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Why was he so upset? I’d merely used a winter term to describe him, same as some of the others had done.
“Your Highness, except for the ends of her hair and the dullness of her eyes, she looks exactly like Alina.” Orla gestured to my figure. “She came from the human realm not too long ago. I’m sure her fae magic needs time to remanifest.”
“In fairness, she already looks a lot better.” Dallas finally strolled over to Orla’s other side and continued, “The outfit she wore stank and looked like some sort of strange magical creature, one I’ve never seen before, so there’s no telling what she worships.”
My patience snapped, and I stepped back, needing distance from the Winter King. “If you call the animal that provides the most delicious feast in the world magical and me devouring parts of its body as worship, I could agree with that assessment.”
Dallas grinned wickedly. “What sort of body parts do you devour in the name of worship?”
Cheeks heating, I wanted to vanish into thin air. He was not only flirting with me but also accusing me of doing things with an animal. “Nothing like that. We slaughter the pig and cook the meat, which is what I eat.”
One day soon, I would punch Dallas, but I was already on thin ice with the Winter King. No pun intended. Dammit, these people were rubbing off on me.
King Kieran stepped in front of me, partially blocking me from Dallas’s view.
I should’ve been annoyed. I didn’t need this asshole protecting me, but I couldn’t quite summon that anger. I did note that I could see the outlines of his muscles underneath his jacket.
Orla cut her eyes to Dallas. I didn’t have to know her to understand what that look meant. Shut it. I supported her command.
“You’re just letting this stranger—” King Kieran started.
“You met with Alina only a handful of times and briefly, so for you to accuse her of not being my sister when I’m vouching for her is insulting to me.” Orla’s eyes flashed. “I know better than anyone that this is her, or believe me, I wouldn’t have brought her home. Her presence here complicates everything, which means Alina’s right. We should put off informing the kingdom.”
“First, you know that’s impossible.” Kaley shook her head. “Everyone will know she came back on Havestia. If you hide her, you’ll only upset everyone more when the truth does come out.”
“Not only that, but Muir died earlier this sun cycle. The Comortas will begin within a week. We have the announcement of Alina’s return and the death of one of the oldest and most respected members of the High Court prompting a tournament that hasn’t happened in two hundred and fifty complete season cycles. Not since Caden took the last seat.” The corner of King Kieran’s mouth tipped upward as if he were trying to hide a smile. “According to the High Court’s doctrine, the tournament must begin within seven sun cycles.”
They were throwing around so many terms I didn’t understand that I didn’t even know where to begin. “Havestia?”
Caden tilted his head, examining me. “The sun cycle that occurs every fifty complete season cycles—when the veil between Terrea and Earth is thin enough for us to travel between realms. That’s today, seeing as you’re standing here.”
“You mean Halloween?”
“What the heat wave is Halloween?” King Kieran rasped.
Fine. Two could play this game. “On Earth, it’s when we get naked and have group sex with each other.”
“Oh.” Leanna winked. “That’s how we celebrate winter solstice here in honor of Mother Terrea.”
Okay, that had backfired, and now I had more questions I was too terrified to ask. I wasn’t a prude, but I had zero experience with men. I had stayed away from them and somehow miraculously avoided being abused while in the system, a far luckier fate than that of most of my friends and foster sisters. As soon as I’d aged out, I’d kept my walls high and impenetrable. There was no way in hell I would open myself up to a guy—not when I’d seen firsthand how horrible so many of them were.
Eamon frowned. “This is bad. Yes, she mostly looks and sounds like Alina, but she doesn’t talk like her, nor does she seem to know anything about Talamh. If we introduce her like this to the kingdom …” He trailed off and huffed.
My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth as my muscles clenched. I was as much of a disappointment to them as I’d been to all my various foster parents. I hated that their reaction upset me. I felt like a worthless kid all over again, and I’d worked like hell to overcome that personal demon.
“We don’t have a choice.” Leanna pressed her lips together. “Someone from the royal line on each side must take part in the tournament. That’s one of the rules. Unless Queen Orla wants to give her royal responsibilities to someone else and take part, we have to inform the kingdom of Alina’s return.”
That didn’t sound horrible. “Why don’t you hand over the kingdom to Dallas while you’re in the Comortas?” She had married the prick, after all.
Dallas beamed. “That’s a stunning idea.”
“Absolutely not.” Orla scowled. “There is only one solution. We will inform the kingdom of Alina’s return but keep her at arm’s distance from the people. It’s not like we can make her queen like this, and for frozen sakes, I’ve already been crowned.”
King Kieran’s head jerked back. “You can’t be serious. You’re going to throw her into the griffin’s den?”
“Why does it matter to you, Your Majesty?” Quinley shrugged. “There’ll be one less formidable contender for your brother to slay.”
I tried to breathe, but my lungs refused to suck in air. I choked as if I were drowning. She’d legit used the word slay, and I was certain she didn’t mean it in a good way. Who the fuck was this guy’s brother, and why did he want me dead?
