Page 31 of Claws of Death

Before any of the Crow males can object, he flashes them a placating smile. “No offense. But had I had this woman around a hundred years ago, I might have sent her in as a weapon instead of attempting to blow up your entire kingdom.”

Myron’s growl reverberates through the room, convincing me he’s ready to leap across the table and attack, so I grab his hand harder, putting on my sweetest smile.

“Well, I’m not a weapon, and my grandmother, who was around a hundred years ago, is no one you would have wanted to mess with, so we better leave the past in the past, agreeing that we’re all glad to be here, alive, and no more females need to be sacrificed to save the Crows.”

Recienne’s throat bobs.

“I don’t know where you’ve been living, but these Crows saved your sister, Your Majesty,” I roll on without any sense of self-preservation because, in my heart, I know Clio and Astorian would have never brought us here had they feared their king intended to harm us. “These Crows were cursed and tormented and robbed of all their chances to free themselves from a horrible fate because of the imprisonment you placed upon them.” I don’t even stop for breath, ignoring the horrified gazes Andraya and Pouly are giving me and the head-shake of warning from Kaira. “Myron’s father was the one you had the quarrel with, not Myron. He merely tried to save his people. And—knowingly or not—you did your best to keep him from ever succeeding. So, be grateful that he didn’t brush off your general and leave him behind in the dungeon. Be grateful for his willingness to forgive and cooperate to help that same male find his mate and bring herhome.” My hands are shaking, but I can’t stop myself despite the knowledge that this will cost me—will potentially cost all of us. “Fucking be a male about it and say thank you so we can all move on.”

Someone takes a breath to interrupt me—or to respond—I don’t care. I’m not done.

“And you.” I whirl on Myron, clutching his claw hard to reassure myself he’s not yet readying himself to attack King Recienne or me for the way I’m pushing this meeting down the drain. “You can’t blame this king for protecting his kingdom from a people who have only brought misery to its females. You can’t blame him for not knowing about the curse when none of you were able to speak of it. He was doing the best he could to keep his people safe, and you were doing your best to save yours.”

Myron is staring at me like he’s never seen me before, and somewhere at the back of my mind, I know I should have long stopped speaking, that this might have been too much and one of the two kings will tear me to ribbons before or after they rip each other apart.

But whatever Myron is about to say or do is swallowed by the Fairy King’s laugh filling the momentary silence.

He laughs and laughs, not a hysterical sound, but one of true amusement, an infectious one that makes me want to smile even when I’m so upset I might fall apart at the seams, destroying the lovely blue and silver satin dress I’m wearing.

“Spoken like a true queen, Wolayna,” Recienne eventually says when Myron tenses to leap at him and Herinor draws his sword an inch, ready to back him up.

Myron

It takes morethan a few deep breaths to will calm into my veins. If I wasn’t seeing Recienne laugh with my own eyes right now, I’d believe this is a ruse, but the Fairy King is amused by my mate’s fury. He’s laughing like he finds endearing how she’s straining to get us on the same page.

Admittedly, diplomacy has never been her strong suit, but she has a point. She’s right in all but one regard: I wasn’t trying to save my people. Not after a while. I’d given up on them. The only ones I was willing to save were Ayna and Royad. And when it came to it, Ayna was the onlyone I gave my life for.

I don’t say any of that, though. My particular weaknesses are nothing to be laid out in front of a king who is gloating at our misfortune.

“Spoken like a true queen, Wolayna,” Recienne says with too much dignity even when what he does resembles a laughing fit.

I’m not certain I hate the Fairy King, but the behavior certainly does nothing to make him the least bit likable.

Instead of the hundreds of ways my freshly returned Crow power might destroy the fairy, I think of the way Ayna’s thighs quivered in my grasp as I made her come… and come, not even an hour ago. Her taste is still on my tongue.

Ayna’s hand tightens around mine like a vise, and I realize her Crow strength is still something she needs to get used to. I don’t flinch, though. The situation is dangerous enough without my interference. My queen can handle herself and, according to Recienne, me.

He’s not wrong.

I’ll let Ayna handle me in any way she wants.

“Because sheisa queen,” Clio jumps to Ayna’s aid, surprising me yet again. This female is more loyal than I’d thought any fairy capable of. Then, Tori has also already proven a convincing ally when we were searching for our mates. A friend…

I can’t think of what that means, or I’ll be right back to Ephegos and his betrayal.Hewas my friend. Before he partnered up with Jeseida and became a Flame at heart. I can’t help but glance at Kaira, who’s chosen to turn against her people just as Ephegos has chosen to turn his back on his. The irony doesn’t escape me.

“A queen of two kingdoms,” Tori adds, ready to support his mate—or speaking out of conviction. “Tavras and the Crow Kingdom.”

“There is no Crow Kingdom left,” I murmur.

Of course, everyone in the room catches it. Even the humans. Andraya and Pouly stare at me like they are wondering if I’m planning to make Tavras my new home, given their queen is my mate. What a mess.

“That’s something we still need to figure out,” Royad throws in, always the supportive one in our little group, while Silas frowns at no one in particular. I wish I could just shift and fly away with Ayna, leave the worries of this world behind. Across the ocean, Neredyn lies with its vastness. I’ve listened to the older Crows over the years, and all their stories are the same. The beauty of the lands, the lush forests and wild waters surrounding the kingdom, the palace, high like a tower and perfect to host us in our bird form and our fae form alike?—

An ache in my chest makes itself known even when I’ve never laid eyes on what used to be our home.

Tori cocks his head at me. “There better be. You made a promise.”

As if called by the ancient fae magic ruling my body, the promise returns to my mind, taunting me with its need for fulfillment.If you work with me to find them both, I’ll take my people and leave Eherea.

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