Court. I have been informed by the head of FI-9 that one or more of you are traitors to the crown. Richard knew that the day of the vote, so he did what he thought he had to to protect Raza’s queen. If you force him to honour that, you are all complicit in blackmail and aiding and abetting a terrorist.” I swallow, hoping they can’t tell I’m sweating like crazy. Evangeline did her best to coach me on what to say and how to say it, but she isn’t here, and at our last session, I’m pretty sure she muttered, “He’s so going to die.”
“Release my daughter,” Dragon Coo growls, “or we will order him to be executed the day after your coronation.”
Petre glances at her coldly but doesn’t go against her, and I start to panic. Evangeline told me that the only one I’d have to sway is her mother. The rest will fall in line now that Tanya is dead.
“Then I’ll kill every single one of your seconds,” I lie. “And I’ll start with your daughter, Coo.” I giggle. “Then yours, Chi.” More laughter breaks free as I look at the two seething Dragons. “Because Evangeline’s right.” Raising my hand, I point at them. “There’s something really fishy about you too.” I laugh so hard I snort. “And I don’t think it’s your vaginas because they would have to be used to smell fishy, and something tells me, no one wants to have sex with you. Though, I’m just saying –” I’m laughing so hard, my face hurts. “You might want to try it to get that stick out of your ass. Though maybe…” I wheeze. “Don’t try anal.” I press a hand to my stomach. “Or it’ll shove that stick so far up you that it pops out of your mouth. Which sounds like a great way… for me to kill… your daughters. With a stick up their butt, not by me fucking them.” I laugh as I look at my king. “Even though I need to practice my pegging.” I wink.“But we’re… we’re…” Buggers, what’s the word? “Mongolians!” I shout triumphantly as I snap my fingers.
