“Oh, that.” She waved dismissively, drawling her words like a drunken bard. “I named him my Grand Alderman.”
Thane glanced at his uncle, and a meaningful glance passed between them.
He had been worried it was something like that. Lord Bowen had been the Grand Alderman during the High King’s reign. When Thane’s father had abdicated, Imogen had replaced the entire council, and had kicked Lord Bowen out of his seat. But she had not yet named a new Grand Alderman. She did not trust anyone with the title. Except, it appeared, the lover that helped her steal the throne.
“And did you have the wine before or after you put a scheming bastard in the second most powerful position in this kingdom?” Thane asked.
“Empire,” she slurred. “You should start calling it an empire.”
“I cannot start calling it an empire, Mother. We have an alliance with the Ice Court, yes, but our two kingdoms will not fully join together until I marry Princess Reyna and become the High King,” he said through clenched teeth. “Which, as I’m sure you’ll recall, has been put on pause.Because of you.”
She let out a heavy sigh, slumping further into the mess of vines. “You sound so agitated, my son. Why don’t you join me for a drink? I know you love your wine.”
“Imogen,” his uncle said, frowning. “This is quite irregular. Aengus has no titles. He’s had no experience in ruling a kingdom. No one even knows where he comes from. For all we know, he could be a shadow fae.”
Imogen laughed, a cackling, high-pitched sound that echoed through the desolate Great Hall. “He isn’t clever enough to be a shadow fae.”
“He was clever enough to worm his way into the seat of the Grand Alderman,” Lord Bowen argued.
She turned to Thane’s uncle with piercing eyes. “And so were you.”
“As Sloane’s brother and a lord, that was an ideal choice,” Lord Bowen said with a sad sigh. “And, speaking of Sloane, no one has seen him for weeks. What have you done with him, Imogen?”
“Oh, please,” she said with an eye roll. “You know as well as I do that he scurried off to your castle down south to hide from his shame. Feurach Fortress is dreary enough for my tiresome husband to find enticing.”
Thane closed his eyes, desperately calling upon patience he was not certain he had. “Mother. You cannot allow Aengus to be our Grand Alderman. There is no telling what he will do. If you thought Father’s atrocities were bad—”
“I know exactly what he will do.” She sat up a little straighter, her eyes suddenly clear. “He will scheme and plot, gaining himself more power. Eventually, he will best us all.”
Thane regarded her carefully. “You’re the one who put him in that position.”
“Yes. Because I had no other choice.”
“And so now your solution is to drink it all away instead of doing something about it?”
What frustrated Thane the most was not that Aengus had somehow weaselled his way into the position. It was that his mother was sitting back and allowing it to happen. That was unlike her. For better or worse, Imogen was a force to be reckoned with. No one, not even her own son, had challenged her move to take the throne. She had that kind of power.
What in the name of the Dagda did Aengus hold over her?
Her long sigh whistled through the room. “Do not worry, my son. I will handle it.”
“How?” he demanded.
“I do not know,” she whispered.
He turned to his uncle. They had discussed this. It was the last thing either of them wanted, but neither of them saw another way. Lord Bowen gave him a kind smile, nodding gently for Thane to go ahead with their plan.
“All right.” Thane squared his shoulders, lifting his chin. He had not wanted it to come to this, but she had forced his hand. “I am no longer going to sit by and allow this to happen. The throne is mine. I am the true heir and the High King of the Air Court. I challenge your rule.”
Imogen stared at him for so long that Thane thought she might have fallen asleep with her eyes open. After a long while, she began to laugh. “My dear, idiot son. You have made your challenge, but you need witnesses. Go back to your chambers and think on it. Or go revel for hours. Get drunk. Do as you always do. If you still feel the same the next time you see me, then make your challenge then.”
“I witnessed it.” Lord Bowen crossed his arms over his golden tunic. “And I will inform the courtiers and the druids alike of Thane’s challenge.”
Imogen narrowed her eyes and stood shakily from the throne. “You are not ready to rule this kingdom. Do not make this mistake.”
“I have made my decision, Mother. And I’ll have my coronation by month’s end.”
“There are those in this court who are loyal to me,” she said with a hiss. “I could bring my armies against you.”
