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As I look around, I realize the suite looks even worse once you’re inside. The bed is a massacre of sheets and feathers; every pillow exploded across the room like a down bomb went off. There’s blood on the wall, more on the mirror over the minibar, and a long streak of what might be dirt—or, more likely, Worldroot ash—tracked from the bathroom door to the balcony. The air smells like iron and moonflowers, and I’m positive there’s no fixing the crack in the bed frame.
None of us care—this is home for the moment, and we made it back alive.
“You definitely leveled up,” I say to our mate. “You came out of that trial looking like you drank the blood of three gods and made a smoothie out of their bones. It’s going to scare the shit out of those usurpers sitting down there hoping you won’t come for them next.”
She bares her new fangs at me, a grin that’s even more wicked than before. “Thanks, Princey-poo. But you need to eat too; come get some nourishment before we face the music.”
I frown, not wanting to move until my magic has time to knit some of the internal injuries I’m keeping on the down low. “I’ll get it when I’m ready; calm your sparkly tits, Sassypants.”
Khol whistles as her magic sparks a bit in retaliation. “Damn. Our girl’s a whole damn avatar of revenge now. Are you sure you don’t want to take this Court now? We could burn it down, loot the vault, and still finish the tour on time, I think. None of these shit heels were ready for you to show up, much less beat the trial.”
“One quest at a time would be nice,” Fiadh grumbles, stuffing another grape into her mouth. “I have to figure out what happened to my guardians and resolve the Briarvale shit first. Don’t tempt me.”
My bodyguard glances at me, his head tilted as his eyes narrow. “How are you holding up?” he asks, but it’s more than a question. It means he’s caught on to my deception. “You helped heal the two of us and you’re not eating yet, Rev. What’s going on?”
Shit. I’m nailed, and I won’t be able to deny it now.
I shrug, grimacing a bit when it makes the muscles around my ribs move. “I may have a few things I’m dealing with now that we’re not in public. You know I can’t show any weakness in front of other Fae, especially my father’s enemy courts.”
“Eat something,” Tier says as he stalks over to fix a small plate and brings it over. “You look like shit, so your gambit will not work if you don’t take in some fuel. And don’t do this shit again or I’ll kick your ass myself. It’s my job to ensure you don’t get fucked up, man.”
Snorting, I take the cheese and beef he gives me, cramming it into my mouth hungrily. Tier’s not wrong, but he’s also acting like a disappointed parent, which he isn’t. I had to heal him and the basilisk first to ensure they’re ready for this showdown shit. My magic will work on my non-visible shit on its own and it won’t take that long to be functional.
Dezi rolls his eyes at our tiff, but he’s still got that smug, satisfied air of a man who’s just won something big. I don’t blame him, but his puffed-up attitude is going to tip off our enemies if he doesn’t rein it in. I wait until he’s not looking and shoot a small burst of energy at him, biting back the snicker when he jumps.
There we go—a much more humble expression for the vamp who has to be aloof in the throne room.
I continue eating, realizing with a pang that I’ve never felt more like a family in my life. Not in Daybreak, not on the tours, and definitely not at the endless parade of Fae galas and royal obligations from my past. Here, in a room that looks like a bomb went off, I’m surrounded by the only people who really matter anymore. It’s so satisfying for a moment that I almost forget that we have to walk into the lion’s den—almost.
“So what now?” Khol asks with his mouth full. “We throw a coup, or just fake our deaths and disappear? Because I just don’t see options in between, based on what’s happened.”
Our mate leans back, her head resting against Dezi’s arm. “We eat and get our wounds healed,” she says, her voice thick but sure. “Then we go downstairs and tell them to get fucked for the moment. I won’t make a play for the Midnight throne until I’m ready, and agreeing to go about our business as if this didn’t happen will lull them into a false sense of security.”
For once, no one argues as the room goes silent. Each of us considers her words carefully, weighing the possibilities through our individual filters and knowledge. It’s Tiernan who breaks the silence, his voice gruff but clear.
“We survived their bullshit trial. They’re going to try to control you, Knuckles. Whether they attempt to chain you up with promises or threats isn’t important; threats and intimidation are what they do. Why do you think they won’t pull something underhanded again?”
Fi snorts, blowing a stray strand of hair out of her face as she watches the leopard. “Do you really think those cowards are going to attack me after watching the trials? I mean, together we’re pretty fucking badass. Feels like you’re just worried about me, big guy. I like it, but I don’t know if it’s helpful for strategy.”
Cheeky woman… that’s without a doubt the Fae coming out now.
Tiernan’s lips twitch. “About you? Always, but I’m more worried about the innocents this Court filled with psychos might shove in your path. You won’t be happy if you kill Fae who didn’t make this choice, but couldn’t get away once they were here.”
“He has a point,” I murmur as I sigh. “There are many people in this castle who don’t have the option of being here or leaving now that this has started.”
Dezi rises, his arms folded as he paces across the room. For a moment, he looks every bit the ancient vampiric warlord he pretends not to be. “They will not attempt to kill or banish us because you are far too powerful now. Your bloodline is the single most damaging thing to appear in Midnight for many, many years. If they harm you after completing the trial outside of a war, it will spark more rebellion and make you a martyr.”
“If it were me, I’d try to buy you off or blackmail you before risking that. Krystos often has tiny revolutions, the worst being when our parents died. He was able to bribe and extort enough of the basilisks in town to keep control by letting my twin and me be seen as figureheads who would eventually take over as planned. That’s never happened and obviously, he never intended for it to.”
“He’s right, but I’d like to see them try that shit,” I say, surprising myself. “With my presence and willingness to witness any bargains, plus that of the rest of our tour group that has certainly arrived since we went into the trial? Refusing to honor things would give my father a reason to attack. Violating the codes of Faerie is a serious crime, and he’d use that to partner with Harvest to start a new war. To be honest? I’d let him if they tried to hurt you.”
Fiadh flashes me a grin, her eyes swirling with pride. “That’s a hell of a Plan B, Prince. You know that’s going to leave you in a place where you have to finally confront him about your future in Daybreak, right? Are you ready for that?”
I tip an invisible hat in her direction as I grin. “Depends on who’s standing beside me, future queen of Midnight.”
She laughs, and the entire room relaxes a little. For the first time since we arrived here, I feel like the room has a pulse that’s not controlled by the fuckers in charge.
Tiernan clears his throat, bringing us back on track. “There’s still the matter of Rev’s tour stops and concerts. If we refuse to honor that contract, it will be very bad publicity that he doesn’t need.”
