Page 110 of The Forbidden Fae King

“Aldrin should be arrested on sight. He has been exiled by the Senate and people.” Titania states in a bored voice, clicking her fingers at two guards who do not move.

“Not when he has been invited here by me, as a witness against your crimes.” Cyprien jumps in.

I glance sidelong at Cyprien, then at the powerhouse before me. “What do you say? Do you want to believe Titania’s lies again at face value, or do you want concrete evidence?” I raise my eyebrows at them, holding the eyes of key players. “How has her rule been going for you? I hear the food shortages have gone from a prediction in my reign to a reality under her. And riots?” I turn to Titania and tisk.

She launches out of my throne and for a moment I wonder if she will try to claw my face with those stupidly long, red lacquered claws of her fingernails.

Her facade of fake charm has vanished now that she rules by fear and bullying tactics. She stands there seething at me, jaws clenched with black lips pulled back to reveal her teeth. Tendons stick out on her all too skinny neck.

Titania’s mouth works and her arm thrashes out, a single finger pointed to the door, but no words come out. I cock an eyebrow at her. I hold a sound barrier of air around her vocal chords, because I am done with hearing the poison she spews.

Only a king or queen of this court can use magic in this room, and it is incredibly satisfying to remind her of who I am. Her eyes narrow on me, the literal fire swirling in them, as she mouths:I will destroy you. The problem is, she already did, and I survived.

Cyprien leans into me. “Is it a good idea to antagonize her?”

The senators argue, yelling over the top of each other like school children.

“I needed to know her hand,” I murmur, noting the fact that not a single person notices her silence. “She has gutted the Senate of power, hasn’t she?”

Cyprien nods. “Mostly. For now. She forgets the lords speak directly to the people, and can revolutionize them to invoke the power of the mob.”

“Too messy.” I shudder at the thought of the bloodshed that would entail.

Bryce slams a fist on the ring of tables before him, his huge form standing over it. “I want to hear from the low fae witnesses. Then, Iwant to go to the border myself to see what the flaming fuck is happening there.”

A clash of voices greet him, some for his idea and others against.

“What are you so afraid of!” Bryce yells to the clustered groups that argue with him. “If our king is wrong, then we will go there and see nothing. There will be no harm in it!”

I hold up both my hands and send out a commanding wave of magic, the kind that could force every person here to bow before me for a few heartbeats of time, but I dilute it enough that it shuts them up and forces their attention on me.

“I have companions here who traveled a long way to tell you their stories.” I spread out my arms toward the low fae. “Each of their tribes have sent representatives to petition the Senate, andallwere blocked by Titania’s secretaries. Since when do we send away fae in need before even hearing them?” My tirade ends in a furious roar.

Everyone turns to Titania, where she lounges on the throne, legs crossed so that a heeled shoe hangs in the air. She flicks that clawed hand in the air a few times, rolling her eyes as though she is allowing me to speak, to damn myself.

As I turn away, one of her secretaries rushes over to her.

Damn. I’m running out of time.

“Get to the point, Aldrin. Her personal guards will swarm this room in minutes,” Cyprien whispers.

“I suggest a full tribunal and trial,” I say. “An investigation into the evidence I have brought you today. Send people to the borders. Do not dismiss these low fae in their time of need. It is our duty to help them.Thatis why we are the ruling class.”

Both sides latch onto the idea of a tribunal, and senators stand and clap.

I hold up a hand. “I stepped down from my rule by my own accord, when the Senate and people voted me out. When I believed a competent ruler was going to take my place. But Titania has brought nothing but lies, corruption and gross negligence. I will not allow her to destroy us”

The room explodes with chaos, and fall silent again as soon as Ispeak. “I will remain in the capital and the royal quarters for the entire duration of the inquiry. My doors and receiving room will be open to any who want to speak to me, or my witnesses.”

The crashing footsteps of guards rushing down the back corridors of the Senate house reach my ears. Cyprien shoots me a panicked glance.

I have no idea how far Titania will take things in the heat of the moment.

I half turn and smirk at her. “Titania, I assume you were not arrogant enough to move into the royal quarters?” I laugh as step out of the front doors of the Senate house, knowing full well that she did. This calculated slap to her authority. A ridicule of it.

I step out the main doors of the Senate house as Titania’s private guard bursts into the room. My loyal band surrounds me immediately, hands on the hilts of their swords, as well as Cyprien's loyalists. They were of my original King’s Guard, dedicated tome.

Silvan grasps my arm and leads me away from the Senate house. “I do not like you being put into risk without me there.” He growls as he slips straight back into the role of Captain of the King’s Guard.

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