“That does make sense, does it not?” King Elon shrugged.
King Athon snarled. “Not happening. Try thinking of another way to kill us off. I’ll be sure to cut that one down, too.”
I nibbled my bottom lip, not wanting to interrupt the rulers.
“Really, King Elon, bad form.” Queen Mikko glared, her brown mist eyes swirling. “If it isn’t as you predict, rulers would be stuck there. We all know that—”
“It is continuous,” I said in a fast burst, cutting her off.
I swallowed hard as all eyes swung to me. I honestly did not like all that hostility thrown my way from the most powerful in the realm. I needed to explain this quickly before they tried to put me in my place when I actually needed to say this.
In a rush, I expounded, “Grandmother Isabella taught me that. High Pointe, the ivy lying over it? It’s part of the Blood Forest. It protects the structure from any one kingdom trying to destroy the building. So, yes, it is continuous.”
The white sparkles of Queen Alora’s solid sky-blue eyes narrowed down to one large starburst in each eyeball, completely homing in on me as she would do with prey in the ocean. “What else did she tell you about the Blood Forest? And why did you not mention this before?”
“You didn’t ask for my opinion. You cut the meeting off yesterday before anyone could really discuss their thoughts, Your Royal Highness. But I will give you my thoughts now of where we enter. If we arrive at different points, that would be an utter disaster. We don’t know what is in there. We might not be able to find one another again, and, if that happens, people will die needlessly.”
I shook my head and decided to throw them all a bone. “Grandmother Isabella didn’t tell me anything else about it, other than it getscoldat night.”
Five sets of eyes looked down to the enormous, black fur coat I was wearing—definitely odd attire for this time of year—the coat so long it brushed the tops of my black boots.
As one, their eyes started evaluating everyone else’s clothes, frowns quickly appearing on their faces. They may be dressed for a forest in rugged, practical wear, but their clothes weren’t nearly warm enough for a cold night. The swords sheathed against their backs would not help them with this issue.
“It appears we must go upstairs to grab our coats.” King Traevon slid his emerald green eyes to my identical ones. “Is that why you asked on our flight home yesterday if we had winter clothing in our royal bedchambers at High Pointe?”
“Yes.” I shrugged my shoulders, maybe a wee bit sheepish in the face of my father’s hard expression. “I didn’t want to repeat myself though, so I waited to say it here with everyone.”
“How very kind of you, my daughter,” he stated dryly.
All right. My resulting smile was sheepish.
Perhaps, Ihadmade them all look foolish.
And, perhaps Ihaddone it on purpose.
Because I did need to show I was capable of being as ruthless and as intelligent as my own father. If I knew more than they did on certain matters, then I would use it to my full advantage—just as they would do.
Queen Mikko snorted softly. “It will be a Fae miracle if we get out of the Blood Forest alive if even the heir is trying to harm us.”
Father’s eyes narrowed to thin slits. On me.
I sighed heavily and patted my bag that hung down to my right hip. “Don’t be upset, Father. I packed yours just in case I forgot to tell everyone.”
King Athon snorted. “I’m going to get my coat. And, as I said before everyone started designing each other’s murders, we should all enter together, and it doesn’t matter where we do so. If anyone tries to do something else, that Fae shit isn’t flying. Iwillstop you.”
The rest of us watched him stalk away.
Queen Alora muttered, “Well, we have a plan, at least.”
The other three walked to get their own coats.
Father’s lips curled into a cruel smile. He peered down his nose at me. “Did you steal my black coat or my blue coat?”
“Your black one.” I winked. “So we would match.”
“Of course. Whatever was I thinking?”
“Quite.” I tipped my head down in a subtle bow. “You also have a few extra sweaters, long underwear, mittens, and a stocking cap inyourbag.”
