I was suddenly very glad Thyra hadn’t allowed us to be separated from the rest of our court.
“This is going a touch overboard, Father.” Sian gestured to the guards.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” The high lord’s golden eyes burned through me. Demanding answers.
During my time at Frostveil, Lord Balik had always sounded calm. Soft in the way of a male who was certain of his power and did not need to speak loudly or harshly. Today, restrained anger brimmed in his voice.
I swallowed as I took him in. With golden-brown hair a few shades lighter than Filip’s, dark brown skin, and gold wings, it was easy to see that Lord Tadgh was a Balik. Heavy gold banglesin the shape of a ram’s head weighed down his wrists, and the faintest dark green tattoo swirled out from the corners of his eyes to his temples. A striking man made more powerful by his central position in the room and the family motto hanging above him. The words were in Old High Fae, but I knew just enough of the language to read them.
Family. Honor. Wisdom.
“I allowed you to retrieve them,” the high lord continued. “But now it is I who will speak to this so-calledcourtand determine what is necessary and what is not. Fall in line, my sons.”
Both Filip and Sian cast glances at us, but did as their father said.
“Isolde and Thyra Falk,” Lord Balik continued. “Approach.”
We did, with Vale and Thantrel at our sides. Lord Balik shook his head.
“I did not request your approach, Prince. Nor yours, Thantrel Riis.”
“No one will separate us from our mates,” Vale said loud and clear.
Gasps rippled through the line of Balik children, and I swore I heard Marit squeal.
“Mates . . . I see.” Tadgh Balik shifted in his seat. “I expect there is nothing to be done about that.”
“No, there’s not,” Thantrel replied, shoulders pulled back.
Lord Balik snorted. “I don’t care about your status, Riis. What I care to know is why there are Falk princesses in my city. Why would they bring danger to the southlands?”
“You’ve already done so,” I replied. “Didn’t you leave court without the king’s approval?”
Lord Balik’s eyes narrowed, then swept behind me. I’d bet the fabled sword filled with shadows hanging at my hip that he was glaring at Lord Riis.
“Avaldenn was no longer conducive to the safety of my family.” The Warden of the South lifted his chin ever so slightly. “What with the vampires hunting you, and the continued undignified matches that the king set—and expected to be fulfilled.” He stared at me. “Your presence here puts my family in even greater danger. I should chain you two and send you north.”
“I’ll take blame where blame is due. The vampires hunting fae in Avaldennarethere for me, although I hope you believe me when I say I only killed their prince in self-defense.”
“That does not change the issue of my family’s safety.”
“No, but back to the whole sending me north in chains issue.”
Lord Balik was respected as a fair and thoughtful lord. One who saw sense. I only needed to edge him towards it, make him see that due to his own actions, he wasn’t safe here either. It didn’t matter if I was here or journeyed all the way to the Summer Kingdom. Eventually, Magnus would seek revenge on House Balik for disobeying him.
“You don’t believe that King Magnus is a just and good king any longer, so why would you send me to him?”
“I crave peace.”
Internally, I winced. Peace was not something I could give this male in power. Not yet, anyway.
“I recognize what you want. What it will bring to my people. Which is why I do not want you here,” Lord Balik said. “But more importantly, why I must speak with Princess Saga.”
At Vale’s side, Saga appeared, her face bright, hopeful. How? My hope was diminishing. Perhaps turns at court had made her a better actress than I’d thought possible.
“You stand with them, Princess Saga? You betray your blood and bring the possibility of war closer to Winter’s Realm?” Lord Balik asked.
Saga cleared her throat. “We’re hoping that, if you join us, we might avert war entirely.”
