Crossing my arms, mostly to hide the way my hands shook, I raised my chin. In my coldest tone, I tried to sound equally lethal as I told him, “I do.”
My serious voice definitely didnothave the same effect.
Snickers came from fae below, and whispers rose as they no doubt told those farther back about my audacity—or maybe, more accurately, my insanity.
Alaric had turned into a stone statue except for the darkening hue of his skin. He was either taking a minute to decide what to say or was about to lose it. I had a bad feeling it might be the latter.
Both King Mordeus and Caius had settled onto their thrones to enjoy the show, watching with morbid fascination, like if someone handed them popcorn, they’d have everything they needed.
Taking a deep breath, I figured I’d already pissed Alaric off, so I might as well go all in. “If you don’t take us with you, we’ll find our way to Mom ourselves.”
That made more than one of the winged folk behind Alaric snort.
They clearly didn’t think we’d make it.
Considering I had no idea where to go, they might be right.
Unfortunately, my words seemed to release Alaric from his need to stay. “We have come to an agreement. Since I have orders from the royal family to leave you here, I wish you luck on your journey.”
With a nod, he spread his wings, which seemed to signal the others to do the same.
“Stop.” Soren’s voice rang out over the court with an authority I hadn’t heard from him before.
Alaric sneered at the shadows where Soren’s voice had come from. “Who dares to command us now? Perhaps we’ve been too lenient of late and an example should be made.”
As Soren stepped out of the shadows and moved toward the thrones, the big winged fae in armor visibly shrank back, eyes widening.
“Your orders from the royal family have changed,” Soren told him as he strode calmly forward, coming to stand by me. “You’ll bring Brynn and her family to the Shadow Court. And me as well.”
The huge scary army of fae shocked me by bowing their heads to Soren in deference.
Even Alaric dipped his head low in a bow. “Yes, Your Highness.”
HIGHNESS?
Soren accepted the title without blinking.
