“Excuse me?” Asteria countered, her brows flying upwards. “Ithreaten your way of life?”
“Women aren’t meant to be heirs,” he sneered at her, making his death loom ever closer as a snarl crept up my lips. At least until Asteria placed a hand on my thigh, stilling me.
She laughed wryly, and grabbed her wine glass, taking a slow sip. She swished the wine in the glass, casual as you please. “I’m afraid you’re wrong.”
I bit my lip to hide my smile as Dagur’s eyes widened. I watched Gravadain subtly, noting that he was examining Asteria and his son’s interaction carefully. Idalia was trying to fight a smile, looking at her daughters, who kept their eyes down as best they could. The younger, however, Isleen, was trying to watch Asteria without notice from under her lashes.
“How am I wrong?” Dagur sneered, hands balling into fists.
“The gods chose me.” Asteria shrugged, and I could feel how hard she was trying to contain her smirk. I was so proud of her for holding back her anger, despite the asshole baiting her. “Meaning women are indeed meant to be heirs. Or are you saying thegodsarewrong?” She gasped dramatically, her hand going over her heart.
I heard Altan’s amused snort, and sent him a quick smirk, before my eyes were back on the threat present. Dagur’s eyes were narrowed on my mate in a way that had smoke gathering in my throat.
“Forgive my son his poor manners, Princess,” Gravadain said, and both our eyes moved down the table to the king. “The gods have chosen you, yes. But I still don’t see how this affects us. You and Cyrus both are seeking my aid in battle, Calix. Why should I side with either of you? You still haven’t explained your attacks on our people, let alone why Cyrus is such an apparent threat you’d come seeking aid from the very kingdoms you attacked.”
I took a deep breath. I knew this would be a problem going into this war. Our efforts to free slaves would never be taken well, nor forgiven. We’d killed Fae, taken their slaves, and invaded their lands. I wouldn’t forgive either in their shoes.
The slaves present brought out our dinner, and we began eating as I shared my reasons, fitting in bites where I could.
“I know it must seem strange, but the situation was a strange one,” I told him honestly. “We freed our slaves in Night Kingdom.” The gasp from down the table came from Sunneva, whose hand was over her mouth in shock.
Gravadain’s mouth parted as he watched me incredulously, and I continued explaining what I’d done. The tale wasn’t easy, nor quick, but it was necessary. They relied on their slaves, and I knew it would be a hard sell to the other Fae, hence my attacking to free humans where I could.
Dagur laughed, “You’re fighting to free slaves? And this war of yours is to what, free them all?”
“Humans deserve freedom just as much as you do,” Asteria said forcefully, her teeth clenched. “But this is about more than just that.”
Gravadain raised a disbelieving brow, so I explained Cyrus’s use of blood magic. How he pushed the line of chaos too far. How he’d allied with Aelius on the terms of killing his heir, but had no intention to do so. We’d received some disturbing whispers from the border about Cyrus killing more humans, but we hadn’t gotten enough confirmed intel yet to be able to say definitively how far into his plans he was.
But thanks to Asteria and the information she’d found, we knew exactly what those plans were.
“Blood magic?” Gravadain’s brows furrowed as he frowned. “Iron? This all sounds very far-fetched.”
“I assure you it’s true.” Asteria stared him down, and I felt a surge of pride as she faced off with the difficult bastard. The way she refused to be cowed… she was a true queen.
“I saw him myself. Watched as he murdered a human and used magic to increase his waning powers,” she continued passionately. “Dusk is spiraling rapidly into chaos, and the way Cyrus escalates, I have no doubt that before long, you’ll be feeling the effects here in Sunrise.”
She tilted her head to the side, “Tell me,King. Will you just sit back and watch your kingdom fall? Or will you get up off your ass and do something about it?”
Pride flared within me once more, and I thanked every god I knew that this devastating woman wasmine.
Gravadain rocked back in his seat, as if her words had physically pushed him. He looked between us for several minutes, before he finally cleared his throat.
“You’ve given me much to think on.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood. “Please, enjoy your stay. I will summon you once I’ve made a decision.”
He left the room, Dagur and Sunneva following dutifully, but Altan and Isleen stayed at the table with Idalia, Asteria, and me.
I eyed Idalia, who was shaking her head ruefully.
“That man,” she cursed, her face creasing with frustration. “He would let his kingdom fall to prove a point, I swear it.”
She eyed me sadly. “He was embarrassed by your attacks, Calix. He won’t side with you despite it being clear Cyrus is going to bring about our doom.”
“Is he stupid?” Asteria asked, flabbergasted. Idalia and Altan broke out in laughter, while Isleen tried to hide her smile. I chuckled, putting a hand on her thigh.
“He sees what I did as a slight against him. Cyrus hasn’t personally done anything to him.” I explained before I leaned over and bit her earlobe, making her gasp as I teasingly whispered, “Kings have fragile egos.”
She jokingly pushed her hand on the center of my chest to move me backward, but her smile was bright. Returning to the seriousness of the moment, she asked, “What about the slaves?”
