I smiled, though it wavered. “Did the gown or crown of jewels give it away?”
“Why do you come alone?” the high king asked.
“Because I don’t believe in greeting guests with the threat of steel and violence. And besides, I’m not afraid to greet you myself, as you answered my request to travel to Zircon.”
The shifter alpha huffed a laugh, her lip curving, as the red-haired female gave me a wink.
I honestly didn’t know what to think of the gestures.
The high king inclined his head. “Your captain told us we would meet you and your father in the throne room.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be a proper hostess if I didn’t escort you myself now, would I?”
“Manners from the humans? I’m pleasantly surprised,” the silver-haired High Fae behind Daxton said, with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
“Have we met?” I asked.
His smile held a wicked kind of charm. “I’m hurt. Did you forget me so quickly from the meeting, Princess?”
I blinked, taken aback by his response.
“Castor.” The alpha queen shook her head with a sigh.
“What? I aim to make an impression everywhere I go. No need to be jealous, Skylar.”
“My brother, Castor Aegaeon,” the high king said. “He was with the shifters when you met before the trials.”
“Ah, yes.” I paused. My throat tightened at the thought of mentioninghername in front of them.
The red-haired woman stepped forward, eyeing me. “Oh, you mean the meeting when the false queen bitchMinaeve was masquerading as their high queen, trying to kill off the shifter and the High Fae for power?”
Castor scoffed. “Well, the etiquette lessons were clearly worth my time.”
“Rhea—” Skylar stepped forward, pinning the shifter with a glare that made my stomach drop.
“What?” Rhea snapped.
Skylar bent and whispered something I could not hear before turning and motioning to the brawny shifter. He stepped forward and bent to speak to Rhea.
“I won’t apologize,” Rhea said.
“I’m not asking you to,” the male answered.
“ButIam telling you to stay quiet,” Skylar said. “That’s an order.”
Power filled the room. My eyes widened as I felt the rush of magic from the alpha, her words forming an unbreakable command.
I glanced to her side to notice the high king’s attention set solely on me. His silver stare was focused, like he was searching for something just out of reach.
A chill rippled down my spine. Something was unsettling about the intensity of his ancient, all-knowing gaze.
My fingers twitched at my side.Don’t flinch. Don’t look away. Remember, humans hold the power. We have the Heart of Valdor,I reminded myself.
“Your Highness?” I managed, forcing the words through a throat that had gone inexplicably dry.
He blinked once, slowly and deliberately, and for the briefest heartbeat, I thought I saw surprise—or perhapsrecognition—flash behind his stern expression. Then it was gone.
“Lead, and we’ll follow you to the throne room, Princess,” Daxton said.
