Page 16 of Dare

The water’s reflection trembled through the room. “Quite the iceberg, you are,” the king complimented. “You exceed your family’s tamer inclinations. No offense, of course.”

“No offense possible.” I slit my eyes. “No one surpasses my relatives.”

“That smacks of devotion,” he criticized. “Worse yet, affection.”

It did. “We were speaking of your son.”

“I suppose we were. Your grandaunts are fine queens, but you didn’t inherit your disciplinary measures from those two doves. Anyway, I appreciate the offer, but taking your substantial physique into account, you’d kill my offspring. He’s a fraction of your size—and who isn’t, really?—not to mention, he’s currently my only heir.” Rhys shifted and grumbled, “I have no other spawn.”

I took note of his tone. He’d made an effort to stress the point about having only one child. Though, I could not see why.

In any event, the sigh I’d been withholding tripled in density. “As much as I value non sequiturs, shall we get on with it?”

It would have been precarious to travel here solely for the little beast. In the eyes of The Dark Seasons, every nation would have viewed my behavior as circumspect, particularly as the Seasons’ most impartial Royal. Yet as Giselle had implied, I’d gone to considerable trouble to snare my captive.

To prevent widespread skepticism, I had searched for the beast on the public pretense of research. I’d told everyone she had demonstrated a unique breed of madness, the likes of which I hadn’t seen before. A condition I was eager to experiment on. None had debated that fictitious narrative.

But why did I really want her?

I shook off the question. Although she’d been my primary target, this trip provided an opportunity to trade per the Fools Decree amendment. This gave the impression I hadn’t singled out the beast to the point of irrationality.

The king straightened on his throne. “Make your request, then.”

Ludicrous man. It would not be a request.

I glided my thumbs into my belt loops. “Twenty simpletons.”

“You’re fucking kidding me.” Officially denied the chance to have me kiss his ass, the Royal toddler spat in disappointment, “Done. I don’t care which.”

“Five of them, children.”

Indignation creased his face. “I take that back.”

“I do not.”

“Think again, Winter.”

“Tread carefully, Summer.” My gaze minced him into cubes. “I could take a lot more from you.”

The king blanched. Notwithstanding, his ruination in Autumn had placed Summer at a disadvantage. As intended, my alliance with Poet and Briar had contributed to Rhys’s demise. Thus, it had set negotiating power in my favor. By gaining my help, the jester and princess had inadvertently handed me the clout to strike cutthroat deals regarding fools.

That was the first point. The second had to do with the spies Rhys had installed in every Season, to keep track of his ruling neighbors. Poet, Briar, and Avalea had exposed this crime. As it turned out, Rhys had recruited a network of scholars to keep tabs on Winter.

Prior, I’d already had my suspicions about the informants. One restless soldier had let a few criminal remarks slip among his brethren. Although he hadn’t been part of the faction, he’d discovered its existence yet kept it a secret.

I hadn’t been able to confirm my misgivings until Poet and Briar had propositioned me. At which point, I’d annihilated the soldier quicker than a virus.

This amounted to one indisputable fact: Summer owed Winter. Overstep in the slightest, and conflict with my nation would demolish what was left of Rhys’s legacy.

The king recovered his spleen. “Of all Seasons, Winter must understand the rationale behind my actions. Now that you’ve had time to consider them.” But when his defense failed to impress me, he bitched, “I was being pragmatic. I had to protect my kingdom!”

What this glutton meant was, he had to suck his own cock. Which had nearly cost my family their necks. Had I not intervened in time, Rhys’s spies could have done irreparable damage. Though that much, he did not know.

What does Summer have on you?

Poet had dropped the question at my feet before I left Autumn. As vexing as I found him, the jester had guessed perceptively. Nevertheless, I’d prevented Summer from gaining a shred of crucial knowledge, having squashed the traitors like fleas before they had a chance to dig into my family.

My expression told Rhys how seriously I took his defense. This also made it plain that if not for his title, I’d have plucked out his solar plexus by now. At Reaper’s Fest, I’d have lit that bonfire and watched with relish as he cooked like a pig. Not only for endangering my family but for employing that fucking guard who’d been handling my little beast.

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