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“Who is it?” Idalia demanded.
“A warlock; he says he’s come to make you a deal.”
Her brows lifted to her hairline. “Am I to assume this is one who escaped from one of my sister’s castles during an attack?”
The guard gave her the smallest nod as they weaved through the halls.
“Be ready to take capture of the rogue warlock and subdue him if necessary. Get a few of our warlocks if need be.”
The guard peeled away from her side, leaving her alone to walk the last few steps to the large glass castle doors. More men waited outside the castle, hands on hilts, ready to draw at any moment. At the bottom of the crystal steps, waited the warlock…and fae. The pitter-patter of her heart traveled into her throat. Both excitement and dread fueled the tingling sensation that chased under her skin.
With a simple wave of her staff, the flames inside its globe roared against the glass, and the doors before her opened on their well-managed hinges. The sun was already high in the sky, though it didn’t help the nip that was in the air as it cooled Idalia’s skin further. The queen pointed her attention down on the man who’d requested her presence.
He stood unwavering under the force of her gaze. Deep brown skin far darker than her own, tight black curls, impressive height, and a scowl that poisoned his features with hate. The glow of magic bound the man kneeling at his feet, which would explain the slight sheen of sweat that coated the warlock’s forehead.
The prisoner’s stringy black hair parted over his pointed ears. Though he didn’t look up as the queen was announced, she knew he would likely have sharp pointed teeth too.
A warlock with a fae prisoner…how very odd.
“Queen Idalia, the warlock Shelby Stroud has requested your ear,” the nearest guardsman informed her.
She tilted her chin and raised her manicured brows. “Shelby Stroud. Why have you graced my humble castle?”
“I’ve come to make a deal with you.”
Her mouth stretched into a grin that reached for her ears. Painted red lips revealed bright white teeth before Queen Idalia leaned away to cough a laugh. Several of the guards echoed the sentiment.
What could a warlock offer her that might convince her to strike up a deal with him?Her laughter quelled as those thoughts churned a moment longer. The only thing that might make this even possibly interesting to her would be for the fae to be someone of importance.
Shelby waited with patience that far surpassed her own. He blinked slowly as the laughter came and went. His shoulders straightened to show his true height and the definition of his jaw became more clear as he ground his teeth together.
“Speak, warlock,” Queen Idalia commanded.
His long fingers sunk into the black hair of the fae below him as he tilted his face up to the sun. The Fae squinted and winced as though the sun was too much for him to handle. “I would like to trade Fae Prince Radeem Beudra for the freedoms of my people.”
Prince. Radeem. Beudra.
Now that was someone of interest. A hostage to be held against the current Fae ruler. At what lengths would King Osiris go to save his brother? This could solve the problem of the Fae making their way through the kingdom. This could rid them of the troops stationed at their borders. Then the people might once again see how well she could protect them.
“How can I be sure this is him? And not some other Fae you’ve managed to capture?” Queen Idalia sniffed. How had the warlock even been able to get his hands on him, that was the real question.
“Can you not see the resemblance of King Rome?” Shelby’s voice rose before he shook the Fae and hissed, “Tell them who you are.”
The fae sneered in response.
Shelby lowered to a crouch next to him, looking nothing short of menacing as he bared his teeth against the Fae’s cheek. “Speak or I’ll end you myself.”
Queen Idalia waitedas pale blue eyes slid to meet her gaze. Cold recognition did manage to make its way through her before the man even spoke.“I am Prince Radeem Beudra. And when I get the chance I’ll slit your throat. I’ll kill yo—”
One boot from the warlock straight to the prince’s gut brought an end to the threat. Like a veil, the black strands of hair fell over his face as Prince Radeem hunched into the gravel under him and wheezed. A long string of spit stretched from his lips as he forced in his next breath.
From her fingertips, all the way to the pits of her stomach and up her slender throat, joy from her staff traveled. The feeling morphed into a roaring fit of laughter as it made its way through her. Until she was shaking with it.
“How very cute.” She wiped a pretend tear from her eye. Each tap of her heel on the steps as she descended made the Fae twitch. Dare she say, it made him flinch?
“I want you to swear your oath that you’ll let my people go.”
Queen Idalia’s laughter came to an abrupt end at the warlock’s words. With only a few more steps she was near enough she could reach out and touch the Fae prince who spit at her feet. Holding her staff tighter as it whispered its need to draw blood and the necklace on her throat pulsed, she examined the warlock.
