“I have information about Kieran. Information you’ll want to know. But I won’t share it unless you release him.”
“What about Kieran?”
I remain perfectly silent and just stare at her for a beat. “Your bargain with Seven is one-sided. You can break your hold over him at any time. That’s what you need to do now if you want me to stay and share what I know about Kieran and his plan to attack you and Devashire.”
“Kieran is banished,” she says through her teeth.
“Still, when I saw him last night, he was very clear about his strategy.” I pull out the piece of malivite I brought back from Shadowvale and toss it onto her desk.
Eyes wide, she probes me lightly with her power and I let her. I haven’t told a single lie. I let her taste the honesty in my claim.
She drums her fingers on the desk, and I toy with the coin around my neck. She doesn’t even bother to threaten me with force. We both know it won’t work.
“Fine. I will release Seven from our bargain. Now tell me what you know.”
“First release him.”
She lowers her chin and glares at me. “You’re testing me, Sophia, and I’m very close to transforming you into a ferret and tossing you out of here by the tail. I promise you I’ll release Seven as soon as you tell me what Kieran told you.”
“And I have your word on that?”
“Yes,” she says emphatically, her expression full of annoyance.
I lean forward. “Kieran has found a ritual that can take down the wall and meld Shadowvale to earth. He plans to set the unseelie free. He’s garnered help from the goblin kingdom and has been mining malivite to exchange with Rayrcore for their help. When he strikes, you’re going to feel it from every direction.” I shake my head.
For the first time, Godmother looks nervous. She taps the heel of her foot on the floor, her expression going suspiciously blank. “When is he planning this coup?”
“I’ll tell you, but first release Seven.”
She hesitates. I stand and start walking toward the door.
“Fine!” she grits out. She snaps her fingers, and silver threads appear around her. She cuts one with her fingers.
I pull out my phone to text Seven, but one pops in from him before I have a chance.
It’s done. OMG, Sophia, you did it.
“Now tell me!” Godmother booms. Her magic stabs at my skin. The coin around my throat glows brighter, repelling it.
“Kieran is dead,” I say, adding an exaggerated shrug. “So there will be no attack. Toodle-oo!” I wave my fingers.
“Sophia!” The walls shake with her anger, and I hear the pounding of footsteps that I am sure come from her security team.
I pivot. “Yes?”
“You’re sure he’s dead?” Her eyes narrow.
“Positive. He threatened Arden and so we killed him.”
“Do you know who the new king is?”
“Whoever the magic calls, I assume.” I force my face into a careful mask.
“You could have told me he was dead straightaway. You cost me my leprechaun with your scheming. I should have you taken to Ashgate for this,” she says through her teeth.
“But you won’t,” I say. “Because now that you can’t control Seven, you need us as allies. And despite what you might think, Godmother, I believe that you are the best person to lead Devashire, and so does Seven. And maybe someday Kieran’s replacement will surface, and then you might need us to secure your reign. You want Seven in your corner. Trust me on this. And you won’t have that if I’m in Ashgate.”
She leans back in her chair and threads her fingers. It’s with some measure of disgust that she says, “Very well. I’ll expect you and Seven to keep that promise. Now please show yourself out.”
