I know exactly the type.
The eldest of Gaia’s children comes to mind.
Zuriel may have helped me escape the hells, but the act was uncharacteristic for the rigid nyraphim.
My pen returns to the page.
ThatI can use.
“Perfect,” I mutter, mostly to myself. To Lilith I say, “Now, I need all the same details for each of the kings.”
Lilith heaves a small sigh but nods slowly. “Alright,” she says. “Eloric Littleheart, Sovereign King of Renna. The truthteller. Roughly half Ganus’ age. They’re cousins. Not mated.”
As Lilith speaks, my pen flies.
CHAPTER SIX
Were Lilith toever encounter a demon and attempt to negotiate a contract, she would be damned. Damned to the fullest degree. Lilith is the exact type of fae that makes a demon’s job too easy.
I’ll have to sit down with her and explain why she should never do that again. Even with me.
But she delivered on her end of the bargain.
The conniving creature knew more than I expected—despite her centuries long distance from the council. She cleared the table of the scattered books and replaced them with unfurled maps, reminding me of the day before the eclipse—all the Sovereign Kings, their guards, their intense stares at the demon standing among them…
Following Lilith’s breakdown of the Sovereign Kings, she held my attention as she went on to detail each country or nation in Eldoterra. While she admitted her experience with the human kings is assuredly out of date, she was confident the lineages remain the same.
All in all, Lilith proved to be a cistern of enlightenment.
One I should have drawn from sooner.
I suppose all that matters now is I’ll not be wandering witless into a war room filled with fae ready to wag their tongues. I do not envy Rowen and his position, nor do I understand how he has the patience toleadthe High Council.
Nearly twenty-five centuries old, Rowen has ruled Vis for fourteen of them, and led the council for the last ten. He may not have been Sovereign King during the last reign of the High Rulers, but hewasalive. It makes him useful in matters other than the size of his army and willingness to fight.
Also learning which kings are mated—aside from Ryc—leaves much to be desired. There aren’t enough—Vaelyn could approach roughly half the council. The Sovereign Kings of Aeros, Renna, Sol, and Vis all stand without a Sovereign Queen. Vis though… Vaelyn has already approached Rowen.
Not that it would matter if he hadn’t.
The Sovereign King of Vis has already found and lost his mate.
Lilith wouldn’t divulge the details, claiming foggy memory, but it was easy to tell she was uncomfortable recounting what happened. I assume it lends itself into the reason for Rowen’s willingness to sign with Netharis. Either way, Rowen has proven he’s not liable to listen to the god of death a second time.
A small smirk curls my lips with the thought.
I don’t want my twin to fail in his role. But seeing him struggle with his own changes feeds a darkened side of me. A twisted sense of satisfaction settles into my blood. Were he not Netharis’ favorite,Iwould have earned the title of heir of the hells, and I know better than to be making these mistakes.
Regardless, it leaves Aeros, Renna, and Sol—Darin, Eloric, and Fenrynunmatedand open for Vaelyn to approach.
Ryc trusts Fenryn.
And Fenryn’s relationship with Lilith may make him less likely to listen to the god of death. Iwantto say Fenryn is a non-concern, but the truth of the matter is, Vaelyn can be convincing.
Head buzzing with thoughts, I step into the afternoon sun as it pours over the north lawn. A cold wind sweeps through, hailing from the mountains in the north, and I draw my cloak tighter against the chill.
Swift-moving clouds streak across the sky, blanketing the sun and stealing away its warmth. Bright blue vanishes, replaced by dark gray, as I cross the springy grass.
Rain is coming.
