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“I’ve heard similar accusations.” Lady Wormiful sneered at the king down her long nose. “Just yesterday, several of my territory’s archons came to me with concerns about your involvement in the state of our continent. Apparently, this isn’t the only looking glass that contains very disturbing revelations about your actions. They also reported about a dark web of blackmagic that had been in an Isalee field, which is exactly what that looking glass shows. How do you explain all of this, Your Majesty?”
Her biting accusation had just enough malice behind it that her meaning was clear, while at the same time, the Kroravee archon portrayed the picture of an eager territory leader who only wanted to seek the truth. She truly was a snake, and a complete master at manipulation.
My father’s nostrils flared. “I am thekingof the Solis continent. I do not have to explain myself to you or anyone else.”
Ilara’s chest heaved, and magic shimmered around her, but she’d gained enough control of her temper that the fire that’d flared around her hands disappeared.
“All of your concerns about the king are valid.” Her bold statement rang through the room. Digging her nails into her palms, she took a step closer to my father. “King Novakin, you ordered the death of my family for speaking the truth of what was happening on our continent. You treated them as though they were traitors, but the only traitor in this room isyou. You enlisted the help of that warlock in exchange for innocent fae to be fed to him. You had that warlock create the veil of death that sank deep within our land and destroyed all of the crops. You created all of this dissent simply because you wanted to gain support for an invasion on our peaceful southerly neighbors, and all because you wanted to extend your territory for your own personal ambition. And not once did you care what it did to our fae. Theonly tyrant in this room is you. The only fairy in this room that belongs in the dungeons isyou.”
Silence reigned following Ilara’s accusations.
Pride surged through me.Gods, she’s magnificent.
“Your Majesty, what do you have to say for yourself?” Lord Crimsonale raised his eyebrows. “These are very egregious actions that you’re being accused of.”
My father’s hands pumped into fists, but he ignored the Osaravee archon. Small blood vessels burst under the king’s skin, causing his cheeks to grow even redder. “I should have killed you when I had the chance,” he whispered to Ilara.
Snarling, I stepped around my mate and placed myself between her and the king.
“Archons of the Solis territories,” I roared. “I ask you to listen to my plea. As you have seen, we have proof that the king of the Solis continent has committed treason upon our land and our fae. He has sought to starve our citizens. He commissioned the help of a dark magical creature from theotherrealm in order to accomplish such a task. He is responsible for the murder of dozens of innocent fae within this very castle in order to fuel his self-serving ambition. And he did all of this simply to gain support for an invasion of the Nolus continent. All he wants is to expand his power at the cost of our fae. He does not care for the well-being of you or this continent’s children. He is not fit to rule this land. Therefore, I am enacting an ancient accord. I hereby challenge the king of the Solis continent for the right to his throne. Do I have your support?”
I replayed the looking-glass recording again. All of the archons looked from it, to their king, then to me.
Veins swelled in my father’s neck. “I’ll torture your mother the next time I see her.” The king’s whispered comment flowed to my ears, and my ears only on his affinity. “I’ll do it slowly. Weeks, no,monthsof pain because of what you’ve done here today.”
“You’ll never touch her again,” I snarled.
The king’s eyes bulged when my affinity stabbed into his soul. His chest rose in sharp breaths, and his eyes began to roll back in his head.
“Norivun.Stop.” My mate’s hand on my arm broke through the bloodlust that threatened to consume me. Her life-giving affinity curled around my power, stroking it gently and extracting its claws. “We need the council on our side. If you murder the king right now, all hope will be lost. Don’t.”
Her quiet plea and the push of her love along our bond doused the darkness inside me. The fury that had clouded my vision dissipated. I latched onto her love, her goodness, her kindness. She was my light.
Her life-giving affinity wrapped around my death more, caressing it. Soothing it.
I softened the hold on my father, and the king sucked in a breath.
“This is madness. All of this! These accusations are preposterous, and look who they’re coming from.” Lord Woodsbury shot an accusing finger at my mate. “That female was supposed to marry my son, yet she defied the king and married the prince. What is this treacheryyou bring to us now, Lady Seary? If anyone should be thrown in the dungeons here, it’syou, not the king.”
“Are you denying what you’re seeing with your own eyes?” Lord Crimsonale shot his hand toward the scenes portrayed from the looking glass, still streaming across the domed ceiling since I’d commanded it to repeat. “You can see for yourself that the prince made a fairy bargain. If that creature was lying, the gods would have struck him dead.”
“How do we all know this isn’t just a trick, Gregorian?” Lord Woodsbury placed his hands on his hips and waved at the looking-glass image. “How do you know all of this isn’t an illusion? Perhaps the prince is working with strange creatures from theotherrealm, and it’s not the king at all who’s behind this.”
“That is something my son would do.” The king nodded. Tension rolled through the air as we both stood toe to toe.
“I’m not lying,” I somehow managed to hiss through my teeth. “And what you’re seeingisn’tan illusion. I’ll make a fairy bargain with you right here and right now declaring it so. If I’m lying, the gods may strike me down.” I arched an eyebrow at Lord Woodsbury. “What you’re seeing is the truth. The king is behind the missing fae within this castle. He knowingly and willingly put every single Solis citizen at risk by what he’s done to our crops. So would you like to make a bargain, Lord Woodsbury? Would you like to be tethered to me by the gods for your inability to believe what alooking glassis showing you?”
“You know the truth of the magic of looking glasses,” Lord Pinebeer said quietly to him. “There’s a reason only fae with a truth affinity can forge them. Stop being so foolish, Lord Woodsbury.”
The Isalee Territory archon’s chest puffed up as he straightened his lapels. “I...I do not need to make a bargain with you, Prince Norivun.”
“So it’s settled then?” Lady Wormiful’s eyebrow arched. “We’re all in agreement that what we’re seeing is true, as troubling as it is?”
Everyone’s attention darted around. The territory leaders assessed each and every archon in the room. Wariness floated through the air.
“This is most concerning.” Lady Busselbee finally said, breaking the quiet. She shook her head and brought a hand to her chest. “But it does shed some light on other things I’ve heard. There have been some disturbing whisperings among the citizens this week. They’re also saying that Prince Norivun didn’t kill dozens of fae who came to this castle with concerns about the crops. Instead, they’re saying that he protected them. Safeguarded them.”
“It’s true.” I kept my wings in tight. The king’s eyes narrowed in my direction. “My father ordered all of their deaths yet made me look like the tyrant who wanted it so. But I refused to kill them. They were all innocent fae who were concerned about the state of our land. My father wantedmeportrayed as the villain, so he ordered me to execute them, but Ididn’t. I hid them instead, and now, they’ve come out of hiding and are speaking the truth.”
