“No Sorscha?” I ask, sinking into an upholstered chair. Mar shakesher head. I hadn’t expected Zadyn, but I was hoping to at least see the princess.
“She hasn’t really been eating lately.” Cece’s jade eyes link with mine as she sips her tea.
My heart sinks. I’ve been an awful friend to her. With everything going on, I haven’t even been to see her yet. To ask how she’s doing. My friends make idle chit-chat as I peer out the window, too anxious to eat a bite. I eventually drag myself upstairs to the council meeting.
Jace looks up as I pass through the door, his gaze tracking me all the way to my seat. My heart stutters, but I force myself not to meet his stare.
Gronwen, Conwell, and the High Priest are already seated. Sir Max, the new Captain of the Guard, stands stoically behind Jace. Without his bright, lopsided smile and the mischievous quirk of his brow, he looks more like Mal than usual. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.
I hear footsteps as Zadyn and Sorscha enter the room, closing the door behind them. I stand, wanting to run to her and wrap her in a hug, but she looks right past me, drifting around the table to take a seat next to Jace. Her face is vacant and grim, no remnants of the bouncing, bubbly party princess I met when I first arrived in Aegar. Death has ravaged yet another friend, stripped them of their vitality and vibrance, leaving only their lifeblood behind.
I open my mouth, but what is there to even say?
Zadyn sinks into his usual seat beside me, leaning as far away from me as he can manage. As if my very presence insults him.
“Thank you for gathering on such short notice,” Jace says, his intense eyes scanning the round table. He stands in Derek’s place, his palms braced on the table.
But he doesn’t sit in Derek’s seat.
“There are some…pressing matters we need to discuss.” He straightens, adjusting the lapel of his perfectly cut jacket. “Kylian has offered us a deal. In two weeks’ time, he will strike again unless Serena goes with him.”
The lords and the High Priest slide wary glances my way.
“Provided she agrees, he promises to refrain from waging war. If we relinquish the crown to him.”
Gronwen shoots to his feet. “Absolutely not.”
“Just hear him out,” I groan.
“If we don’t agree to his terms, he will march on our land,” Jace finishes.
“Surely, my King, you can see how surrendering the crown will do more harm than good in the long run.”
“Will it?” I ask, earning a glare from Gronwen. I lean back, folding my hands over the table. “We could save countless lives by avoiding a war.”
“What do you think will happen, girl, when you’ve joined him? He will weaponize you like he’s intended all along, and we will all be at his mercy, regardless.”
“No, you won’t.” I don’t flinch from his stare. “Because I intend to kill him. One way or another.”
Gronwen snickers. “I warned Derek about you. That you would be harder to control than a raging forest fire.”
“I’m willing to give myself up to make sure no one else has to die. A thank you would be nice.”
“You are damning us all if you do this.”
“How so? Kylian has promised that you would be protected.”
He throws his head back and scoffs, “You are new to this world and to faerie deals. I’m certainKylianchose his words carefully. There was a reason for that.”
“So you think war is a more suitable option then?” I argue.
“I think with a dragon it won’t be much of a war. Maybe instead of making back alley deals with devils, you should be learning how to wield your dragon’s power.”
I seethe at him.
“Enough.” Jace’s voice cuts through our spat. “Kylian made mention of knowing how to deal with a dragon. We need to find out if he was bluffing.”
“I’ll have my spies look into it.” Max nods dutifully.
