Page 13 of Beauty

That rumor will get Gillian strung up, and no amount ofmagic will stop it. Gillian can try, and she might take out a few, butGillian’s magic tends to be more about helping than defending. And no matterhow often I trained with sword and knife and bow, I can’t stop the troops bymyself.

“Can you think of any way to quell such a rumor?”

Bastard. “I think no one would believe it if hersister married someone as important as the mayor.”

He has me in a corner, and he knows it. We’ll be forced toflee, but not before the harvest. Everything we have is invested in that wheat,and until we have the coins in our pockets, there’s nothing to do but agree andpray that planning a wedding takes lots of time.

“Excellent.” He sits back, completely satisfied. “Pass meone of those lovely sandwiches, dear. And pour me some tea.”

Feeling like one of the clockwork dolls my cousin, Dante,loved to bring me from the Vampire plane, I move as though wound up and set toa task. Pass sandwich. Pour tea. Don’t thrust the knife in his neck.

“See, you do that with such grace. An excellent wife,indeed. And I was describing you to the queen. What a beauty. She’s eager tomeet you, dear. I believe she’s planning a visit in the next few months.”

I pass him the tea and pray Gillian found somethingstronger. She’s going to need it. And we’re definitely going to need to run.The last thing I can do is meet the queen. I already met her—on the day shepledged herself to be Beck and Cian’s bondmate. Queen Maris eagerly entered ouruncle’s bed.

The mayor chats on, but I pray for darkness. Sleep is theonly place where I feel safe.

Chapter Four

Lachlan

I take my seat at the far end of the table,bitterness spreading through my veins.

“Don’t.” Shim sits down beside me, smoothing over the cleantunic he donned for this meeting. “You know why he does it.”

King Fergus sits on an ornate throne placed at the middle ofthe long table. It’s the position of honor. This is the room he uses to receivehis guests. It’s a large hall that can hold a banquet or play host to a seriesof negotiations. Long ago, the twin smaller thrones that should be set for theprinces of the realm were moved out, leaving room only for my father, the king.

The seats closest to him are reserved for people in thehighest positions. Naturally Shim and I are at the end of the table.

“Father is an idiot. He makes us look weak.”

“Because he thinks we are weak.” Shim sighs and looks up thetable at the host of Fae our father considers more important. Including theSeelie twins. “He thinks we’re dying.”

For a long time, I thought Shim would die, too. It’sunspoken between us, but Shim never fully regained his previous strength afterthat fateful night and the long period of a fugue-like sleep that followed.

Maon, the king’s seneschal, walks up behind us. He looksdown his patrician nose, his voice the tiniest bit shrill. “Because you two arebloody dying and you know it. This is a power play. If you give in and take abondmate, your father will restore your rightful place.” He softens a bit. “Noone wants to see you here. You should be at his side. Your cousin Julian canbring you a mate within days. Say the word and it will be done.”

A bit of Lach’s rage quells. Maon, for all his snobbishness,really is loyal. It would be easy for a truly ruthless man to let us fade. Maonwould likely be king since as far as everyone believes, Gillian is dead, andShim and I will fade. Still, Maon pushes us, ever devising new manipulations toforce us to take a mate and live. There’s only one problem with the scenario.

“We already have a mate.” It’s the only reply I can give.

Maon stands, and his mouth flattens in a derisive frown.“The princess in the tower. Yes, I’ve heard the tale. And you two wonder whyyou’re relegated to the end of the table. You’re lucky he allows you to be hereat all. Your minds are going. And tell that damn gnome to keep quiet.” He tapson the table. “Yes, we all know you’re here.”

Duffy’s squeak can be heard through the room.

Maon walks away, taking his place among the important men ofthe kingdom.

Duffy’s head comes up. “I tried to sneak in quietly.”

Shim scoots over. “It doesn’t matter. Come on up. They knowyou’re here.”

The gnome huffs as he pulls his body up and into the chairbeside Shim. “Don’t know as I like the way everyone talks about you.”

I shrug. “I do know how I feel, but no one seems to care.” Istare at the Seelie twins. They’re everything legend would have them be.Perfect in form and function. They look like twins. Neither of them has aruined face, and everyone takes them seriously.

My hand slides over the left side of my face, touching thescarred flesh there. I steal a glance at Shim, who’s gone pale, his eyessliding away, guilt evident every time I remind him of that terrible day.

“So we’re meeting the Host, eh?” Duffy sits forward,watching the door with a fierce look on his face. He used the formal name for agroup of sluagh. The Host. No one wants to deal with the damn Host. Duffy’stiny hands clench into fists. “I think I can handle them. After all, they’renothing but shade, right? Warriors of the Fae should be able to take them downno trouble.”