“Yeah, right,” I said with zero belief.Probably moves with anger.“In the submitted report, you say Lady Chrysanthe looked into using an artifact to cast a creature that would chase and attack me if I dared to ride in the Magiford Midsummer Derby.”
“That is right, Queen Leila.”
“I didn’t send it,” Lady Chrysanthe whimpered.
I narrowed my eyes and studied Myron. “And you never joined Chrysanthe in her efforts to kill me?”
Myron held his hand up. “I swear upon my family name that I have never attempted to kill you, Queen Leila.”
“But you were there when Chrysanthe made her attempts.”
“I was present, yes.”
There’s something off about that. How can he make that vow when—or rather if—Chrysanthe really did all of this and he was with her? Shouldn’t he be guilty by association?
I pressed my lips together as I chewed on the idea. Even when Steve rested her head on my lap, I only absently patted her.
“If found guilty, Lady Chrysanthe will be stripped of her title, exiled from the Night Court, and sent to live in the human world,” Skye said. “As will her family.”
Lady Demetria wailed. “How can you punish the family for the sins of the children?” She made a show of dabbing her eyes. “My kin and I had no idea of the viper we harbored in our family! We are not at fault!”
So much for believing she’s innocent.
Lord Myron bowed his head at the pronouncement as I carefully watched him.
I felt something behind me stir in the shadows. A discreet glance, and I saw Twilight peering at me from behind the column. Perched on top of the column—nearly invisible in the darkness of the Night Realm—was Whiskers.
I’m not standing alone. Not anymore.
My gaze flicked from Indigo to Skye to Chase and—yes—even Lord Linus.
We can do this.
I stood up and slowly approached the edge of my platform, Kevin and Steve following behind me as Muffin padded in front of me.
“Lord Myron, am I correct that youheardher express a desire to poison me, and to set a creature to chase after me, but you didn’tseeher do anything?”
“Yes, Queen Leila.” Lord Myron bowed again.
“And you saw her around the base of the giraffe statue, but you didn’t actively see her cutting the bolts on the plates in its feet, or doing anything to it?”
“Yes, Queen Leila—though I did see her give the bespelled golf ball to the lord who accidentally hit the statue,” Lord Myron said. “One can only imagine that if she announced her plan to us, her comrades, it was she who followed through with it.”
Ugh. Fae—one can imagine, one would think, blah, blah, blah. They love leaving the important bits out…They love to leave the important bits out? Hmm…
I glanced speculatively at Chrysanthe. “I didn’t do it,” she whispered.
She’s neatly pinned—she can’t say she didn’t want to harm me or try to harm me because she’s been open in her dislike. Myron, though, can claim he didn’t, even though the scheming jerk has been with this the whole time. Did he betray her just because the tide is turning in my Court and his family thinks it’s time to try currying favor with me?
I studied Lord Myron, who gave me that same sneery smile he’d shown the day I arrived, and an idea slowly spawned in my head.
I think it’s time to teach the Night Court that a half-blood sits on their throne. I have refrained from using some of my greatest advantages. But it’s time to change that.
“I am relieved you chose to speak up, Lord Myron.” I gave him my best smile. “I know you are trustworthy, and I believe you are such a good friend to me,” I lied. “It’s obvious you are blameless and share no fault—though Lady Chrysanthe was your friend. We can’t control the actions of our friends, after all.”
“I am honored you agree, Queen Leila.” Lord Myron smirked again.
Yep, as I thought. He has no idea I can lie.I glanced out at the Court and saw all of them were taking my lies—hook, line, and sinker.None of them know. They think I really believe what I’m saying!
