I wriggled my fingers at him. “Let me have it, Fell. Why did you choose theNight Court?”
Judging by the way he was pursing his lips, he was going to simply not answer my question and duck his inability to lie.
That was fine. I still had a few tricks I could use.
“If you don’t tell me I’m going to assume it’s because you’re secretly madly in love with me and it was all a ploy to get my attention.”
Fell growled. “You infuriating woman! Fine! It was because I knew out of all the Courts you were the only one who would have acted.”
Whoa. That is not what I was expecting—I thought he was going to say he did it because he figured Rigel could kill it. But this is shocking.
I could tell Fell was already regretting the outburst. He scowled at me and looked ready to march off in his anger.
“Fell,” I said.
“What?”
I stretched my arm out, and in a half playful/half serious move, I lightly punched him in the chest, resting my fist over his heart. “I want that position, because I don’t want that to happen to any of our Courts again. The same way I was ready to pound you for Verdant’s stag—which you are still not off the hook for, by the way—I will go after any monster that tries to ruin your realm.”
Fell shook his head. “No, you won’t.”
“I will,” I said. “Write it off as my weak human blood, but I’ll do it.”
Fell narrowed his eyes as he studied me. “You are insane.”
“Yep!”
“And weak.”
“Oh, for sure. That’s why I had to call my hydra bro.”
Fell growled like a cat, then turned away from me and stomped off. “The Autumn Court approves of this nomination—with a great deal of misgivings.”
He threw himself down into his chair while I was still tottering back to my seat.
I couldn’t believe it—Fell, the twisted king of twerps—agreed to make me the representative. I almost couldn’t believe it!
My ears rang, and it felt like I was walking on clouds. I reached out and clasped Rigel’s hand, just to anchor myself.
“Then the nomination is unanimously approved by the Fae Ring,” Queen Rime said. “Come January, I will step down as the fae representative, and Queen Leila of the Night Court shall take my place. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Birch said, his forehead split with wrinkles.
“Agreed!” Verdant proclaimed.
Solis glanced at me and smiled like a proud father. “Agreed.”
Fell sank deeper in his chair. “Yeah, yeah, agreed.”
“Thanks everyone,” I said. “I look forward to working with you.”
It took all my control not to grin like a crazy person as I clung to Rigel’s hand.
We’d done it. We won.
The Courts would work with me. I’d have to make sure I stayed on top of them to keep them from petty fights, but the position of representative gave me some power.
I can handle this—with help.
