Ah. That’s why the Paragon chose him. He’s the least ruthless match up, but then the Paragon could pressure me if he liked.
The Paragon didn’t strike me as the type to do so—he was pretty famous for trying to avoid work, actually. But marrying someone who was most loyal to the Paragon didn’t sit quite right with me, either.
It’s not like there are any other options. No one in this awful community is a true neutral. They wouldn’t survive.
It occurred to me, then, that there was perhaps onedeadlyneutral lord in my Court.
“Just for curiosity’s sake—and I know he’s not on the lists, but if he were…which list would Lord Rigel be on?”
Skye shifted her tablet and thoughtfully tilted her head. “Again, neither list.”
“Really?”
“He’s the only one in his house,” Indigo said. “His parents and older brother died under ‘mysterious’circumstances. Mind you, less than a month after their funeral was when he launched his career as an assassin.”
“Because everyone fears Lord Rigel—and because he is the only member of his line—he has been able to remain outside typical Court politics,” Skye said.
“Yeah, because no one wants to get onthe Wraith’sbad side,” Indigo grumbled.
Skye cleared her throat and tucked a curl of her chin-length hair behind her ear. “I’ll email the lists to you, if that is acceptable, Queen Leila?”
“Yeah. Yeah, it’s fine.” I forced a smile. “Thanks, Skye.”
Skye nodded and stood up, pushing her chair back a little. She was picking her way through the shades when I called after her.
“Skye, who would you recommend?”
Skye passed through the wall of animals before she turned around, her expression contemplative. “Logically, Lord Dion would be the easiest partner,” she said. “He will cause the least trouble, and won’t actively scheme against you since he is a friend of the Paragon’s.”
I narrowed my eyes, hearing something in her voice. “But?”
She hesitated. “I’m not certain he would be the best spouse. He would remain loyal and friendly. But I suspect he wouldn’t quite know how to react to your fire—like the majority of the fae.”
To my fire, huh? I don’t know that I can afford to be sentimental like that, but it still makes me happy Skye notices and thinks about these kinds of things.
“Thank you, Skye.”
She bowed. “Of course, Queen Leila.” She strode from the room—all beauty and elegance despite the cat and dog hair that graced the legs of her slacks.
I leaned back into my chair and groaned. “Am I crazy, Indigo?”
“Yeah,” Indigo factually said. “But that’s okay. Your Court is filled with a bunch of psychos. They could use your brand of crazy.”
I laughed. “Thanks.”
Indigo shrugged and shed her sweater like she tended to do now when it was just the two of us. Today she wore a yellow Hufflepuff shirt, which she fidgeted with. “My Sovereign?”
“Hmm?”
“I wanted to offer my help, if you think you need it,” Indigo said.
“Oh!” I perked up. “Really? I actually do need some help, and I’m fairly certain you’re the only one in my Court who can help me.”
Indigo pushed her glasses farther up her nose. “With what?”
“This.” I pulled out a catalog of horse equipment and clothes for riders. “I need, like, three of this helmet—in this size.” I tapped the helmet I’d circled with a red marker.
Indigo took the magazine, but her forehead was more wrinkled that the clothes sitting at the bottom of my closet. “Why do you need me to get them?”
