She’s paler than usual, even her horns an ashen shade. “The best way for you to help is to go to dinner and listen, pay attention, and see what you can learn from that Nightlands noble.” She says the last word with a near-growl. “Now, come. It’s time.” She marches into the hallway. Whatever happened, it hasn’t broken her iron spine, because she strides away from me as I hurry to keep up.
We walk past the large dining room. It’s bright but empty, and we turn a few corners in the maze of white stone before entering a grand, though smaller room. The table is set, and Lucidia leads me to my chair. A servant steps forward to help me, and Lucidia is gone before I can so much as get another look at her.
The servant takes his spot behind me again, and I turn to him. “Is the king coming? What’s going on?”
An older changeling, he looks at me, his eyes a light blue. “Dinner.”
“I know that part, but what’s got Lucidia so upset? Tell me.”
His face grows more hostile. “I don’t take orders from nightling harlots. Your questions are better asked elsewhere.”
I take his insult, then narrow my eyes. “Perhaps you aren’t aware, but all nightlings—including changelings—possess magic. Dark, twisted spells that can turn a daylander into a creature of the night. Into a seeker.” I stand and face him, putting my hands in front of me to summon magic.
His eyes widen, and he stumbles back against a silver buffet. “Get away.”
“Tell me what’s going on or I will change your blood to flowing death and give you an everlasting, cursed life.” I step toward him.
He screams and backs away again, this time tripping and falling, though his eyes don’t stray from my hands.
“Nightling?” Solano’s voice sounds behind me, a curious amusement in his tone.
I drop my hands but don’t turn around. “Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
“Just chatting with this kind servant.” I wink at him and mouth “Later.”
He scurries to his feet and darts through the door to his right. It must lead to the kitchen.
“Did you just threaten to turn him into a seeker?”
I shrug and turn. “His fault for believing I had magic.” I wiggle my fingers.
He laughs, but it doesn’t drain the tension from him. I can feel it rolling off him, and the crown atop his head is already lit, burning perpetually.
I move to him, looking up into those golden eyes that I see even when I dream. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
He hesitates for a moment. But that moment’s enough. He’s keeping something from me. They all are.
“We have a Nightlands noble visiting. He’ll be here shortly.” He squeezes my hands. “I thought perhaps if you dined with us, you could tell me if you noticed anything. Or perhaps you could engage with him about your homeland.”
I lean closer and get on my tiptoes to whisper, “Am I a spy now? I think I kind of like that idea.”
He grips my waist and pulls me to him, my heart galloping away at the contact between us. “Not a spy. Just an observant, clever nightling.”
I smile at the compliment.
“But there’s something I must warn you about.”
“Finally.” I huff, “What’s going on?”
“This noble, Lord Caroldon, isn’t a kind fae. He’s vicious and vile.” He strokes a lock of hair from my face with a gentle touch. “He took the other—”
“Lord Caroldon, my king.” Anolius smacks his closed fist to his armored chest in salute as he leads Lord Caroldon into the room.
The high fae glances at the gilded table, his silver eyes somehow sneering. “I’ve had a rather boring time in my quarters, given that you’ve not allowed me company.” He strides to us, his white skin so different from everyone else here. I’ve already gotten used to the sun-kissed colors that rule this realm.
“So you’re the consort the king couldn’t do without.” He takes my hand and brushes his cold lips along the back.
