Page 57 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

“My companion.” I refrained from summoning Calypso over for introductions. Grizzlemunch would likely treat her with even less respect than my new cat. “What do you wish to discuss with me?”

“You, sire.” Grizzlemunch wrinkled his pronounced nose. “Your companion is a mortal, isn’t she?”

“What about me?” I frowned over my clasped hands as I rested my elbows on my desk. “What is your topic of choice today, Grizzlemunch? Me or my companion? Choose one.”

“I object.” He puffed up his narrow chest. “In your father’s day—”

“I am not my father,” I reminded him calmly.

“Indeed, you are not, my boy. Your father—”

“Is no longer king.”

“Sire! If you would let me finish.”

“My apologies. I will refrain from speaking for a time so you can say your piece.”

Grizzlemunch heaved a great sigh. “In your father’s day, this court was a place to be proud of. Admired by Seelie and Unseelie alike, we were the unparalleled masters of the Wild Woods and beyond.”

I pressed my lips together tightly and suppressed the urge to point out that his pronouncement was pure fabrication. We were closer to attaining that esteemed state now than we had been when my father reigned.

Father’s reign had been fraught with constant feuding, scheming, and grasping. His greed had cost him his health, his mind, and eventually his kingdom.

True, until today my hands had been partially restrained. But, even bound by the curse as I had been, the alliances I’d formed with the elves, gargoyles, and some of the woodwose tribes put us in a better political position than the Unseelies. And now that I was free from my curse, I intended to see that the Unseelies would feel every bit of that allied strength—especially once I found the traitor in my ranks.

“My father’s strategy was one of ruling by fear and might. I have a different approach.”

“And look at where it got you, boy. Cursed and unable to even access your greatest skill. By the next moon you will be completely helpless again. A change of ideals is in order. We are suffering! Your people can’t lift their heads in pride when you can barely control your magic. To be ruled by an infant.” The sprite shook his wings in disgust.

It took great effort to keep my tone neutral despite my growing irritation. “Get to your point, Grizzlemunch.”

“Marry a good fae female and produce an heir.”

My eyebrows rose before I could catch my reaction. “So you want me to do as my father did when he was cursed? Marry, produce heirs, and then hand the kingdom to them?”

“Heirs can help us get out of this mess.” Grizzlemunch huffed.

“I could break the curse.”

He grimaced his disbelief. “Please, lad, no disrespect meant, but you aren’t half the man your father was. And even he couldn’t break his curse.”

“His curse is different. I still have hope.”

I restrained my impulse to turn to glance at Calypso. The longer the old sprite forgot about her existence, the safer she would be. The old sprite was set in his ancient ways but harmless to other fae; it was time for him to step down. Retirement for him—not to mention a few others within my personal council—would be one of my first courses of action once this curse business was settled.

“I will consider your suggestions.”

“See that you do,” the old sprite responded.

I indicated the meeting was over and the doors were opened. However, Grizzlemunch didn’t turn toward them. Instead, he stomped forward to stand over Calypso.

I rose, drawing my ceremonial dagger as I reached his side.

“You don’t belong here,” he rasped as he loomed over my new wife.

Calypso lowered her book and calmly gazed up at him. Her wide silvery-gray eyes glowed in the golden afternoon light. “Was there a revolution while I was reading?”

“What are you blathering on about?” Grizzlemunch snapped.

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