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I really didn’t care if they were set free or stayed enslaved. As queen, I would uphold my end of the bargain for an alliance with the Acture Court. I couldn’t picture the Heathern Court having much to offer as far as alliances went when this was all said and done.
“Maglehmore! Don’t speak such nonsense. You think we can go back to paying Fae to serve as cooks and maids in the castle after five years of free work? You can kiss your pretty gowns goodbye if that’s the case.”
He meant Frannie’s pretty gowns. I only wore them because he forced me to. Third task as queen, tell everyone to get the fuck over it and let me wear pants.
“Sorry, Father. You’re right and I spoke out of turn. When I’m queen, I hope I’m able to tame my tongue as I should.”
Ottack gave me a soft smile and reached his arm through the space between the small sitting couches and patted my leg gently. “I’m sure that you will and sooner than you’ve imagined.”
“I beg your pardon?” I coughed as I sipped on my tea. What was in the works now? What was this stupid old man doing?
“The Acture Court is making it known what side they are on. Loud and clear.” He huffed. “And so will we. I’m making arrangements for your marriage.”
“With?”
“With King Ganglin.”
For a moment my heart quit beating in my chest. For a moment I wasn’t even really alive at all. Dead on the spot. His words had done it, they had finally ended me. Until I remembered the poison in my pocket.
Nothing had been announced yet, nor had anything been made official. Time could work to my advantage, but my father’s untimely death couldn’t be postponed, it had to be now.
“You and King Ganglin will make a lovely couple!” Frannie cooed, nodding with a full smile. This was one of the moments where I couldn’t believe Frannie’s stupidity; it had to be fake. Everyone knew King Ganglin was cruel. I might have liked being choked in the bedroom, but the gods knew King Ganglin would refuse a safeword. How embarrassing would it be to die in bed with that evil man?
That marriage could put me on the losing side of this war. My father couldn’t see it, but I did. The Fae in our army would do us no good against the other courts and a Nymph army full of rage. Did he really think them so weak after they had taken King Ganglin’s castle out from under his nose in the middle of the day? If anything, my father’s belief in his own capabilities was what was outrageous.
“Father,” I said, working to keep my tone as calm as possible, “King Ganglin doesn’t have anything to offer me. He doesn’t even have his own castle right now.” I set my cup down against the table slowly, as if any sudden movements I made would only cause my father to lash out at me in a vicious, vile manner.
“Dear, that is why I’m sending my army to get it back. He will have everything that is rightfully his in a matter of time. Then it will all be yours.” His voice was a velvety purr. A threat covered by a seductive tone.
What he didn’t say was that when everything was mine, it really meant that everything was his. Because in his eyes, I was his property too. If I owned the Heathern Court, then so did my father.
“No,” I said, all too abruptly.
Ottack’s eyes widened as he watched me, his hand rubbing at his thick blonde beard. Without looking, he pointed toward Frannie and motioned toward the door. “Frannie, leave.”
“Oh, is tea over then?” Her lips turned down in a pout.
“Not over, but I’d like to speak with my daughter alone. We’ll spend some time together later, I promise, darling.”
Everything in my stomach threatened to come back up at the thought. Frannie stood, curtseyed, then ushered herself to the door, only stopping to place a gentle kiss on the King’s cheek.
I wouldn't miss her presence, and my father asking her to leave only made my task easier. No witnesses. Not that anyone would take her word against mine. I was the princess, she was a whore. It didn’t matter if she dressed herself up in the finest royal gowns, she had sold her body to the king and she’d never be anything more.
The door clicked shut behind her. My father’s weary gaze was quickly growing angry as he continued to watch me. He wasn’t prepared for me today. He wasn’t prepared for the day that I was going to fight back.
“Father, I can’t marry King Ganglin. You know that would be hell for me.” My life was already hell.
“All marriages are hell, Maglehmore. You should be happy. King Ganglin is in alliance with us, he is handsome, and he is rich.”
“Those all sound subjective.” I sniffed. “I don’t want to marry him. I won't.”
“Oh, you will,” he said firmly. His fingers curled into his palm, making a fist as he stretched his arm against the couch. “You will accept this marriage because it is not your choice, it is mine.”
“And if I don’t show up to the wedding?” I leaned forward in my seat.
“You’ll show up because I’ll drag you there by your fucking teeth. Do you hear me, little girl?”
Little girl. You want to talk to me like that? You want me to call you old man? Disrespectful fuck.
