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The muscles in my shoulders tightened again. I was going to have to push Lord Rein off the fence he so often sat on when it came to High Council matters. Otherwise, those at the High Court would, without fail, believe the issues along the northern border with the lesser fae were the northern Houses’ issues alone so long as they did not touch the High Court. But when it finally did affect the High Court, and it would eventually, the King and the other lords and ladies would demand action.
I’d answered the call of my King in the last war, at great personal cost, while others had sat on the sidelines maneuvering for personal gain. I would not be the High Court’s martyr.Not this time, not ever again,I promised myself.
Grey knew me well enough to pick up on my subtle displeasure.
“You have some other things on your plate right now, Jay, that I need you to devote your full attention to,” he added.
Things that the King had not even shared with the other members of the High Council.
I pursed my lips together, knowing my friend was right, at least about the part where I had other things to do. I could not be in two places at once, not even if Nik agreed to travel me everywhere, and I had other issues that required my immediate attention.
* * * *
“How can you say that, Jay?” she asked with fire in her voice.
My disagreement with Grey still on my mind, I’d merely suggested to Alarie that maybe not having lesser fae lords and ladies at the High Court was the natural order of things, after all.
I’d made my way back to the manor, having taken wine and supper with the King. I’d thought that I would have to take reports from Luke and Alarie the following day, but when I’d arrived at the manor, I’d found Alarie in my bar, reading.
“Alarie,my dear,” I reproached, feigning exasperation, “youmustallow me to finish my thought.”
My tone was one of reprimand, but the truth was that I was not exasperated at all. As the King’s Contra and spymaster, few ever argued with me, and most thought complete silence was the safest and only course of action when in my presence. But over our time together, it seemed that Alarie had forgotten to see me as my role at Court. It was refreshing to have conversations with someone who was not too intimidated to challenge me.
I also appreciated the unique perspective Alarie added to our conversations, perhaps because she was half lesser fae, or perhaps because of where she was from. Or perhaps it was simply because she didn’t know enough about my position at the Court just yet to be intimidated by me like everyone else.
She stretched out her arm before her as if giving me the floor to speak.
I raised an eyebrow at her in warning, but it didn’t stop a smirk from forming on my lips before I proceeded.
“I fought in the war next to lesser fae whom I considered close friends—friends who did not all make it out alive. If lesser fae want to be here, then, as far as I’m concerned, they’ve earned it. But, Alarie,” I said, my gray eyes boring into her, “you have to realize, in this political climate, there are ramifications for voicing this support at the High Court right now. My status allows me the freedom to express my support openly. But this is something you need to be aware of for your own sake,” I cautioned, my eyes tracing the gold that ran through her green eyes.
“What about the King?” she asked, looking away from the intensity of my stare. “Does he share your support of the lesser fae?”
“The King…” I chose my next words carefully. “His late wife was half lesser fae. While she was around, it almost felt like the invisible line between the high fae and the lesser fae at the High Court was erased. But after she passed, the presence of the lesser fae at the Court seemed to lessen. And like the dying magic, the influence of the lesser fae at the High Court diminished. It’s a difficult subject to address with the King due to the loss of his love. But, yes, my friend and I are of a like mind on this topic. Unfortunately, there are some at the High Court who are not,” I finished.
“Jay, I’m sorry for—”
“Don’t apologize,” I interjected fiercely. “Never apologize for standing up for what you believe in, Alarie. Not to me. Not to anyone. I want you to feel free to challenge me. So long as others are not around.”
She gave me a small nod.
“Anyway, the issue I was alluding to, Alarie, is more one of retention. The lesser fae who do make it to the High Court never seem to want to stay. Take the liaisons who come out of the liaison program you are part of. They almost never stay at the High Court after their one year is up,” I said, bringing the conversation back to my original point.
Emboldened by my words, she said, “Well, since you asked for it… it seems to me that issue is really some kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. The reason that the only lesser fae still around are servants is that almost everyone at the High Court thinks the lesser fae should all be fucking servants.”
The girl has a damn dirty mouth. But she also had a point.
8
Alarie
Lady Vitruvian returned to the High Court in anticipation of the Summer Ball. She was lovely, if plain, with hazy blue-gray eyes, long blonde hair, and features picturesque of a high fae lady. Lady Vitruvian’s hair had a slight curl to it as she stood in the foyer in a dress that sparkled with sequins in the light of the grand chandelier. Her gown, I noted, must have cost more than the collective price of every piece of clothing I’d ever owned in my entire life—that is, before the high lord bought me a new wardrobe.
I stood across the foyer from her in a less ostentatious, yet no less elegant, gown. It was a deep, dark blue satin slip of a dress, simple, with thin straps that accentuated my petite shoulders. The dress was backless, so I couldn’t wear a bra with it; instead, I’d chosen to embrace the fact that my nipples poked through the delicate fabric. My sleek, dark brown hair fell past my breasts with a small curl at the ends. The lady and I waited in polite silence before turning to the sounds of the high lord’s footsteps. He appeared at the top of the white-and-gray marbled stairs dressed in a fitted blue tuxedo, his muscled shoulders jutting out of his jacket like wings that tapered at his waist. His resoundingly commanding presence held our attention until he stood at the bottom of the stairs between us.
He turned toward me first, acknowledging me with a nod of his head before turning to his wife. I think Lady Vitruvian’s eyes tightened just a fraction when she noticed the way my dress complimented Jay’s tux, perhaps suspecting where my dress came from. Indeed, I’d come out of my shower that day to find the gorgeous gown and heels sitting at the end of my bed, perfectly sized and worth more than anything I’d ever had on my body.
If Lady Vitruvian was displeased, Jay did not acknowledge it. He stiffly took her by her elbow and led our charge toward the Ball. Having, at last, given up on my crush on the high lord, the sight of him with another woman didn’t sting nearly as much as I thought it would. In any event, my focus remained on my first appearance at a major Court event.
