“Is there any reason they can’t be my ladies-in-waiting?” I asked.
Calista gasped. I swore Moira took a step backward.
“It’s quite clear,” the woman to Erisandra’s right minced out. “Lessers are not allowed to serve in such a way.”
I turned to Merrick. “How can we make this work? I don’t see any reason why they can’t be my ladies-in-waiting. I don’t need anyone else.”
His eyes gleamed with approval and a spark of indulgent amusement. “Tradition states that only high ladies can serve as the queen’s ladies-in-waiting. I was going to speak to you about that after the coronation.”
“I’ll make them high ladies.”
The women across the table universally gasped. I worried the one on the far left was going to pass out and fall off her chair.
Even Surren watched the exchange intently. I couldn’t tell if he was as horrified as Erisandra’s ladies or stunned.
“You cannot do such a thing,” Erisandra shrieked, starting to rise from the table. “I will not allow this . . . horrifyingthingto occur. Merrick. Chastise her.”
“It’s not my decision,” he said blandly. “Sit, Mother.” As she did so, he waved for one of the staff hovering near the right wall with rapt expressions to pour him some wine, before turning to me. “Would you like some as well, Wildfire?” At my nod, he directed the woman to fill my glass.
I took a much-needed sip, swallowing with care. “Is there a true reason why I can’t make them high ladies?” I asked him in particular.
“None at all. You’re queen.”
“She does not wear my—the—crown,” his mother snarled. “Not yet.”
“She’s the queen already,” he rasped. “A coronation is just a formality. You know that. We’re married. She sits on the queen’s throne. She sleeps in my bed.” An interesting thing to say. “She has the final say in this.” Death lurked in his voice.
All color fled his mother’s face, and she slumped against the back of her seat.
“Wine, Mother?” he asked, waving for them to pour her a glass before she replied. His gaze met mine, and the pride shining there made me want to preen. “If you’d like to formally make them high ladies, you can do so at court tomorrow.” He glanced back at Moira and Calista, and I followed his gaze, finding them staring at me with astonished expressions and with tears in their eyes.
Had I made things worse for them or better?
“This is an honor,” he said softly, for my ears alone. “I believe you’re the first queen to lift onetheycall a lesser to such a high position, and I applaud you.” His smile rose just for me.
“Faelith too,” I said, and his smile only grew.
“I love how you’re shaking up this court, how you’re shaking up me. Keep doing it. It’s not only fresh and exciting, but it’s also amazing.” His fingers teased across my nape as he laid his arm on my shoulders. “It makes me adore you even more. This, more than anything else, will endear you to the court.”
The lesser fae part of the court, that is.
As I met the gaze of each high lady sitting across the table and then that of his mother, I suspected I’d made new enemies.
“Oh, my queen. My queen!”Faelith kept gushing as she helped me undress. “Please understand that we’re exceedingly honored by your offer but . . . high ladies.”
“High ladies,” Moira shrieked. “I can’t believe it. High ladies.”
Calista said nothing as she removed pins from my hair, carefully placing them in the jeweled container sitting on the vanity.
“It’s astonishing,” Faelith breathed. “Life changing.”
“If this will make things awkward for you here at court, we don’t have to do it,” I said. “But fuck, she made me so mad scorning you when you do so much for me.”
Faelith grinned. “Swearing aside—”
“We’re honored,” Moira said. “Honestly, and strictly between us four, my queen, she also made me a touch angry.”
Faelith and Moira bobbed their heads in agreement. Even Farris joined in, dipping his head back and forth, though his nyxin grin said he was more focused on the ball sitting on a nearby table than the conversation. “It’s just . . .” The three exchanged concerned looks.
