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They’ve questioned her a handful of times since we’ve been in Spring Court. Ultimately, my people, combined with Hex’s family’s court, have been able to give us protection from the Unseelie, but that is quickly running out.
Even now, our court has gone too far.
When she’s awake, she’s in pain so severe, tears leak from her eyes, and yet, they’ve questioned her on multiple occasions.
A room full of men I considered friends and family huddled around her bedside to demand answers. And then had the audacity to look to me to parcel out my wife’s lies.
Some of them are bonded.
I’d think they’d understand where my loyalty lies, but Ali spoke nothing but the truth...even as she had to sob it out around the pain while begging us to knock her back out.
Each time, I wait for it to be the time Hex snaps and has to be put down. The two of us are powerful, but no match for the council of equally formidable fae.
One day, heads will roll for this. In the meantime, we play their game, because we’re on a very lonely island.
My memories fade. Ali’s tongue brushes mine as her eyes leak from the edges. Her hand runs over the back of my head.
She pulls back enough to speak. “I guess it’s my turn, huh?”
ChapterTwenty
Aline
“We don’t have—”
I cut Silence off, pushing my mouth to his. He can’t force his gifts to work on me. If I want him to see what I did, then I have to focus on the memories I’ve done my best to forget.
I wake up in pain like I’ve never experienced, but I’m drawn out of an unfamiliar bed as though there’s a string wrapped around my chest, yanking me toward something. My arm flies to support my middle as I hobble along an unfamiliar stone-lined hallway.
It’s similar, but different from the Unseelie Castle. The air is warmer, and although the stone is cool under my feet, it doesn’t burn with the bite of cold like it does in the Winter Castle.
I wander for what feels like hours as I’m drawn toward something... I don’t even know what.
My magic pulses.
I halt, leaning against the cool brick of the wall for support.
I listen in on the Seelie Court’s council meeting as they tell my husbands there’s no guarantee Faere will accept me as queen. Even if the people overlook my gifts, that doesn’t mean a thing if I’ve damaged myself past repair.
My only purpose to them is as a broodmare for the next generation and to be a figurehead for my husbands’ rule.
“She’s the best shot we’ve got at keeping the fae as one unified people, even temporarily, until another solution can be found,” Silence says coolly. “The giants and orcs encroach on fae lands every decade. Without a unified army...”
There’s more discussion, but my head swims with pain and possibly whatever herbs they’ve given me to numb it.
“At this point, our best chance at peace very well might be handing her over to the Unseelie council.” I don’t recognize the voice, but my hand flies to cover my mouth as vomit rises in my throat.
“How can you even be sure your union is binding?” Someone new pipes in. This is a female voice, and it sends a shiver through my entire body as gooseflesh erupts on my skin.
“It hasn’t been consummated. You’re not legally bound to her yet,” another points out.
“She’s our fucking soulmate,” Hex growls.
“The union is binding,” Silence says in an icy tone. “If you hand her over, you’ll be offering up two princes at her side.”
I frown.
“The connection is that deep?”
