"What are you playing at, Nightmare?" Rorin hisses from my right, not being in the least bit discreet.
I shrug and stab a potato, shoving it into my mouth. I take my sweet time chewing, tampering with his patience as he does mine. Scooping up my goblet, I clink it against his untouched glass and lift it to my lips. The acrid liquid burns down my throat, and I peer at him from over the rim. "Oh, I'm notplayingat anything, dear. See, if you recall earlier, you said we have more important things to tend to than my need for play. And well, as you can see, the state that she was in was hardly diplomatic of me." I toss him a saccharine grin and stab another potato.
When we return our attentions to the collective council members, they’re all staring at us, their faces a mixture of shock and confusion. Including Felix, who I now have confirmation, based on his stricken look, that he too had no idea the princess was in our cells.
I pat his hand, "remember to breathe, Felix." I lift my brows at the noblemen and women, and shovel another piece of food into my mouth. "Don't ask me—" I tell them between bites, stabbing the prongs of my fork at their newest sovereign, "ask him."
Rorin
Eveera looks completely unbothered, as does Millie. I can't wrap my head around the possibility that the two of them had time to plot and scheme. Not that they're incapable — but as far as I was aware, Eveera was still giving everyone the silent treatment.
Or maybe I've only thought that because she's made it painfully obvious that her list of priorities does not include —me.
Across the table, the princess stares blankly ahead. Her chair sits at a distance, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.What are they up to…
"A-hem.” Her —our— councilwoman, Alina, clears her throat, looking expectantly in my direction. “Well?"
"We obtained her in Suram. She's here as our ward, not our guest, regardless of the Queen’s… display. “ The words come through gritted teeth while Eveera quietly laughs in her seat.
Her cheeks grow red, and she turns her accusatory glare onto Felix. "Did you know about this?"
Felix shakes his head, his lips in a tight line as he straightens in his seat. "I can only advise the Queen and her Consort on what they ask of me. If they didn't see this matter as a matter fit for discussion," his voice is hard as he enunciates the last few words, dark eyes locked on Eveera, "then it's none of my business."
"None of your… none of your business? You've ruled this kingdom longer than she has! You would think that the girl would owe you somerespectfor what you and this council ha—”SQUELCH!
A sharp scream rings throughout the room as Alina's words are cut squarely off, her tongue now sitting atop the plate in front of her. Her eyes are wide as she gasps and chokes on the blood pooling in and out of her mouth, the appendage mocking her from the table.
"Don't you ever get tired of listening to yourself?" Eveera snaps, the tendril unfurling from around the muscle and disappearing back underneath her skin. From my right, I can hear the sounds of someone retching and am surprised to find that this time it isn't Will, but one of the other council members.
My men look horrified at the flailing woman in front of them, while Max seems unfazed, and Pruella looks like she's going to join the sick councilman — her mouth open in shock.
"Eveera," Felix says sternly, and she rolls her eyes, waiting a few seconds before complying and waving over a few guards. They help escort Alina out, hopefully to bring her to Marjorie, though I'm not sure what even she can do for the loss of tongue. At least she’ll be able to give a remedy for the younger guard tasked with carrying the severed organ and his upset stomach.
SLAM!
"That was barbaric." Will snaps, his hand hitting the table hard as he finally comes back to himself, the color resurfacing on his skin.
She lets her magic pool in her palm, manipulating it to wind around her arm, and levels her golden glare at him. "Would you like to join her, Mousy?"
"Eveera." Felix snaps again, this time more harshly than before.
"What?"
"One is enough." He reprimands, downing the contents of his drink and slamming the chalice on the table.
Will sputters over in his seat, pushing away from the table and his plate. "You're all going to sit here as if that did not just happen? Like, there isn't a pool of blood garnishing her abandoned plate of food?"
"Rorin, I would strongly advise you to make your man aware that my influence only goes so far with the Queen. I may not be able to dissuade her a second time."
Will folds his arms across his chest, his glare locked onto the three of us. "I can hear you."
"You can hear the words I am telling you, Sir, but that does not mean you will heed them."
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
A few hours after Eveera’s dinnertime outburst, I found myself pacing in front of Millicent's door, trying very hard not to stare at the cloak of magic shielding the end of the hall. I rock back and forth on my heels before knocking more insistently.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNO–
