AllFreeNovel
Share Us
V
I grasped the shelf near me to hold myself up.
Everyone was in danger. Real danger.
And the evidence I needed was in my hands.
I should get Nicole. I should tell her what’s happened.
No.
I should run. Now.
And so I did. I bolted from Noah’s library, not caring who saw me now since I was a short distance away from the throne room. If they weren’t there, the staff would know where the queen was certainly.
I slowed my walk, stuffing the letter in the front of my dress as I rounded the corner. I didn’t need to be seen holding something with Vanessa’s family seal on it. As I approached the doors, I nodded to both the guards.
“I need to see the queen. It’s an urgent matter,” I said.
They looked at each other, one moving inside while the other trained his sights on me.
They knew who I was; they’d seen me in this room enough times. And the way the guard here was staring at me told me he’d seen a lot more of me the night I was stripped in front of everyone.
I held my head higher, looking through him and at the door. My body quivered once but I refused to let myself go back to that place, especially because of a look from the guard.
A warning went off in my head. I crossed my arms over my body as I realized the secret entrance to Vanessa’s room was, in fact, in the guard’s quarters. Which meant any one of these guards could be plotting along with Vanessa and her family. And seeing Vanessa’s lady’s maid needing to speak with a queen who hates her could be enough of a signal to at least let the nasty duchess know.
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized what dangerous ground I was walking on. This was a well-planned coup, an entire family trying to take over the Unseelie. Not some duchess with a bad attitude throwing her weight around. My poker face fell firmly into place as I reminded myself the penalty for missteps here would be the death of those I loved, and most likely, my own.
The second guard returned, pursing his lips while he looked me over. I cocked an eyebrow at him, daring him to look past my face and down my dress like his partner here had.
“She’s finishing up some papers and wants to know what this is about.”
Think fast. “Well since your friend here can’t stop ogling me, I think you both were present for the little show at the duchess’ welcome party. I’m supposed to come ask for more punishment apparently.”
This was risky. I wasn’t saying Vanessa wanted more punishment for me, but it was implied. I could write it off as the queen had said I needed more punishment if questioned, but either way, still not a solid plan. But it was all I could grasp at that left enough up in the air to potentially be seen.
The color that heated the guard’s face told me he was indeed present and knew very much how hated I was. I looked to the ground, torn between playing off my embarrassment and actually feeling that embarrassment coming back. I’d use it now as I must, not to let it haunt me, but to get what I needed in that moment so that I could save Noah. And the king. And yes, even Her Royal Majesty herself.
The guard walked back in and came out within seconds. “She’ll see you now.”
I nodded to both of them, slipping into the room as the doors closed behind me. I quickly scanned the area, seeing two staff moving plates and water pitchers back toward the entrance. There were no other guards inside, at least that I could see.
I moved slowly toward the queen, who watched me with a cautious look. Her gaze was hard, like she had known my response hadn’t been straightforward, but clearly, she wouldn’t know why.
“I know I’m the last person you want to see, Your Majesty.” I curtsied deeply and kept my voice low enough that hopefully it was only heard between us. “But I have evidence that Vanessa is a threat to the royal family. To all of you.”
I didn’t yet rise, in a desperate effort to show my obedience in a way that would have her open to listening to me.
She scoffed, and my heart sank. More than sank. Plummeted. “I don’t know where you came from, Coraline Fray, but the sheer indignant and entitled disposition you have in this palace has worn thin on me. I don’t want to hear another word of such nonsense, I—"
“Please, this is your life at stake. Noah’s, the king’s,” I begged, taking a small step forward toward her.
That set her off instead of what I’d hoped it’d do. “Prince Noah to you, you insolent girl. Do you have any idea how busy my days are? Any idea the number of critical decisions made day in and day out by this family? Things you’d never comprehend. And yet you come to me with these ridiculous accusations and antics? Because your little heart doesn’t like that my son dared to fall in love with someone other than you?”
She walked behind me, grabbing me by the neck and practically dragging me to the doors.
“Please, if you would just—"
“Enough,” she snarled. “And I do mean, enough. Leave this throne room now, put this from your mind completely, or I will banish you to the Seelie borders.”
I gulped as she released my neck. I didn’t know much about the Seelie, but I couldn’t imagine I’d be treated well coming from the Unseelie kingdom.
I stared at her, too long because she grimaced.
“And I won’t think twice about what they’ll do to you when they find out you were the prince of the Unseelie’s feeder. Now. Go.”
