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“But you fled.”
“Oh, I went back for my little brother.” I tap my claw on the table. “I arrived at the tail end of the conflict and walked into my house to find my mother already dead. I thought my brother was too, and I lost it and went after the leader.”
“Who defeated you.”
I nod. “Mmhm. He did, but my death was only the beginning of a great long life, and I owe it all to a boy.”
“Your brother was the first fae with undead magic.”
“Yes. The moral of the story is, for the undead, this is a new beginning. A chance at life they didn’t get while they were fae. And if I told you about it, you would have done what my mother did. Gone to the current authorities, which are the houses and your brother and even Aamako.” I lean in. “There is a shift in vampire power. Out with the old, in with the older. When you speak with your brother king, tell him I expect him to accept the obvious winner.”
“If you manage to unite the houses…” She swallows, finally understanding. “Notturnos are many, and if they all come together in this Court, the Winter Court will change.”
“We were born here, at the juncture of these rivers, in the freezing cold of the deadlands, and we will rise here again. Undead among the living. All I want is to secure the space for the Undead magic to thrive.”
“And for that, you needed bait. I was the perfect bait.”
I nod. “I would like to make it up to you.”
“You can’t.”
“I’ll try anyway. I can be terribly stubborn.”
“Stop being so charming all of a sudden.”
I smirk. “Your eggs are getting cold.”
“Why are the people in the tower sleeping?”
“They’re sleeping so I can spend some time with you.”
Her blue eyes widen and her jaw slackens. “Pardon?”
“Fleur, but for a few moments in any given span and when you sleep, you’re around people. Everyone is competing either for your attention or your good graces, and you indulge them and make decisions for them and arrange this and that for them. Since you’ve said you’re falling in love with me, I thought I could steal you for a night so that I could indulge you. For once.”
“You want to indulge someone?”
“Not someone. Not anyone besides you.”
She stands and curtsies, a measure of polite society. She plasters on one of those public smiles that I’m sure is sincere, but I dislike it directed at me. I want something private from her, something only for me.
“If you would be so kind as to awaken Evie so that we can depart, my brother, the Summer king would reward you with support should you win the impending vampire war.”
“Fleur, let me court you tonight.”
She shakes her head.
“I’ll wipe the minds of everyone. Nobody will ever know you were here. They won’t know you invited them. Your reputation will remain pristine.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“Fleur, I ask for tonight.”
Tears start clouding her eyes. “But tonight isn’t enough. Can’t you see?”
I run a hand though my hair. “This is all I can give you. I’m bound by night and by undead magic. I can never see the sun, never tan on a boat with you, would hate living in the Summer Court because the nights are short, couldn’t even live in the Summer Court without killing half the population, including your brothers. Maybe not both, but your king and I couldn’t coexist in the same place for more than an evening.”
“I could live here with you. I’ll set up a portal and travel.”
