“I cannot speak for Everil,” Declan answered, in that calm fae way he put on when he needed to.“For me, seven fae potentials turned me away.So, four hundred years it is.And worth it, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Ah, an act of desperation.You realize, there are those among our subjects who are deeply concerned about this trend.But they, too, are young.They fail to understand the long view.”The sphinx patted the zana’s hand as he spoke.“And that, young Declan, is why the Council’s powers are limited.We cannot have children second guessing their elders.They might act rashly when all that is truly required is patience and careful management.”
Careful management, like only keeping the pretty babies.
Or, like the library dragon had mentioned, they could drive the unseelie to seek human bonds, to get rid of the lot of them in a few centuries.Christ, the last thing they needed was the Monarchs to take to the idea.
“I wouldn’t expect it to catch on,” he said, flat, looking fixedly at the sphinx’s thick eyebrows.“Most humans would rather have the internet than a few extra years.”
“If the Council has their way, there won’t be an option for the fad to become anything but a twice over,” Declan added.“A century ago, the suggestion of limiting veil travel was only backroom whispers.Now they speak of stopping it completely, in earnest.Your heirs are fond of the idea.”
“Such a motion needs to be approved by us, first.”The zana spoke with such patronizing kindness that Antonio had to bite his tongue.“The Council thinks in mere centuries.The long view is ours to maintain.”
“Ever insightful.Truly, without your wisdom, all of Faerie would be lost.”The sphinx waved a lazy hand over where the table probably was.“My dear, if you’d do the honors?I believe our guests must be hungry.”
Christ, if these two were any more full of themselves, they would explode.
“Of course.”The zana waved her hand in the air.“I’m a fan of seafood.”
Nothing changed.Antonio’d been ready for this part.The deliberate cruelty of it.To sit and wait while Declan cut the food he couldn’t see, fed him prickling, tasteless lumps he’d have to swallow down.The Monarchs wanted him put in his place, and they knew exactly how to go about it.
What he wasn’t ready for was the bright burn of indignation through the bond, needle sharp and steadying.
“You seek to harm Antonio,” Declan said, after a long beat.“And myself, by extension.”
“In Summer’s name, why would we do that?”the zana asked.A typical fae non-denial.“Is he allergic to shellfish?There’s no need to worry about such human issues with this meal.”
“Would you have us feed you iron during a visit to the mortal realm?”Declan countered.“To offer nothing but metal seats and cold steel utensils and food gilded with shimmering iron leaf?Or would that be seen as beneath a host, even if they’re death aligned?”
Ridiculous Murderpunk, throwing himself against a system that wanted to break him.Antonio couldn’t help the twist offearas Declan confronted the monarchs, calm but unrelenting.
The sphinx’s eyes were hard, but still he smiled.
“Asluaghlectures us on the treatment of a human, my love.How timeshavechanged.”His expression twisted into one of open disgust.“Mortal, are you aware of what your bondis?Has he told you some sweet, soft story, twisted his nature into nobility for you?Sluagh are the very heart of the Wild Hunt.That he did not run you down and tear your soul from your flesh is only becauseweput a stop to such behavior.”
Don’t say ‘fuck you.’
Don’tsay it.
They’ll kill you.
“Go to hell.”Not much better.“You think sluagh or any fucking fae has a monopoly on hunting people?At least sluagh, it’s their damned nature.We humans do it for fun.”
“There's even various media pieces about humans hunting humans,” Declan added, as gratitude and affection flooded the bond.“My favorite was the one with the man stranded on the island.”
They were both going to die like the stupid, stubborn fuckers they were, but at least they loved each other.
“Humans are silly creatures,” the zana murmured, her twinkling voice gone cold.“Play acting as the long-dead evening court.Cavorting with creeping death and imagining themselves brave.”
“Perhaps sluagh aren’t the ones craving a hunt.”Declan’s words were mild, but the taste of smoke at the back of Antonio’s throat went acrid.Some deep anger Antonio didn’t quite understand.“I hear your heirs have adopted some very pretty crowns.”
“Ah, yes.The kelpie’s trial.Our Kesk and Veroni do tend toward the rash at times.”The sphinx’s dismissive shrug showed just how concerned he wasn’t.“Horns and feathers, and no real understanding of what they once meant.The Wild Hunt was depravity that the death aligned claimed as their holy rite.To allow humans in Faerie is to tempt its return.That is why those rash young fae dream of closing the veil.To save the death aligned from the worst parts of their natures.Their methods are extreme, but their motives are pure.”
“Ends justify the means, is it?I’ve heard that one before.”Antonio’d lived it.Nothing worse than someone hurting you for your own good.
“I’ve heard the like as well,” Declan said, and now he didn’t sound quite so mild.“It came with bombs.Bodies in the streets.All to make thingsbetter.”
“We are not humans nor death aligned.”The zana had gone unsettlingly still, only her lips moving.“We do only the necessary.A strong hand isrequiredto guide those whose nature draws them to chaos.The ‘means’ you question have only ever been for the good of those who haven’t the wisdom to recognize their deficiencies.The life aligned take no pleasure from it.”
