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“Thequeenwas only Graced just days ago. Surely you all remember how long it took to control your Grace?”
“If she has one,” I heard someone say, but couldn’t decipher who’d said it.
Edris stood tall, his jaw set, “Rest assured, she was Graced. Our queen simply needs time.”
Time, yes,I need time.But for now, the people had to knowIwas in control. ThatIwould not go quietly. And I didn’t need to be pitied or protected by someone who would rather have the crown for himself.
“Enough,” I seethed, hands turning to claws at my sides.
Edris spun to find me glaring at him from the dais. His mouth clamped shut.
Liana…
The phantom voice sent a shiver up my spine, and I turned to see fog spill over the cauldron. Alaric stood still, cocking his head at me. I shook off the tremors. “This absurd questioning is over,” I told them all, turning back and attempting to make eye contact with each of the Fae in attendance.
Liana…it whispered again,run my child, you are not safe within these walls.
Alaric still showed no sign he’d heard anything.
Stop it,I directed the thought at the cauldron,leave me alone.
“You heard the queen. This assembly is over,” Alaric echoed from my side, showing force with a hand curled around the hilt of his sword.
Chapter Seventeen
“What do we do?” I whined, falling backward into my bed, my hands covering my eyes, “If I can’t prove I’m Graced soon, they’ll—”
Alaric sat next to me, “Youwillprove it. And in the meantime, we’ll keep you safe—whatever it takes.”
The truth was, if it was only a matter of passing the crown on to someone else, I would consider it… but it was my duty to ensure the safety of my court, and to make sure the person ruling it was worthy. And once the crown was out of my hands, the nobles would want my head too. They would want to put an end to my bloodline. An ungraced queen would be too likely to produce an ungraced heir someday.
“I have another bit of bad news.”
I groaned, “What now?”
Alaric pressed a small rolled scroll into the palm of my hand, “We caught the emissary trying to send this scroll by falcon. It holds the royal seal of the Day Court.”
Shooting up, I beheld the scroll. The wax seal was green, and showed a tree, its roots long and interwoven, but instead of leaves and branches, this tree held the sun atop its trunk. A letter meant for the queen. The seal hadn’t yet been broken—and couldn’t be. Neither Tiernan, nor the Queen of the Day Court would take to kindly to knowing their private correspondence was tampered with.
“What do you suppose it says?”
Alaric threw his hands up, “Your guess is as good as mine. But it can’t be good. Either it’s an account of what happened at your Blessing Ceremony, or it’s an account of the dissent among your people. Those are the types of things he would report on.”
“Or it’s both.” I mused, wanting to toss the scroll into the fireplace across the room. “Suriel cannot know my court is in turmoil. We still can’t be certain they’re to blame for the assassination of Enya—or the attempt on my life, but if they are…” I trailed off.
“Then now would be the perfect time to strike,” Alaric finished for me.
He stood, pacing the room, “I’ll need more sentries,” he said, head bent in concentration. “The three of us—it isn’t enough to protect you. And Silas is growing impatient, with three more nobles gone missing, he wonders why I haven’t brought the councils selected sentries for your approval.”
“And why haven’t you?”
“Because I don’t trust the council.”
“Nor do I,” I exhaled, dragging myself back into a seated position, “Turn them down,” I told him, “It will take time for them to select new candidates, and while they’re busy doing that, hire sentries of your own, ones you can trust. We can call them… temporary fill-ins—to placate the council for now.”
Alaric nodded, “Alright.”
“And select someone to guard Tiernan as well.”
