“We don’t have much time,” I say. “The trial is in less than a week. I know I must come up with an offer compelling enough to convince the humans to bargain with me, but what can I do in the meantime?”
“First step is,” Foxglove says, “you need to gather supporters.”
23
After night falls, I meet Queen Nyxia outside the palace. Lorelei insisted on coming along, but Nyxia arrives alone. The queen spots us hidden in the shadows of a moonstone column on the southern end of the palace, and when her eyes find mine in the dark, a smug smile spreads across her face.
“I almost didn’t believe Foxglove when he arranged this meeting,” she says in her smooth voice. “Please tell me this isn’t an ill-constructed assassination attempt.” Her eyes flash toward Lorelei, her smile turning a hint seductive.
Lorelei tosses her a seething glare but says nothing.
I pull my cloak close to my body and take a step toward the queen. “Have you told anyone else about this meeting?”
“Like your mate?”
“Like anyone.” While Aspen certainly is on the top of my mind in this regard, I’m not ready for word of my plans to spread just yet. Not until I’m far more certain of its possible success. At this point, anything could go wrong. For now, I don’t want the pressure of others’ hopes riding on my shoulders.
Nyxia rolls her eyes with an irritated sigh. “No, I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Promise me you won’t say anything. Not until I’m ready.”
Her fingers flutter dismissively in the air. “Sure. Silence on this matter benefits my cause as well, you know. I don’t want to present you to the rebel leaders until your footing is more secure.”
“That wasn’t exactly a promise.”
Her tone sharpens. “If you want a solid promise, you’re going to need to be a little more direct in your wording. If I must tell no one that you plan on taking the Fire Court throne, how am I to introduce you to the fire fae? Perhaps you should trust that, in this matter, our interests are aligned.”
Despite her often-indifferent air, I’m reminded of her terrifying power. This is not a fae to anger. I square my shoulders. “Very well.”
Nyxia’s smile returns. “Come along then.”
Lorelei and I follow the queen away from the palace. At first, I think we might head where the full moon revel took place, but instead, she leads us into the forests beyond. My pulse quickens as we move deep into dark trees, bleak shadows punctuated by clusters of glowing mushrooms and towering, bell-shaped flowers that emit near-blinding luminescence. It’s breathtaking and terrifying all at once.
We continue in silence until Queen Nyxia speaks. “Now that you have accepted my offer to support your claim to the Fire throne, I do wonder if that means you’ve also accepted the terms I’d presented alongside it?”
I clench my jaw. I was wondering how long it would be before she brought up a mate alliance with Franco again. However, broaching the subject in the dark of the woods is not ideal. Not with so many convenient places to bury my body.
“Honest but tactful,” Lorelei whispers in my ear. “And strong,” she adds.
With a deep breath and careful consideration over my choice of words, I construct my reply. “Queen Nyxia, I appreciate your support of my claim to the throne and am honored—”
“Don’t pander to me,” the queen says. “It’s unbecoming.”
Lorelei emits a low growl, but I place a hand on her arm to still her.
“Fine,” I say. “I understand you want our alliance made formal by pairing me with your brother, but I cannot accept. If you believe in my right to rule the Fire throne, then I claim that right alone. My choice of mate will be mine to make and shall have no bearing on my rule.”
Nyxia watches me out of the corner of her eye, then lifts her chin. “Spoken like a true unseelie queen. I will continue to support your claim.”
I exchange a look of relief with Lorelei.
Nyxia continues. “It would be hypocritical of me to condemn your desire to claim your throne by yourself when I too have yet to take a mate.” She glances at Lorelei, her seductive smile tugging her lips. “Although it isn’t from lack of trying.”
Lorelei scowls. “Oh, I’d say those seventeen fae at Beltane would disagree.”
She shrugs. “It was a mere slip in judgment. You know I was never good at being monogamous before. It was a difficult adjustment...”
And the bickering begins.
