She was done waiting for permission from lesser Fae. “Command the servants to leave. Close the doors, and put every single person in this room in iron.”
Silence blanketed the space. Some heads turned to Alec for confirmation while others exchanged nervous glances with their companions.
Then laughter pierced the air like a javelin. The one with the gold brooch across his shoulder dropped his head into one hand. “And here I thought our queen wouldn’t possess a sense of humor. Please,” he gestured. “Join us. Forgive the rudeness of our early start.” He scooted his chair back and stood. “Actually, you shouldn’t even be serving yourself, please allow me to—”
A servant dumped a bag on the table, right over the plates of steaming food. Arianna watched iron shackles roll across the wood, the rings lodging on plates and landing in thick gravy. The clanging echoed through the entire room and light reflected from the metal. Those nearest to the offending material hissed and recoiled, while others outright leapt from their chairs.
The councilman’s mouth gaped. “You can’t be seriously entertaining this idea, my Lord.”
Alec plucked one of the pieces from the table, twisting and turning it in the light. “You heard your queen.”
“I—It’s a serious offence to be demanded such a thing in your own halls.”
Alec locked his hardened gaze with the male’s. “Put the iron on, Garrett.”
Garrett’s body went rigid. He stared at Alec another moment, then turned to Arianna. Fear. There was fear all over his face. Then he hissed and pointed a finger at Rion. “You want me to disarm myself with that creature in our midst? After everything he’s done?”
Rion produced the iron bracelet he’d been clutching, then slid it over his wrist. Saoirse stepped closer to him.
The new male, the one Rion had been staring at as if he couldn’t believe he existed, reached for a bracelet as well, sliding it easily over his wrist before saying, “Do as you’re commanded.” The female beside the new male echoed her superior’s actions, her fingers grazing the hilt of her sword.
“I will not.”
Alec raised a brow, then bared his teeth. “Are you defying a direct order from your High Lord?”
“I’m disobeying an order that would get me killed, yes, and one that threatens my High Lord’s safety. Who knows what this new queen might do once we’re all disarmed. We don’t know her. All we’ve heard is countless rumors. Who’s to say she’s even—”
Garrett didn’t finish his sentence, not as a spear of ice flew straight through the male’s heart. Garrett barely had time to register the wound before his eyes went blank. Talon was at her side then, weapon drawn as everyone jumped to their feet at once. Some screamed when Garrett’s body hit his chair, then rolled onto the floor, nearly under the table. Others merely gaped in horror.
“We’re weeding out traitors,” Arianna said simply, not at all fazed by the blood pooling around the male’s limp body. “And anyone who refuses to put on the bracelets will be regarded as such.”
Even now, she noted how Garrett’s scent had changed. He’d previously carried the scent of Brónach. Now he smelled more like the wind-swept plains.
Several of those wearing the silver pins backed toward the doors, their hearts hammering so loud it nearly drowned out everything else.
Alec didn’t move, but she noted the sly smile, as if he were pleased by her brazen actions. Or her ruthlessness. Perhaps The Demon wasn’t the only vicious sibling. Their father certainly had his own reputation.
“Anyone else have a problem with her demands?” Alec inquired, his eyes sweeping across the room.
Four males bolted in one direction, and another eight ran in the other. Alec’s magic burst from the floor and grabbed theirscreaming forms, choking the life out of them before anyone could intervene.
The others present had frozen in place, their hands covering their mouths. Alec just shook his head. “My council. What a disappointment.”
“My Lord,” another said, his voice wavering. “I don’t understand—”
“We are on the brink of war,” Alec said. “Levea has been destroyed, Ashling—or the false one—has exploded, Fiadh has made their alliance with Pádraigín public. And yet you all refuse a simple command.” He growled, the sound making Arianna bristle. “As far as I’m concerned, those unwilling to suppress themselves have something to hide, and that makes them traitors. Put on the iron.”
The same one speaking reached for a band. “But, there should be a trial—”
“We’re beyond trials. Our queen,” Alec pointed to her, “has valuable information and from what I’ve gathered, we’ve been infiltrated far deeper than any of us could have ever imagined. This is your last chance. If you’re not working for the High Lord of Pádraigín, then put on the damn iron and pledge yourself to your queen.”
Silently, one by one, those standing on the outskirts of the table inched forward and took a bracelet, sliding the offensive metal onto their wrists. Many visibly shuddered, others grimacing at having their magic stripped from their bodies. Good, maybe they’d know how the slaves had felt every day of their lives.
Alec turned to Arianna. “Brónach, as a nation, pledges itself to your service. Whatever you have need of, ask and it shall be given.”
Arianna gazed out over the room. Her breath caught as she realized everyone, including Alec and her companions, hadobeyed. Saoirse remained close to Rion, her gaze nervously darting around the room. Raevina stood beside Talon, appearing just as unhappy as ever. And Talon, he’d locked his eyes with hers, as if to say,look, I haven’t betrayed you.
The realization speared her straight through the heart. Talon, in all of this, had told her nothing but the truth. He—he hadn’t been trying to deceive her. Gavin wasn’t responsible for messing with her mind. Which meant—her eyes traveled to The Demon. Which meant—
