Page 42 of Fae Champion

“No,” Ryder said. “If it were one of us, we wouldn’tbother with the likes of Lady Aleeza, who wasn’t harming anyone, or at least certainly not as much as the rest of the buzzards roaming the court. We’d go straight for the queen.”

“Why haven’t you, then?”

“Because we can’t,” Rush grunted bitterly. “Not yet, or I’d have gutted her from throat to pelvis ages ago. So long as she’s the only royal of her line connected to the land, we can’t. If she dies, the magic of the mirror world dies with her. We need one of her descendants?—”

“Of which she has none,” Hiroshi injected, “not now that Saturn’s gone.”

“Right,” Rush continued. “So we have to wait for her to crown both heirs to the throne herself. The succession has to be legit or we fear the land might not recognize me as the next king of Embermere.”

“Okay,” I said. “Then shouldn’t it be the next crown princess who takes the power from the queen?”

“No. Male or female doesn’t matter. The kingdom will pass to the ruler with the most power.”

“That’s right,” Hiroshi added. “Fae rule’s all about power. The land recognizes this and will connect with the most powerful crowned fae all on its own.”

“Like, right away?” I asked.

They nodded.

“Then why’s the queen in such a hurry to define new heirs? Isn’t she afraid Rush’ll push her out?”

“No,” West said. “She has a hold over him that’s so strong it makes her more powerful than him.”

I turned to Rush. “And what’s this hold already?” He was shaking his head. “You have to tell me. How am I supposed to understand what’s happening and what I need to do if you keep me in the dark?”

He stared at me with those moonlit eyes for so long that I believed he’d finally tell me. Then he said, “I carry many secrets I can’t reveal, for others would pay the price. You should escape the darkness of this place while you still can.”

“No.” I was more decided than before. “Not when it would put you at risk.” I took in the rest of them. “Any of you, even West. We go to the king and queen together, and you pretend to be my captors.”

None of them answered, busy exchanging looks. Mere seconds passed when I snapped, “Well? Are we doing this or what?”

Hiroshi, Ryder, and even West looked to Rush for direction. He waggled his jaw back and forth while a vein in his temple jutted out, but he eventually relented, exhaling loudly.

“Fine. But if we’re doing this, we’re gonna do it my way.”

“No problem, bossy pants,” I said. “Just find a way we can all keep our heads while ending up with the queen’s rolling. Also”—I smiled ferally, baring teeth at the imagery—“when it’s time to kill the bitch, I get first dibs.”

Once again in unison, the four warrior drakes shook their heads.

“No way,” Ryder said. “We’ve been fightingover who’s gonna be the one to kill her for years. One of us is gonna be the one to end the cunt.”

“Okay, fine,” I said, smiling easily. “Have it your way.”

I was lying.

At the first opportunity, I was going to take her down.

I’d end her—and her reign of torment over this land.

13.DRESSED FOR BATTLE OF A DIFFERENT SORT

The goblin tugged at my scalp as she twisted a section of dark strands and pinned it atop my head. She flicked a comb through more hair, seeming to snag on the remaining tangles on purpose.

“Pru, ow,” I said, attempting to shift atop the cushioned velvet stool to glare at her. She held me in place with a steely grip, separated another lock, and twisted it with mounting fury.

“Mistress shouldn’t complain. It’s just a hairdo,” Pru said, stubbornly refusing to meet my stare in the vanity mirror directly in front of me.

We were back in my assigned rooms in the palace. Despite the fact that I was on the loose, escaped from the dungeon—and the queen was aware of my delinquent status—Rush insisted I had to dress properly if they were to escort me to the Hall of Mirrors. When I’d pointed out how ridiculous it was that I should look ready to attend a vapid party when I’d been locked upfor days and denied food, water, and basic facilities, every one of Rush’s friends—even West—had agreed: I was not to further provoke the queen by sullying her court.

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