“Yes, I have,” Nori said calmly. “I believe it's a bluff.”
I snorted a laugh. “You go ahead and believe that. I'll just wait here by this window and start laughing when my king comes bursting into the city in his dragon form.”
Queen Dubheasa paled. Given the natural pallor of her skin, this was not a good look for her. “Dragon form?”
“Do you really think King Arach would lead his army as anything else?” I asked. “And then there's the Wild Hunt. Maybe he'll even release the Hidden-Ones.”
“The Hidden-Ones?!” Dubheasa stumbled.
“My Queen!” Nori steadied her. “If this troubles you so much, why not send her back to her kingdom? She isn't worth a war.”
Queen Dubheasa drew herself upright and met my stare. “If King Arach dares to invade my kingdom, I will drag you out before him and stab you through the heart with a wooden stake.”
Yeah, that didn't work out so well for you last time.
Out loud, my words were more vicious. “If you hurt me, you'll ensure your kingdom's downfall.”
“We shall see.” Crushing the parchment in her clawed hands, the Water Queen marched from the room, Nori hot on her heels.
Neither of them glanced back at me.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Two days passed. I didn't leave my room. Food and water were brought to me. But I was fine. I sat at the window and watched the Water Army go through drills in the courtyard below. And I waited for a dragon to come bursting through the city gates. Dreaded and hoped for it.
I didn't want Arach to attack the Water Kingdom. Somewhere down there were friends of mine. Possibly Guirmean. And Arach wasn't going to follow the Fey laws when he came to call. He'd be fighting to the death. No mercy. You don't fuck with a dragon's mate and expect to live. You just don't. But the monarchs of Faerie had always been hard to convince of that fact. And Dubheasa was one of those idiots.
The suite door opened.
I turned to see Queen Dubheasa come striding in, looking too smug for my comfort.
“You're not my lunch,” I said. Then I thought about it. “Unless you want to take these manacles off. In which case, I'd love some sashimi.” Then I grimaced. “Wait, no. That could be taken in a nasty way.”
Was it psychotic that I thought sex with Dubheasa was nasty but killing and eating her dead body wasn't?
“Sashimi?” she asked.
“Sorry. It's a dish of raw fish.”
Dubheasa strode over to me and slapped me across the face.
I swung with the blow, then backhanded her . . . with my manacle. The Water Queen staggered, spat blood, then spun back, sneering. Her fishy fangs were showing.
“Bring it, bitch!” I snarled. “I don't need magic to kick your ass.”
“Hold her down,” Dubheasa said, her stare locked on me.
I widened my stance, stretched my neck, and loosened my arms. The two guards with her, both colorful-haired Water-Sidhe, exchanged wary looks with each other before stepping forward. They reached for me together. I crouched and barreled into one of them.
Dubheasa called for more guards.
As the sound of running feet came through the doorway, I kicked out at the other guard, sending him rolling across the bed. The man under me got a knee to the groin. As he whimpered, I jumped to my feet and dove after the second guard. Holding him down with my body, I wrapped the chain between my manacles around his neck and squeezed until he passed out. Even water-breathers need air.
I popped up just in time to face off with the guards who stormed into my room. Their queen backed up, slipping past them as she said something in Fey. Something sharp sounding. The men looked at their downed comrades, then came forward.
All at once.
I punched and swung and kicked, but I was simply overpowered by their numbers. Still, I felt satisfied to get a few good hits in. By the time they got me down on the bed, we were all bloody.
