“Were you able to speak with the Evergorne King?” I asked.
“Yes, err, I was. He agreed to send a fleet of ships that will land on the southern Lydel shore within days. Each contains three hundred fae warriors eager to battle at your command.”
“Wonderful,” I said. Finally, some good news. Thesesoldiers, combined with our Lydel dragon riders, might be enough to win this thing after all.
That would leave me to kill Kerune and the king.
“He had, err, one condition.” Lord Dultrette sat up straighter in the chair, yanking on his dark blue tunic ornately decorated with silver braid. “If you don’t agree, he’ll turn his ships around.”
There was always a catch with the wicked fae. “What does he want?”
“A bride.”
60
TEMPEST
“Idon’t believe I heard you right.” My harsh words caused the air to shimmer around us. “He wants . . .”
Lord Dultrette rose from the chair, rounding it to cling to the back.
As if something that insignificant would keep me from him if I chose to attack?
“A bride. Willing, of course. He was quite specific about the latter. And she must be fae.” His eyes shot to Vexxion. “Not you, naturally, my high lady. You’re the Beast’s fated.”
We needed help, but I would not hand a woman over to an unknown fae king who could be even worse than Ivenrail. “Tell him to come here and make his plea. I’ll meet him and allow him to speak to some women. Maybe one of them will agree to marry him.”
“He was, err, quite specific,” Lord Dultrette said, his voiceaquiver. “He’s also quite eager. You see, the other courts, his enemies, have allied themselves with King Ivenrail.”
“What?” I barked?
I needed to back off or he’d flit from here before I had the chance to get anything out of him, and I needed him.
“They’ve, err,” his swallow raked down his throat, “allied themselves with—”
“I heard you,” I said pleasantly, pointing to his chair while taking the one next to it for myself. “Please sit.”
“Yes, err, well.” He gingerly rounded the chair and perched on the edge of the maroon velvet cushion. “He stated that I’m to return to him with your answer immediately or his fleet will not put to shore on Lydel. He will then consider our tentative truce null and void.”
“How in the world does he expect me to randomly find him awillingbride?” I growled.
“I’ll do it,” Reyla said softly. She stiffened her spine and glared at Lord Dultrette. “I agree to willingly marry the Evergorne Court king.”
Airia’s back arched sharply as she stared at Reyla.
I burst to my feet. “Absolutely not. For all we know, he’s a monster.” From my prior experience with the fae—excluding present company—the odds were good he was.
“You just heard what the lord said.” Reyla’s pleading gaze met mine. “His enemies are mine. They allied themselves with Kinart’s murderer.”
“But—”
“She will wed him.” My aunt sat up, staring forward at nothing. “Reylamustmarry him.”
I rushed over to her and took her hand, but she didn’t look my way. Color pinkened her cheeks, however, and her body no longer trembled.
What did you find when you examined her?I asked Vexxion.
Nothing. She started waking before I could cast even one spell.
