And yet they begrudge the Fae their origin in the Spiritland, even though it is the Fae who build breathtaking cities, palaces, and temples, while the Vikans seem content with dirt and simplicity.
Hags don’t begrudge you shit, Aidon chimes in my head.
I roll my eyes.I have no idea why you defend them so much.
They are fine.
They aren’t.What a freaking joke that I need to prove myself before them.
I add an extra sway to my hips as I make my way towards the largest table at the front of the room. Margorate and her cronies are already there. What makes my brows furrow is the sight of my unfortunate companions having a fucking blast with them.
I suppose loyalty is hard to come by these days.
Scarlet eyes turn in my direction.Such dramatics, and you call me disloyal, while you’re the one deliberately hiding something.His mental tone drips with accusation. I tuck theshitty comment away for later. I don’t have time to waste on traitors.
I don’t rush. Each step echoes, my studded boots striking the floor, the only sound in the room. No one looks up. Apparently, the High Queen’s arrival isn’t worth the attention.
“Your Royal Highness, we’re honoured you’ve joined us,” Margorate calls out. “Finally.”
“She needed to prepare herself,” Bogda mocks, and Wisla doesn’t bother to contain a giggle.
“It must take hours to tame those blue waves. You would know if you only cared more about your appearance,” Margorate chastises Bogda, making all three of my males chuckle.
She is not that funny.
“If I’d known official dinners in your mountains only required dirty rags, I would’ve come sooner.” I smile sweetly as I settle into the chair across from Margorate.
“We will make sure to inform you next time,” Bogda says as she lifts a glass to her lips. Margorate raises her hand to silence her, then gives me a small nod of apology.
“How do you like your living arrangements?” She asks.
“As prestigious as the rest of the village.” I reach for my glass, which Margorate poured for me and sniff.
Fae wine?
My stomach knots as Riven pins me with a glare loaded with expectations.
But he can’t expect shit from me. Not anymore.
“Great. The cottage is used only by Beriganders. Even after thousands of years, my warriors still can’t stand the smell of your kind.” Margorate’s smile is anything but pleasant.
Aidon bursts out laughing, and when Riven hits his shoulder, he shoots him a lethal glare but stops.
“You know the trials, don’t you?” She asks, eyeing my glass.
Not drinking will make me look weak. That’s what she was aiming for. Showing I am too afraid to loosen my guard in their company.
Tough shit, I am not.
I take a long sip, and the moment the liquid touches my tongue, my resolve cracks. I’ve been holding myself back for weeks, pretending I didn’t miss it, but the rush of warmth answers the craving I’ve been choking down. The familiar ease unfurls through my chest, comforting and dangerous all at once.
What if she was daring you to do it?Aidon asks in my mind, as I feel the disappointed stare of Riven’s silver depths on me.
I don’t look in his direction.
They’ve forfeited any claim to influence me through their deception.
“Of course I do,” I say. How could I not? My Grandma bragged she was the quickest High Queen to finish both; the Sword and Mirror Trials. One is more lethal than the other. The Sword Trial is the physical battle against my doppelganger, the Mirror is a mental one and will be the hardest for me.
