The three turned to look at me as I entered. I sketched a quick bow and said, “You asked to see me?”
Eira waved her hand at me. “Drop the pretense, Theron. Nyra knows you.”
I scoffed and straightened. “It’s not apretense. You’re still my queen, even if we share a bed.”
“How scandalous,” Nyra said with a smirk, her all-black eyes drilling into me with an intensity that made me want to fidget.
“Riots have broken out in Jarta and Dahl,” Eira said. “Pixies are being attacked, dragged from their homes and captured. We think the seelie nobles might be involved, but we can’t prove anything.”
My chest constricted. Eira had been queen for a few years now, but there was still discontent over a human ruling the court. Especially since she had decreed that the unseelie were to be granted the same freedoms as the seelie.
“What can I do?” I asked, spine straightening as I waited for my queen to command me.
A small smile lit Eira’s face. “You can talk to them.”
I frowned. “Talk?”
“Yes. It’s something you do with your mouth instead of your hands. Although, I think you are skilled at using both, if memory serves me.”
My face flushed, and I sputtered awkwardly, unable to provide a coherent response. Sage snorted, then covered her mouth. Nyra cackled and clapped her hands together in delight.
“Imean,” I said, my face still hot, “don’t you want me to lead forces down there?”
“I’ve tried that. Many times. But it doesn’t seem to be making a difference.”
“The seelie need someone likethemto speak with them,” Nyra said. “Eira here is a human, as is her court. I think they see it as offensive that there is no seelie emissary.”
I blinked once. Twice. “Emissary?”
“Are you going to continue to parrot words back to us?” Eira asked with a long-suffering sigh.
“I’m just confused as to what you want me to do here.”
Eira drew closer to me, her eyes sparkling. “Theron, I want you to be a leader.”
I swallowed hard and waited for her to continue. My pulse began to thrum.
“You’ve been leading our court meetings for years now,” she said.
“I’ve only been directing them.”
“And you’ve been leading training lessons with the soldiers and civilians,” Eira went on.
“That isvoluntaryand a completely informal setting.”
“Not to mention the fact that youknowthe fae and their customs far better than I ever could.” Eira lifted a hand and ran her fingers down my jaw, teasing my beard. “This court needs you, Theron. In an official capacity. If you’re ready for it.”
My heart rate quickened as I glanced from Eira to Nyra,who was smiling slyly, then to Sage, whose eyes were wide. “You want me… to be your emissary?” I clarified.
“Yes,” said Eira. “You would be my official spokesperson, traveling throughout the provinces and providing counsel.”
I looked at her, my stomach wriggling uncontrollably. “How often?”
“What?”
“How often would I be traveling?”
Eira frowned at this. “I’m not sure yet. As often as is required.”
