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“What do we do?” Rue asked.

Greyson leveled an assessing gaze on Rue. “Adjust our approach. What did the king want with you and Sicilia?”

“He said he wanted to speak with the mates of his potential sons. Instead, he put a persuasion spell on Sicilia and tried to compel me to speak against my will.” Rue shivered.

“On what topic?” Greyson asked.

“He wanted to know my bloodlines, but that was only the beginning. He wasn’t able to reveal further intention before Kent and Nerio arrived.”

Greyson nodded. “And then you insulted the king.”

Rue’s chin rose. “Only if confronting him with the truth can be called insulting.”

The Dullahan’s mouth hitched slightly. “The king believes he is above such accountability, and woe to anyone who tries to demand it of him.”

“I only spoke the truth.” Rue shook her head.

“The greatest offense of all.” Greyson let out a huff of frustration. “To make matters worse, Nerio rejected Sicilia’s claim to be his mate and accused her of manipulation. The only thing worse than a giggly female is a dramatically distressed one.”

He massaged his temples. “Additionally, the king is now calling for an immediate conclusion to the matter of his heir. Apparently, he wishes to disavow both you and Nerio publicly on account of your mates, which makes Stanton his choice by default despite the fact he hasn’t met that nasty piece of work.”

“That would put the king at substantial risk. Lord Stanton killed for his current title, and he is intending to do so again if the opportunity presents itself.” Rue’s statement turned my whole being cold.

Greyson swung around and narrowed his eyes at Rue. “Killed whom?”

Rue blanched under Greyson’s scrutiny, but she didn’t back down from her claim. “I—I don’t know. I just know Stanton has killed for power before.” She swallowed. “I can sometimes sense intentions. They have to be strong, and the person needs to be physically near. Even then—” She shrugged.

“How reliable is this sense of intentions?” Dark shadows grew and writhed in the corners of the room as Greyson’s magic responded to his sudden apprehension.

“Very.” Rue swallowed hard. “I have only been wrong once.” She rushed to explain. “I predicted a coworker’s relationship souring, but my warning fell on deaf ears. My prediction was a week in the future and it happened a month later. He beat her within inches of her life.” Wrapping her arms around herself, Rue shivered again.

“So, accurate about intentions, not so reliable about timing. Understood.” Greyson nodded in the direction of the king’s chambers. “What exactly did you see back there?”

“The king wants an heir he can manipulate. Whether it is directly or by holding sway over the new queen, he doesn’t care.”

“Not really a surprise.” Greyson snorted. “However, if he thinks that Stanton is going to be pliable, he will be very disappointed.” He turned to me. “Any other recent revelations I should know about?”

“The king has lost all connection to the land,” Rue added.

Greyson nodded. “We suspected as much. The curse cut him off, which is why there is great pressure to secure a new king connected to the magic of the land. Without a king who can access the land magic, the Unseelie court and lands are going to grow increasingly untamable. It is for the security and health of the realm that we have sought the true heir.”

“Then you should know,” Rue said. “The magic of the Wild Wood has meshed with Kent’s.”

Greyson swung around to face me like an annoyed parent. “And when, pray tell, were you going to tell me that?”

“I didn’t know,” I protested. “At least, I didn’t know for sure until Rue confirmed it a few moments ago.”

Greyson’s expression was an odd mixture of surprise and annoyance, which was an unusual level of expressiveness for his taciturn nature. Turning on his heel, he stalked away from us to face the far corner of the room. Rubbing his face with his palms, he muttered something about incompetent idiots before turning back to me.

“Then everything is settled. You are our next king.”

“What do you mean it is settled?” I demanded. “From what I understood, I had to prove my bloodline.” I didn’t trust this news, and I didn’t like the bubbly sensation growing in my chest. It felt like panic, but it also could’ve been land magic responding to its choice being accepted.

“Apparently, the Wild Wood eliminated the need for that plan. Whether or not you are the physical offspring of the Unseelie king, the realm has declared you its choice.”

“And everyone will accept that?” Rue asked.

Greyson shrugged. “If Kent provides proof of the joining, they must.”