"By now, I'm sure your eyes and ears around the realm have informed you my fiancé, the princess and heir to the Midorian throne, was kidnapped by the Tronovians." I start just as I practiced on the ship, infusing the charisma Vesper advised me on.
"I heard," she drawls, offering nothing more.
"And – "
"I also heard, she rejected you. Chose a Tronovian." Her smile is nothing short of wicked.
If she's trying to get a rise out of me, it's working. Anger rises from my gut, but I suppress my rage and the image of tearing her smug face from her body and offer a smile of my own. One day, Astrea Talay may reap my wrath, but it's not today.
"She's been through a lot," I offer, my voice low. "She's confused. Brainwashed by our enemies into believing lies."
My pain bores her. "So, you have come here for what exactly?" She runs a long fingernail down her jaw. "You want me to fetch your woman for you?" She cackles, tossing her head back, and everyone in the room laughs along with her.
I sense Vesper's rage and if I don't turn this meeting in my favor, I'm not sure I can hold the Soul Eater back from ripping out Astrea's eyes and feasting on her heart. There are many things Vesper tolerates – not well, mind you – but blatant disrespect is not one.
I toss her a look over my shoulder, mentally ordering her to stand down, before slicing through the laughter. "I would offer an exchange," I say loud enough for the room to fall silent.
The queen swipes a tear from her eye, a smirk playing on her lips. "You do not have anything I want," she wheezes.
"Are you sure about that?" I grin, knowing this is when I will bend her or break her. "I believe you have five daughters. Yet, you cannot account for one's whereabouts. One suspected of murder?"
Her pointed ears perk at that. All elation drains from her face. "You know where Eris is?" She leans forward and I know I've hooked her.
"I can tell you exactly where to find her."
She mulls over my words carefully, not making a sound for several seconds. Her nostrils flare. A decision has been made. Vesper was right. The queen would be willing to negotiate if I mentioned her daughter. I'm fortunate Vesper remembered her. This has been my biggest bargaining chip.
"In exchange for?" Astrea's eyes narrow, her shoulders taut.
"You've been invited to a wedding in Tronovia, correct?"
The queen chuckles, but this time there's no joviality in the sound. She's nervous. I know more than she realizes. "I'm not sure who has better spies, you or me. But yes, I have recently received an invitation to a royal wedding. What of it?"
"I would like for you to attend."
She leans forward. "Why?"
"Ensure a handful of my soldiers make it onto Tronovian soil."
Her mouth opens and then snaps shut. She's lost for words. Her oldest daughter whispers something in her mother's ear. Astrea's eyes find mine, skepticism ripe in her face. "For what purpose?"
I tap my fingers along the rim of my helmet. "The less you know of my plans, the better. All I need you to do is escort them into the city undetected."
I can see the wheels spinning in her mind. "And for this," she says each word slowly, thoughtfully, "you will give me my daughter?"
I shake my head. "I will tell you where you can find her."
Fury ignites in her gaze. She snaps her fingers, and her guards stationed around the throne room point spears at us. "Or you will tell me where to find my daughter now and I will permit you to leave Hydra with all your limbs still attached." A sinister smile appears on her face. All trepidation from moments before gone. Her viper reputation is ironclad.
I don't flinch. I anticipated her brash use of force and instructed my Soul Eaters not to react if they found themselves at the end of a Hydran spear. "With all due respect, Your Highness," I say with a calmness that rattles the queen, "I am not someone you want for an enemy. I killed my own father and claimed his titles. Do you think I value your life more than his?"
"Do you not understand who I am?" Her voice deepens, dark clouds roll over the city and high winds blow through. "I control the sea and storms. I can destroy your ships without seeing them."
I snap my fingers and the guard beside Jocasta puts a knife to her throat.
"What are you doing?" Astrea screams at the guard. I clock the exact moment the queen notices her guard now has red-rimmed eyes. She whips to look at me, fear now marring her scheming face. "Soul Eaters? Bastian, what have you done?"
I shred the charming mask I donned, permitting my true-self to step into the light. "Now that we understand the lengths we are both willing to go to assert our power," I growl, "how about we quit wasting one another's time? I want my fiancé. You want your daughter. Let us help one another."
