Page 38 of Filthy Fae

“And what if he doesn’t go through with it?” Aaron demanded.

“Then we’ll finish eating, make a toast to the hunt, and whoever kills you first will be celebrated as a hero for a hundred years,” Titania said, her eyes steely even as her voice remained soft and cheerful. “And that fae may make a single request of their queen.”

I swallowed back emotion, determined to show Mack a brave face. “We can make it through the hunt, Mack.”

“If you’re so determined to die...” The queen tilted her head and shrugged. “The hunt is on.”

Fuck. Me.

“You are either with your friends or your family, Macklin,” Queen Titania said with a dismissive wave. “Your choice.”

I jumped forward. “You can’t do that. Don’t make him choose.” I cut off as a silver arrow flew at me, sizzling along my arm. I glanced down to the fae crouching in full armor between me and the dais. The man again aimed for my chest, his posture and expression clearly saying that had been my only warning shot.

What was I even thinking? Of course Queen Titania would do that. A woman who would suck the life-force out of her own son in order to preserve her life would easily exile Mack for siding with us. “You are a horrible excuse for a queen,” I yelled. “Any one of these fae would do a better job than you.”

“I have done what I can with what I have been given.” Queen Titania stood. “If Macklin turns against his promised marriage, it will be as if he were never born. He will no longer be a prince of the Spring Court. If any of his brothers or sisters or friends attempt to help him in any way, they will share his exile.”

She turned to Mack. “Not a fae business in the state will hire you. You’ll be penniless, without family or friends.”

“Or I can be sent away into a forced marriage without my friends and family?” Mack shook his head. “Mother, I don’t see that you’re giving me much of a choice no matter what.”

Queen Titania’s eyes blazed. “If that’s who you throw in your lot with, you can join the hunt on the other side.”

“What? No,” I blurted.

A murmur rose around the feast, and someone gasped, “No!”

“I am your queen, and there are only two parties in this hunt,” she said, gleeful malice shining from her eyes. “The hunters and the hunted. If my son wants to die tonight, I will not stop him.”

Fae backed away from their table. Colorful wings flashed through the air as pixies took flight. Centaurs and redcaps backed away, fury in their faces. Within several minutes, most of the feast vanished into the woods.

Clearly, while seeking revenge on those they saw as the murderers of their dead friends was a popular idea, killing Mack was abhorrent to them. I was getting the sense that Mack was a much more popular fae than his mother. I had to give these creatures some mad respect. When our asshole of an alpha had given us abhorrent orders, we’d obeyed them. My whole pack was living with emotional scars from that.

I should have let Mack explain court politics here long ago. The last thing I wanted was a war with these fae. As far as I was concerned, everyone here aside from Queen Titania was innocent—even the fifty or so fae who remained at the feast. Most stared at me with hatred in their eyes.

I understood their fury. It was misplaced, but I would have had a similar reaction toward Queen Titania if I believed she ordered the deaths of my packmates.

“Mack,” I said. “Think about this. Your mother’s anger will cool. Get out of here. You can’t fight your own friends and family.”

“Exile is too good for my son. If he refuses to marry the Queen of Autumn, he’ll be in this hunt,” Titania said, her furious eyes turning to me. “Hunter or hunted.”

Mack’s fist clenched on the table. “So be it.”

The fae around the table stared at Mack in horror. He didn’t seem to notice as he had a royal stare-down with the queen.

For just a second, the queen’s furious mask broke, a look of hurt passed over her stern features. “My own children would turn against me. Even after what Autumn told you...” The queen’s hair rose, whipping about her face. “You would side with a woman who conspired to have your mother assassinated?”

“What?” Both Aaron and I asked in unison.

I gestured toward the redwood. “Mack, she’s lying. I’ve been locked in a room. I didn’t do anything to her.”

Mack shook his head. “Scarlet played no part in the attack—”

“Silence! If you would side with a woman who tried to kill me, then you are not my son.”

A gust of wind blew over the fae at the great table and slammed into Mack, sending him tumbling over the trays of food and out into the center of the pavilion.

“Let’s not dally longer.” Titania clapped her hands. “No one can say I’m not a fair ruler. So, we’ll give you three a head start. Let’s say five minutes.”