King Birch shrugged. “It’s tradition.”
“I don’t care if the skies opened up and the last elf ever seen descended from the clouds to give their blessing on the hunt—I’m not doing this!”
“You don’t have a choice,” King Fell said.
“What, you think you canmake me?” I scoffed.
“I can, actually,” King Fell said. “You are the weakest Court—and monarch—here. Do you think you’re the only one that’s reluctant to join? Your counterpart is nearly as much of a do-good-er as you.” He curled his lips back in a sneer as he glanced at King Solis.
“You’re not going to risk a fight over a hunt,” I said.
“You overestimate my good will, Queen Leila,” King Fell said. “I’d doexactlythat. Autumn is my time—my reign. I’ll do whatever I please, and make you go along with me.”
I felt Skye’s worried eyes on me, and Indigo slightly shook her head, terror flashing in her eyes.
It seems Fell really is that ego-centric that he’d bring ruin just because I refuse to play his little games.
I glanced up at Rigel.
My consort leaned forward and murmured, “While Birch and Fell usually opt to kill the stag, Verdant and Solis release it.”
He was giving me an out—a reason to participate in an event I already despised.
I wanted to scream.I hate that the fae are like this. I hate that they have this never quenched desire for power that makes them do despicable things.
“Fine.” I gritted my teeth. “Then I’ll just catch the stag myself and let him go.”
“Don’t be stupid, Queen Leila,” King Birch said. “Hunting a stag is a once a year opportunity. If you bag him yourself, the magic of ending its life will grant you a wish.”
The magic of—do they even hear themselves talk?
“I’dneverwant a wish born of spilled blood,” I snapped.
King Fell darkly laughed. “It won’t matter. Do you really think you couldreleasethe stag when you’re hunting withyourhideous, bloodthirsty animals? Not a chance! They have a killing instinct even our hounds don’t have.”
“I don’tevencare what you think of me and my actions, King Fell. Get that through your pretty head.” I turned around and stalked off to the edge of the meadow where four of my night mares were nibbling on grass.
I tucked two fingers in my mouth and whistled, getting their attention and calling the shades to my side. “Listen up, my lovelies,” I said. “We’ve got a change in plans. And, Eclipse, can you head back to the mansion? I left a few things behind that I’m going to need…”
* * *
The hounds bayedas we raced after the stag.
The servant had released it ahead of us, and it had managed to keep its lead, so we’d only seen a glimmer of silver through the trees or at the far end of the open fields we rode across.
Comet snorted, the muscles of her neck bulging, making her pale yellow dapples stand out on her coal dark coat. “Just hold it for a little while longer,” I coaxed as we cantered along.
King Birch—riding just a tiny bit ahead of me—peered over his shoulder at me.
I ignored him, my eyes fixed on the dirt trail we galloped down.
He, Verdant, and Fell all rode sun stallions. The horses flickered like flames as they streaked along the trail.
We had to go with stretches of trotting and cantering or we’d outpace the hounds. That gave me plenty of time to glare at the back of King Fell’s head. He led us, with Verdant right behind him.
The hounds surged around us, barking like crazy. My seven shades were strategically placed among them, occasionally howling—which always made the other dogs whimper and whine.
Solis was behind me, and Rigel brought up the rear on Twilight.
