“You want to layer glamours?” Jace eyes him incredulously.
“Temporarily. If her identity is to remain hidden at court, then she should look fae.”
“Why would we need to hide my identity?” I interject.
“Because if other kingdoms catch wind of your presencehere, they will come for you,” Jace answers, eyes leveled with mine.
“Isn’t the truth going to come out, eventually?” I ask the room.
“The most lethal weapons are the ones that remain concealed up until the very. Last. Second.” Gronwen purrs.
I shudder.
“Do it.” The king gives the High Priest a sharp nod. He lifts a hand in my direction, and a soft breeze wraps around me. Before I can protest, he lowers his hands to his lap.
“What did you just do to me?” I hiss.
“Nothing drastic. Now you look the part.” Gronwen smiles like the cat that ate the canary. I dare to lift my fingers to my ears and gasp when I feel the slightly pointed tip. I glance at Zadyn, horrified.
“It’s okay,” he assures me. I relax a little and find my voice.
Turning to the king, I ask, “What do we tell people about Zadyn?”
“The truth. He is Zadyn Rhodes, Lord of Cardynia. Your birthright.” He looks at Zadyn, who, in turn, bows his head in silent gratitude. “Speak of this to no one outside of this room. The only others privy to your true identity will be the guards I place on your personal detail.”
“Zadyn and I had an idea,” I say, earning the curious eyes of every male in the room. “You said that the glamour concealed my magic. But what if it was suppressed because I’ve never drank before?”
The room is silent.
“He said that the Blackbloods fed on Bluebloods to sustain themselves.”
The king looks back to Jace. Something unsaid passes between them.
“Confer with Madame Gnorr on the subject. She may have sources.”
“Sire.” Jace nods to him dutifully.
“Is there anything else you’d like to discuss before this meeting adjourns?” the king asks me.
“Just one thing,” I start. “My friend, Igrid, is a servant here. Can I request for her to be on my service?”
“Done,” he answers quickly. “Welcome to the Court of Aegar, Lady Accostia. Your training begins at dawn.”
14
When we are halfway to our rooms and beyond earshot of the small council, I turn to Zadyn.
“So, I think that went well.”
“It could have gone a lot worse.” His tone is flat.
“You didn’t tell me the extent of your ties to the king.” I glance up at him as we skirt down the lavish hallway.
His expression is indifferent as he says, “The ties were my parents’ really. I was an infant when I left court. I barely know the king.”
“He seemed to know you,” I nudge curiously.
Zadyn stares straight ahead as he speaks. “My father used to sit on his council. My mother was a witch. She helped from time to time.” Finally turning his face to me, his jaw relaxes a bit.
