“He wants you to free him,” Flauvis says, still shaking with mirth. “The creature who rose against his people wants release from his Bond so he can do it again.”
Fehr turns a slow scowl to the Winter King. “My kind are all but extinct, and not one lives outside the bonds of slavery. There will be no uprising from us again.”
Minuette watches the djinn through slitted lids, her blue hair rippling wildly about her face. “You just admitted the djinn are the most powerful fae. If you can singlehandedly build a wall around the isle, you could turn on us.”
“I could,” Fehr admits, a haughty smirk tugging his lips before he returns his gaze to me. “But I won’t. If you free me from my Bond to Irridae Palace, I will build the wall. I will fight against the human army. Then, when the battle is won, I will return to serve you of my own free will.”
“Do I smell a bargain?” Nyxia lifts her brow, assessing the djinn.
Fehr’s jaw shifts back and forth. “Yes,” he says through his teeth. “I will make a bargain.”
I study Fehr, seeking signs that he plans to betray me, manipulate me. Abandon us when we need him the most. I recall how cold he was with me when we first met. How reluctant he was to serve me. But things have changed between us. He may not laugh or smile or chat at ease with me the way I caught him doing with Foxglove, but…he doesn’t hate me.
“All right,” I say. “We’ll craft a bargain.”
The table goes still, silent, with my breathing as the only sound. Each set of eyes watches me with anticipation; those on the far end of the table lean forward with keen interest.
I toss a glare at the royals. “We shall craft our bargainafterthe meeting and do so in private.”
Rumbles of disappointment circulate the table as I return to it. Fehr bows low and steps back.
“So, we have a plan,” I say. “Fehr will aid Aelfon’s earthen fae in building the wall. The rest of us will prepare our soldiers. As soon as the border wall is down, we’ll march to Port Denyson. There we’ll fight the human army with the primary target to steal back the bomb. We must fight them with care, however, so we don’t accidentally detonate it.”
“Then when we have it,” Estel says, her shimmering particles once again swirling rapidly to obscure her face, “I’ll transmute it.”
I can’t help but feel there’s something she isn’t telling me. Or perhaps it’s just because her particles keep hiding her expression. Is she simply nervous? She has every right to be, I suppose.
My gaze leaves hers to fall on the others. “Are we in agreement?”
“Are you sure we can trust the djinn?” Flauvis asks, teeth bared.
“I’ll deal with him myself,” I say. “Now are we in agreement or not? I need a yes or no so we can get to work.”
Nyxia huffs. “When I said I’d support your claim as queen, I never anticipated you’d be so bossy.”
My eyes lock with hers, and I lift my shoulders in a casual shrug. “You aren’t the only one who’s had to learn not to underestimate me.” My gaze slides to Dahlia for a moment, and I let my lips peel back from my teeth until the Summer Queen blanches.
Nyxia’s mouth quirks into an approving grin. “Well then. I agree to your plan, little foxy.” She turns her gaze to the others. “And you? I’ve got places to be, you know.”
The rest of the table adds their agreement.
Just like that, we stand a fighting chance.
* * *
We finalizethe details of what to do over the next three days, and then the royals begin to funnel out of the atrium to return to their courts. Fehr follows them into the courtyard to see them off.
Aspen lingers behind, turning to face me. His arms wrap around my waist and I bring my hands to his shoulders. Tilting my head back, I look into his eyes, finding true joy in them. Even though he hadn’t fallen into the pits of apathy like I had last week, he hadn’t seem convinced we’d actually come out on the other side. He seemed more…at peace with death than anything else. But the expression he wears now contains true conviction. Optimism. Hope.
He smiles down at me. “Have I told you lately what an incredible queen you are?”
My lips turn up at the corners. “Well, that’s the first time I’ve heard it today.”
He brings his lips to mine, our first kiss since I returned from Port Denyson. Every second since has been clouded with anticipation of today’s meeting, but now that it’s over…
I retreat a step until I feel the edge of the table come up against my back. “You know, we’ve still never tested out this table. To see if it rivals Nyxia’s?”
His irises glitter and his lips curl with mischief. “Important research. I agree it must be done. Do you think the royals have all left yet?” Pressing his body close, he places his hands on the table, framing my hips. His lips return to mine, his kisses slow and teasing. I lean back, drawing him against me.
