Page 82 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

He laughed softly and kissed my nose. “Keep that optimism alive for me, beloved. I have a feeling we’re going to need it before this day is over.”

A light elf appeared at the door and cleared his throat. “Pardon, majesties, but your escort has assembled in the garden below.”

Azulin lifted his head but didn’t release his embrace. “Thank you, Ergon. Please let the commander know we’ll be right down.”

With a sharp bow, the elf left.

“Shouldn’t we leave?” I asked, leaning toward the door.

“In a moment.” Azulin traced my jaw, drawing my attention back to him. Then, he kissed me again.

∞∞∞

Azulin

Against my better judgment, I strode through the portal into my own throne room with my wife curled up in the crook of my left arm. Her small cat form looked deceptively innocent and helpless, but I knew far better than most how powerful she was. She had given me back my life. Now I had to defend that life and make it a safe place for her.

At my back, elves poured through the portal. Shadow elves flickered so quickly from shadow to shadow that I suspected no one in the room noticed their arrival. A dozen light elves flanked Calypso and myself as we stepped onto the cool tiles of the antechamber just outside my throne room and sized up the situation.

It was a good thing I’d arrived when I did. The Unseelie king dominated the aisle surrounded by a token bodyguard contingent composed of four trolls. A fair distance away, one of his favorites, Lord Greyson, glared at his king. Greyson—a Dullahan—oozed power despite his severely formal black clothing, including gloves.

“I did not agree to this, Your Majesty,” Greyson declared in the low tone he reserved for when he was barely holding onto his temper.

“That is of no consequence.” The Unseelie king waved toward the throne on the dais at the front of the room. “We are being offered the throne. You’re merely here to witness my moment of triumph.”

“That was not our agreement,” Grizzlemunch protested from the dais where he stood before my throne. A bewildered group of other fae from my council had gathered off to the side, and a handful of guards bracketed the throne itself. “We bargained that you would support a new claimant to the throne in exchange for lands along the northern border. You have possession of the land. Now uphold your side of the bargain.”

The Unseelie king laughed, spreading his arms wide. “What claimant? I see no legitimate heir. You are not of the right lineage.”

The last of the shadow elves moved into strategic positions around the throne room. Their commander gave me the signal to engage. Tightening my grip on Calypso, I initiated my standard protection spell and took a deep breath.

“Yes, Grizzlemunch, what claimant?” I asked, drawing all eyes to me. “The only fae you could be referring to is my brother, who has no desire for the throne.” I strode into the room and signaled for the doors to close. Shadow elves appeared just for that purpose and stationed themselves as guards.

The Unseelie tensed. The king’s guards eyed the shadows warily, but the king himself only sneered. “Elves? You don’t trust your own people enough to bring an official guard, so you had to resort to elves? No wonder your council wants you out.”

Grizzlemunch leveled a withering glare at me.

“Considering I was making an official visit to our allies in Eldarlan when word reached me that someone wished to contest my right to the throne, I see nothing wrong with accepting their offered help.” I glared at the other king. “Unlike the Unseelie, I do not bargain with my allies. Friendships run deeper than agreements.”

“Only fools depend on the strength of sentiment.” The king eyed my escort. “No companion?” His grin widened. “The word has spread that you have taken up the care of a companion—”His lip curled in disgust as his gaze fell on Calypso. “And a cat? You have grown softer than I suspected if you have developed affections for such lazy creatures. Or perhaps it’s just your latest affectation. Are cats all the rage among the Seelie now?” He reached for my wife.

Calypso hissed. Unleashing her claws, she took a swipe at his hand, making him hastily withdraw it.

“What are you doing on Seelie soil?” I demanded to distract him.

“Sire?” One of the mountain trolls edged closer to the Unseelie king. “We are outnumbered.” He eyed the shadows of the curtains on the tall windows.

“I count at least a dozen shadow assailants.” Another troll eyed the corners.

“Ignore them,” the Unseelie king barked. “We have every right to be here. We were invited.” He spun to face Grizzlemunch. “Where is the companion your king brought back from the labyrinth?”

Grizzlemunch waved the demand away. “She is of no consequence.”

“She is of utmost consequence! I demand you produce her!” the king bellowed.

I eyed the progress of my escort. Everyone was almost in place.

To my great pleasure, my former councilor-turned-traitor wilted beneath the Unseelie’s wrath. “You said nothing—”

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