Maybe I need to increase my staff’s hazard pay again…but we’re still broke!
Indigo furrowed her forehead, but when she saw me looking, she smiled hugely. Lord Linus—his expression serious for the first time since I’d seen the annoying clinger—rubbed his jaw, and the edges of his eyes crinkled in worry. Chase, standing next to him, looked warily around the room, his golden eyes glowing.
I am in trouble.
I glanced back at the audience, and I almost missed him, but since he was possibly the only one in the room not murmuring to his neighbor, I did a second glance and spotted Lord Rigel.
Chapter Eighteen
Leila
He was standing in the shadows—of course—but his silver hair gleamed against the copper tone of his skin. Unlike everyone else, he didn’t look bothered by my artifact. In fact, everyone else was whispering to one another—Lord Dion, standing next to him, seemed to be exchanging a few whispers with a dryad—but Rigel met my gaze.
In that moment, I could haveswornI saw him quirk an eyebrow at me, but I blinked, and he was back to looking soulless and dark.
The “ceremony” was over pretty quickly—I just had to recite this dusty speech every monarch gave about having the power to protect the Court, blah, blah, blah.
The last piece of tradition that I had to observe was to stand at the door at the back of the room as everyone exited and walked past me.
Supposedly it was so they could congratulate me, but mostly I just got icy looks, or veiled hostility.
I did my part—standing there like a posable doll with a smile that never dropped.
Even when Lady Chrysanthe stopped in front of me, my expression didn’t change.
“You are a disgrace to our Court,” Lady Chrysanthe hissed. “I cannotbelievethe night mares chose someone likeyouover more qualified candidates.”
“What, like you?” I drawled.
Lady Chrysanthe tucked her hair behind her ear, nearly upsetting the purple chrysanthemum fixed there. “You think you’re clever with all of your witty retorts, but all it does is prove how little you understand us, and how much you don’t belong. You’ll never have the Court’s loyalty.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me—I never thought anyof you were physically capable ofbeingloyal. And you’re right, I don’t belong—because I’m human.”
Lady Chrysanthe shook out her skirts—for the ceremony she’d gone with a more traditional fae garb of a gown made of a light fabric that drifted around her like a cloud. “I predict that you’re going toruinus.”
Lord Myron—who apparently followed Lady Chrysanthe’s fashion cue and was wearing green robes today—gently touched her elbow. “Come now, Chrysanthe. Perhaps it won’t be so—for the Court will always have you.”
Lady Chrysanthe gave him a beautiful smile, and the pair swept off.
I leaned back so I could mutter at Skye and Indigo, who stood behind me. “Are we taking bets if those two end up becoming a thing? Because they’ve got the whole ‘friends-to-more-than-friends’ vibe going on.”
“Actually, before your arrival in Court, Lord Myron and Lady Chrysanthe were merely acquaintances,” Skye said.
I turned around for that bit of news. “Are you serious?”
“Quite.” Skye adjusted her hold on her tablet. “The pair became more friendly shortly before the night mares were released to find you. Previously, their families have been at odds.”
“They united over their mutual hatred of me?” I finally turned back around. “Huh, I never thought my presence would harken romance. Now that gives me warm feels!”
“I don’t know that either of those two are unselfish enough to really love another,” Indigo said.
My polite smile became real. “Indigo—such fire! Good for you!”
More fae filed past. A few did stop to give me curious looks or reluctant congratulations, but for the most part the room emptiedfast.
Among the last to leave were Lord Dion and—drifting behind him as if he were worried I was a communicable disease—Lord Rigel.
“Congratulations, Queen Leila!” Lord Dion gave me a sweeping bow and a handsome grin. He’d donned gray robes for today—maybe the traditional clothes were a requirement for attendance?
