Page 51 of Let Slip the Dogs of War

I give her the faintest smile. “It is a shame your mother has not opted to return herself. With all the change our realm has seen, a few traditional court members would prove useful.”

Nuala nods quickly, but some of the enthusiasm fades from her gaze. One of the fae with her titters, and I turn a sharp gaze on him. He wilts immediately. If I am to rule this place, then I need to show my strengths and set my own boundaries.

I reach up and settle one hand possessively on the back of Dante’s neck. I have seen his wolves do it from time to time, and besides, it is the only place I can touch and feel the soft warmth of his skin. Nuala swallows hard and her face flushes.

“If you are to take your mother’s place in the court, at least I can be assured you will have someone to turn to should you require any guidance,” I continue. “I do not recall her steering my mother wrongly in the past.”

“I am honoured to hear it,” Nuala says. She knows where she stands now. It is better to get that out of the way sooner rather than later.

“Presenting Oisin Hlyn,” I hear and turn to see the fae who has turned up unforgivably late to the ball.

At first, he does not look interesting at all. He is like most high fae—tall and lithe and good-looking, although his sweep of black hair is cut shorter than any high fae I have seen tonight. The deep blue of his robes complements his dark skin, and he greets Zomo first before turning his attention to the rest of the room.

It is then that I see it. Every flower in this ballroom has turned its face towards him, and the vines closest to him vibrate with excitement. His power brushes briefly against mine.

He is formidable. Not quite as powerful as I am, I think, but he is certainly closer to it than anyone else in this room.

He is also Seelie.

“Who is he?” I ask, careful, despite the sudden tension I feel, to keep the grip I still have on Dante’s neck gentle. Why is he the only Seelie who has been invited? “What is he doing here?”

Nuala drops her eyes. “Oisin is a member of the court,” she says. “Your uncle brought him here a few years ago. I believe your brother has met him.”

Iagan. I study Oisin again. He meets my eyes across the room, and his lips quirk. Dante lets out a faint gasp.

“What is it?” I ask.

Nuala takes a small step back, but she can still hear us.

“He took her,” Dante says.

I do not ask how he knows. A witch he might be, but that means he has magic all the same, and I have no doubt that he will be able to pick up even the faintest traces of the magic that belongs to Ophelia. I locate Grant, who has moved closer to us during the course of the conversation with Nuala. His eyes are narrowed as he watches Oisin, but when he catches me looking, he nods.

I have no doubt Grant can pick up even more of her magic than Dante can.

“Why did my uncle bring a Seelie to the Unseelie court?” I ask. There is no point in asking why my mother would agree to appoint him a position. Either he impressed her, or he amused her. There is no arguing with her decision now.

“No one knows for sure,” Nuala says after exchanging an uncertain glance with one of her companions. “He said that we should strive for a better relationship and that this was a good start.”

“But…?” I prompt.

“But there are rumours. They are not soulbonds, but…”

I nod, and she stops talking. There are always rumours. And the only way to truly get to the bottom of them is to talk to the people involved.

“Enjoy the rest of the ball,” I say because the words it was a pleasure to meet you burn like iron on my tongue. Nuala and her companions withdraw, and for a moment, Dante and I stand alone in the centre of the room.

“What are we going to do?” he whispers. I still have my hand on him. When I look at him, he tilts his head slightly back to meet my eyes.

“We will speak with him,” I reply. “I have done as he asks. There is no reason he would keep her.”

“Why isn’t she here?” Faint panic colours Dante’s voice and I stroke my thumb over his skin. It feels softer here, where he is quite vulnerable, and he lets out a shaky breath.

“I did not know Your Highness would bring such an interesting pet,” a voice says, and I turn to see that Oisin has already chosen to approach us. Zomo has not accompanied him.

“You took someone important to me,” I say.

Dante stands up a little straighter, like the words surprise him. Oisin tilts his head to one side, eyes darting between me and Dante.