Page 8 of Queens Will Play

“Hey, love,” Morio said, standing to give me a kiss as I walked over to him. “How was court?”

“Excruciating. I hate it. I have to find a way to make this more bearable. If I have to do this every day for years to come, I’ll go stark raving crazy.”

“What are you thinking of doing?” Morio asked.

“Well, most of these cases could be taken care of in small claims court. Why they want me to adjudicate over these penny-ante cases, I have no clue—” I stopped, snapping my fingers. I knew what to do. Why hadn’t I thought of this before?

“What is it? I can see you have an idea,” Morio said.

“I do. I’m going to start up a small claims division of my court, and I’ll assign a couple of judges. Why not? That’s the way it works among human courts.” I let out a long breath. “That would lighten my load for more serious issues. And it would keep me from wanting to beat the plaintiffs upside the head. Oh Queen Camille, my neighbor planted his roses on my side of the property line… Cripes, I can’t even…”

Morio glanced at Vanzir, who stared at the wall. “She’s going to do it,” he said.

“Oh, I know. I can tell. And it’s going to drive Aeval and Titania into a froth. So, I’m behind you one hundred percent,” Vanzir said, snickering. “Anything to throw a monkey wrench in the works.

“You’re just pissed at Aeval and want to needle her,” Morio said.

“I don’t want to needle her…I want to hit her where it hurts,” Vanzir said. The pain in his voice was all too apparent. “I wasn’t the one who started up things between us. She came on to me,” he said bitterly. “I’d be fine with splitting up—it’s her choice—except for Lahi. I’m no deadbeat father. Aeval wants to kick me out of my child’s life, when Lahi can’t even inherit the throne because she’s half-demon. When Aeval has another child, she’ll leave Lahi behind. I know it. Look what happened with Sharah and Astrid,” he added.

I had to admit: he made a good point. Sharah had seemed like such a nice person—and she was—until she had to take the throne. Her duty was to her people, and so she had left Chase and Astrid behind. Oh, she’d made promises, but fulfilling those seemed to be a far cry from making them.

“So,” I asked. “What are you going to do about it?”

He let out a grumble. “I don’t know, but I’m not taking this lying down.”

Tangling with a Fae Queen wasn’t the best idea, but I understood his anger. Aeval and Titania had always considered themselves above confrontation or reproach.

“Promise me you’ll be careful,” I said, “Aeval’s a formidable enemy. She’s not going to knuckle under without a fight.” I sighed, then added, “Let me talk to her first, okay? I don’t know if I can get through to her, but I’ll give it a try.”

Vanzir shrugged, but nodded. “All right. But she needs to know that I’m not without resources. She can fight, but so can I. And I’m not above fighting dirty.”

“Neither is she,” I said. “Trust me, neither is she.”

As I took the carriage over to Aeval’s Barrow, I tried to sort out how to approach her. Smoky and Trillian had wanted to come with me, but I had put a stop to that idea. All they’d manage to do is to make matters worse. As much as I hated it, I knew how to be diplomatic.

I stood in front of Aeval’s Barrow, bodyguards in tow. As I approached the door, her guards rolled their eyes, but they let me in, and then two of them ran off to let her know I was here. They didn’t like me. Neither did Titania’s crew. Two years after taking the throne, I was still considered an interloper. It had been rough for Morgaine, but at least she’d been part of the nobility. I was some Janie-come-lately, the daughter of a soldier who wasn’t even full-blooded Fae. Still, ten minutes later, I was walking into Aeval’s private chambers.

Her quarters were far more lavish than mine, and I felt like I was entering some gothic fever-dream. We had similar tastes, and we even looked a little alike, but everything in her chambers cost a fortune. Everything in the room was expensive and exquisite.

And Aeval looked the part of a Fae Queen. As usual when I visited her, I felt lacking—as both one of the Fae Queens, and, in some ways, as a woman. Aeval reminded me of myself, except she was an upgraded model. I seldom felt self-conscious, but Aeval was one of the few who could bring back the feeling of not belonging from my childhood.

She stood by the dining table, tall and lithe, with long dark hair and silvery eyes. As she greeted me, the frosty nature of her magic sent goosebumps prickling all over my arms.

“Camille, it’s good to see you looking so well,” she said. Polite words, but the tone of voice told me I was treading on thin ground.

“Can we talk plainly without all the bullshit?” I pointed toward our guards.

Aeval let out a snort. “If you like. You may withdraw,” she said, turning to her guards.

“You as well,” I told my bodyguards.

We waited until both sets reluctantly withdrew, leaving us alone in the room. As the door closed, I turned to her.

“What the hell’s going on? Vanzir’s beside himself. I’m pretty sure Lahi’s not going to be happy, either, if you keep her father from her. It’s not fair and you know it.” I held her gaze. She frightened me, but I wasn’t about to let her see that.

“I’ve made my decision,” Aeval said. “We need strong leaders on the thrones of our courts. Your men are strong and will stand beside you. Vanzir…isn’t strong, and he isn’t devoted to me like I need him to be.” She moved like gossamer and lace, willowy and light on her feet. As she bade me sit, she called for her maid. “Would you like something to drink?”

“A latte,” I said, reluctantly sitting down. “Can you really be so heartless? The man loves his child.”