“So what’s it going to be?” I demand as I point at the lot of them.
Coo and Chi look at me in horror. Petre’s lips tighten, but Bailey looks as if she’s trying not to laugh along with me. I smile at her.
“Those sex toys I gave you really helped you, huh?” I ask cheerfully.
She coughs. But then she gives the smallest nod.
I beam.
No one else does. Not even her.
“King Morningstar,” Petre says stiffly, “made a deal, and he broke it.”
“Right.” I head for the door. “I’m off to go torture –”
“However,”she continues, stopping me in my tracks. I spin back around to face her, my heart pounding with hope.
“As the receiver of this deal, I have decided to change it should he so wish, as is my right.”
“To what?” Richard asks warily.
My heart in my throat, I struggle to breathe.
“Release the hostages –”
“Deal!” I shout, jumping for joy.
“Your Majesty,” Petre says, not looking at me. “The deal is not yours to accept.”
Spinning to face my husband, I grab his arm and shake it. “Tell her yes, Richard. Tell her yes.”
His lips twitch. “I accept.”
“Then upon the release of our seconds, your deal with us will be done.”
“I’ll release them now!” I screech. After giving Richard a quick peck on the lips, I race for the door. Then skid to a stop in order to walk regally.
Evangeline told me I needed to keep my cool the entire way through.
Once out in the hall, though, I throw a fist into the air and do a little dance. Ahhhh! I just knew everything would be fine!
And now I get to save my king.
Fifty-Two
A good little slut is much better at handling murders than a brownie.
Granted, the bar for that is not high…
- Arienna
I hurry down the hall to the secret room, my heart pounding even faster than my legs are carrying me. As I near the final turn, however, someone calls out behind me.
“Your Majesty.”
My arms flailing, I skid to a stop. I turn to find Deirdre coming towards me with long strides. “Deirdre? What are you doing here?”But please go because I can’t enter the room with you here!
“Evangeline told me what was happening and to come here in case I was needed.” She stops in front of me, and Ireally wish I was fairy enough to tell her to go away, but there’s only so much meanness I can muster in one day.“You know,” she says slowly, “I really do care about Richard even if he doesn’t believe it. We were all good friends once.”
