“I can control her.”
My body tenses at his response, my fingers gripping the worn armrest.
“You’d better hold the leash tight,” she says with a grin.
Stop reacting,Marik’s voice says in my head.That’s what she’s looking for.
I blink in stunned silence. Did he just…give me advice?
“Give me the updates,” he says, ignoring her comment.
She looks like she wants to say more about me and the collar around my neck, but she turns to him instead. “Witches have been placed near every major city and human town. House Ursidae has been a problem. They refuse to let Annika and Mina stay on their grounds. Houses Panthera and Canis have been compliant, though.”
Marik nods as he takes this in.
Witches in every city…in every court…around humans…
Cora continues, “Casualties have been minimal, so far. There has been some pushback from the citizens regarding the assimilation of the witches, but they’ve been dealt with.”
“Wh—” My mouth slams shut.
Cora looks at me, her eyes twinkling. “Cat got your tongue?”
I glare at her.
“I told you I could control her,” Marik says. “Continue.”
Her jaw ticks at the order, but she complies. “Like I said, pushback has been minor, but something needs to be done about Ursidae.”
“I’ll handle it. Make sure you control your witches, Cora. We don’t want the citizens getting hurt or to begin protesting this. And be careful with the humans. If harm comes to them, the hybrids will not respond well. Our grip on the kingdom is already tenuous.”
Her gaze sharpens, eyes somehow getting lighter as the dark aura around her strengthens.
“Watch how you speak to me, boy. Did you forget who’s running things here? I’m working with you to be polite. I can raze this court and all its land to the ground.”
Marik’s hand grips his knee, but his face remains impassive as he says, “It would not be in your interest if you want a people to rule.Remember what happened with the Fae? She wasn’t too happy with you, was she? Let’s not forget who’s in control.”
I blink as I try to piece together what he’s saying. I had assumed Cora was responsible for the fall of the Fae, but I have no clue what he’s talking about…Whowasn’t too happy with Cora after that? Who is in control?
They stare at each other for another moment. Would it be too much to hope that they’ll just wipe each other out right now? But Cora’s black aura dims and she relaxes her shoulders. “How was the tithe?” she asks.
Marik’s foot twitches on the ground next to mine. I want to stomp on it. Or better yet, nail it to the ground.
“Fine. Most citizens came. Those that didn’t were found and arrested.”
She studies something on the desk in front of her—a report of some kind, I think—her pointer finger tracing the border. “You placed ten in the dungeons?”
He nods in confirmation.
“Good,” she says, circling something on the report. I squint, hoping to glean any information that I can, but it’s no use. The print is too small for me to read from here.
“Can I see them?” I ask, surprised that Marik let me get the question out.
Marik glances at me. “I don’t—” he starts, but Cora holds her hand up, silencing him in one motion.
It appears I’m not the only one with a leash,I fire at him before I can think better of it.
“Actually, I think that would be wise. Marik, you’re the one who put them there. Let them see their High Queen showing them some compassion. We need to release them in the next couple of days anyways. Let them tell their stories. Let them spread the fear of what happens when you don’t listen to the High Crown, then let them tell the story of their High Queen visiting them. Show them we are a firm, but empathetic Crown.”
