“You aren’t human,” she said bluntly. “I didn’t evenraiseyou as a human. You are half fae. You’ve known magic since you were little, you observed supernatural politics as a teenager. When the Drakes hired you to train their dogs, they chose you because you arehalfhuman andhalffae.”
I settled back in my chair, surprised by her fierce words. “Yeah?”
“It’s time you stop acting like—as you said yourself—a human ruling over fae.”
“…what?”
“Sweetie, you’re special. And I’m not saying that just because you’re my daughter, but because of your blood.” Mom leaned across the gap between us and set her hands on my cheeks. “You can do magic like a fae, you’rebeautifullike a fae, you have the stronger senses of a fae. You. Are. Fae. But,” she let me go and held up a finger. “You can lie like a human. You aren’t bound to the typical fae rules of conduct. And—most importantly—you were raised out of the political game most fae are born into. You’ve lived in a world they can’t even fathom. You. Are. Human. You’reboth—and that’s your greatest strength.”
“Yeah, but what does that have to do with me being queen?”
Mom narrowed her eyes. “Because you’re acting like a human who has to be like a fae queen, when you’re neither.”
I could only gape in shock. Mom had that edge back—the one she used to pin the Paragon into place.
“Stop going along with their plans just because it’s the way it’s always been. Stop thinking of yourself as helpless when you have all of the advantages they have, and extras! You need to rule howyouwant to—you can shape the Court how you want to! If you’re sick of its festering underbelly, change it.”
Not a single thought was able to form in my mind, I was that surprised.
“You can continue this way if you want, of course. But—Leila—you’re going to be Queen of the Night Court for the rest of your life. This isn’t some temporary job.”
I clutched my mug to my chest, but she was right.
I had focused on surviving the way the fae wanted me to. I didn’t play up the strengths I had that they didn’t. I’d let them drag me into their game, and protested by being snippy with them, when in reality I could just change the game.
“You’re right, Mom,” I said.
“Naturally—I knew this day would come eventually. You were always so proud to be considered Paul’s daughter we both worried it would make you reject your blood.” She took my cake plate off my lap.
“Dad agrees with you?” I asked.
“Of course, but whenever he tried to encourage you to embrace your fae blood more, you’d do the opposite and dig in your heels and insist you’re human.” Mom briefly scowled. “He always did dote on you too much for your own good.”
I laughed.
“Sweetie, all I want for you is that you make a life for yourself—as queen—that makes you happy. What doyouwant?”
I stared at Bagel. “I don’t want to scramble around in the power games that they play. I’m sick and tired of them.”
Mom rattled the dish as she started for the house. “Then make it so they can’t play those games. Use your humanity—and knowledge of the human world—against them.”
Bagel gave a loud hee-haw that made his entire body move when he sucked in air.
Slowly, I smiled. “Okay. I think I know how I’m going to start.”
* * *
I’m prettysure everyone back at the mansion knew I was up to something when I called Azure to tell her she didn’t need to come pick me up that night.
But none of them could have expected the fun I was about to unleash on them.
As I drove through the neighborhood, passing the apartments, houses, and eventually the mansions, the loud rumble of my truck drew people outside.
My mansion had a really well-lit driveway. It was easy to pull the truck around the circle, even with the trailer hitched up to it.
Trailers aren’t loads of fun to drive, and I hadn’t driven Dad’s much, but I was determined to see my plan through. I just drove reaaallly slow around the corners and avoided backing it up.
Eventide—in his white dress shirt and dark vest—was the first to greet me. “Welcome…home…Queen Leila?” He looked from me to the trailer.
