A smile twitched on my lips—this could be fun.
“It scares me to hear that Lady Chrysanthe planned to send a creature forged of magic after me in the derby.” I theatrically shivered, then glanced at Myron.
He was relaxed, and his smile was stronger still.
Just a little more, and then I can hit him with a bluff.
“I’ll have to reward you with jewels, land, money, whatever you want as a thank you for revealing this.” I dismissively waved a hand, even though this lie produced a real chill in me.
As if I would ever willingly give anyone in this Court money when we are broke!
“I have just one more question for you.” I turned back to him with an innocent smile.
“What is it, Queen Leila?”
I glanced at Chase and gave him a slight nod. He didn’t appear to move, but—like magic—I saw a few extra guards step out of the crowd.
“The creature in the race that attacked mewasn’tmade by fae magic,” I said. “But by something ancient that I’ve never felt before—which means Chrysanthe didn’t set it on me. Butyoudid, Lord Myron, didn’t you?”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Leila
He fishmouthed, and I almost hooted.
I was right! Hoo-boy, talk about a gamble that paid off!
“I have never intended to kill you!” Lord Myron pleaded.
“Answer the question, Lord Myron. Did you set the creature to target me?”
“Who could imagine—”
“Answer the question,” I said.
Steve and Kevin stepped out of my shadow, their lips curled back as they stalked up to him. Muffin had circled around behind him, and she growled deep in her chest, making him jump.
“I-I-I—” Lord Myron’s gaze wavered from me to the Court.
“You never intended to kill me because your target never was me,” I said. “It was Lady Chrysanthe herself. You were setting her up.”
Chrysanthe jerked to attention, her eyes wide. “No, he couldn’t—you said together we could change the Court! You hated Queen Leila, too!”
“Oh, he hates me,” I assured her. “He just hates you more.”
Chrysanthe stared at him, her pretty features molded in shock.
I watched her for a moment, then turned my attention back to Myron, who was staring at the ground. “Start explaining yourself, Myron.”
Murmurs swept through my Court as they gawked at the unfolding drama.
Myron took a step backwards and shook his head.
“Now,” I ordered in an unforgiving voice of iron.
“I was only aiming at her, Queen Leila!” Myron blurted out. “It was never in my mind to kill you.” His eyes widened, and he slapped his hands over his mouth to quiet himself.
“No,” I agreed. “You believed enough of my staff would catch each attempt before you masterminded them. But I don’t take kindly to being used as bait, and Idespiseanyone who seeks to harm another just for political reasons. And that’s what this was, wasn’t it?”
