Page 25 of Heart of the Fae King

My eyes became slits. “You’ll refer to Maren with respect, Odette,” I told her warningly. “I won’t have this conversation with you again.”

Nonplussed, she also sat, crossing her impossibly long legs under her skirt before leaning forward. “You’re not doing anything but catering to Maren’s needs lately,” she insisted.

“What the hell does that mean?” I barked, offended at her implication.

Odette shrugged. “Just what it sounds like. She’s your number one priority, it seems.”

Anger flared inside me. “Is there something happening that I’ve neglected?” I spat.

“Have you found out who’s responsible for that rash of arsons and the murders yet?” she challenged back.

Furiously, I rose again. “Haveyou? If I remember correctly, you were the one I tasked with finding out more information.”

She backed down, and I felt the tips of my fangs pressing against my gums, begging to burst free. Maybe it was time I started looking for a new enchantress. Odie was getting a little too comfortable.

Leaning forward on my desk, I growled, “I am keeping an eye on things, protecting my kingdom.”

“By having a burlesque show here every night?”

Incensed, I stalked around the side of the desk, and she withdrew, inhaling sharply.

“How I run my kingdom is not your concern,” I hissed. “I’m getting a bit tired of reminding you of that.”

Odette hung her head and fiddled with her hands. “Right.”

“Don’t be flippant with me, Odette. You’re already on thin ice with me and have been for a long time. Your attitude toward Maren is just the icing on the cake.”

She pursed her lips together and raised her head, the baleful expression in her eyes palpable. “Why did you summon me,Alpha?” she asked sarcastically. “Because obviously, it’s not for my advice.”

I snorted. “I will never summon you for advice. You’re not an advisor, Odette. You’re the kingdom’s enchantress—a job you can’t seem to manage well half the time. The last thing I’d do is put more responsibility on you by making you an advisor.”

She withered at the insult and finally remained silent, waiting for me to continue.

“First, tell me the results of the ebonleaf,” I said bluntly. “And don’t tell me you don’t have them.”

“It’s native to Steelshire. It was grown here,” she muttered without preamble.

“Good,” I replied, sidling back to my chair to sit again. “That should narrow down the search. It can’t grow in many areas here. Find the ebonleaf patch, and find the warlock responsible.”

“Maybe,” Odette muttered. “Or maybe it was sold or stolen. You can’t know for sure how anyone came to get their hands on that particular dose.”

I eyed her suspiciously. “Your playing of the devil’s advocate is tiresome,” I informed her. “Stop it.”

“Fine,” she barked, standing.

“Sit down,” I snarled. Obediently, she reclaimed her seat but avoided my eyes, her gaze trained on the bookshelf behind my head instead. “You’ll put a full and permanent shroud of protection around Maren and the baby.”

Aghast, Odette merely gawped at me. “What?!”

“Which part wasn’t clear?”

“All of it!” she sputtered. “Do you know how much time and energy is required to do something like that?”

I bared my teeth, flashing my fangs at her. “Is it too much to ask for the future prince or princess?”

“Not for them, no,” Odette conceded, making my blood boil again.

“Odette…”

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