“Perfect,” he says.
A knock sounds from the door.
“Come in,” I call.
The door opens to the wicked grin of a red-haired soldier. Sir Max stands tall and proud, bright green eyes twinkling with roguish mischief. He etches a low bow and says in that warm husky voice, “The king will see you now,my lady.” His words are a light tease as he takes a waiting step back into the hall.
I glance at Zadyn and take a big breath, readying myself to go head-to-head with my father.
13
My palms are so sweaty.
That’s my predominant thought as Zadyn and I sit at a circular table in the council room, across from my dad—I’ve got to stop doing that—thekingand the members of his small council.
At the round table sits the Master of Coin—a pale, High Fae male with long, lustrous, blue-black hair and narrowed eyes, called Lord Gronwen. Beside him is the High Priest, a bald fae in billowing blue robes whose soft, wrinkled skin makes him appear close to Gnorr in age. Across from him sits the king’s Head of Records, Lord Conwell, a stunning male with golden-brown skin and electric blue eyes.
Standing behind my father’s right shoulder is Jack.Jace.
Silence falls after the introductions, and the king watches me, his expression hard and unreadable. I’m wondering if they’re expecting me to say something. I chance a look at Zadyn, and he nods his head in silent confirmation.
“For those of you who don’t know me—which is all of you,”
Strong start.
“My name is Serena Avery. This is my familiar, Zadyn—” I glance at him then, just realizing that I never learned his last name.
“Rhodes,” he supplies.
The king’s eyebrows raise as he leans forward.
“Not the Rhodeses of Cardynia?” he asks doubtfully, narrowing his eyes.
“The very ones. I believe you know my father, Zorren Rhodes.”
A laugh breaks through the king’s stone-faced stare. It sounds so much like my dad that my heart twists to hear it again.
“Zadyn.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “You’re grown. You were just an infant when you left court. Your father,” he recounts fondly, “fought beside me in every battle since we were seventeen. He was my oldest friend.” A look of sadness crosses his features. “Gods, you look just like him.”
Zadyn’s jaw clenches, and I feel him tense beside me.
“When did it happen?” he asks quietly.
“Nearly a year after your departure.” The king’s regret is sincere. He rises to his feet, glancing between us while Jace eyes him warily.
“They said she was found with a familiar, but I never suspected…it worked then. You found her. I had my doubts when she first arrived, but this…” He trails off. “Why didn’t you come to me sooner?”
“Frankly, I wanted to make sure you could be trusted not to harm her,” Zadyn says.
“What worked?” I ask.
The king finally looks at me.Reallylooks at me for the first time since being here.
“Good gods, it actually worked. I had all but given up hope.” He marvels at me, like a sideshow curiosity.
Rising to my feet, I demand, “Tell me what worked.”
He motions for me to sit back down.
