Page 111 of Crown of Slumber

“I find that hard to believe, since you barged your way into a private conversation with me and my son,” Mother said coldly.

I sighed. “Mother?—”

But Aurelia cut me off. “All due respect, Your Highness, but I sought out my betrothed immediately upon waking, knowing we had fires to put out after our chaotic entrance yesterday. I thought it best to get started right away, beginning with a formal introduction to the great queen of this court.” She sank into another curtsy. “So, Queen Sonara, it is a deep honor and pleasure to finally meet you. I hope this introduction is the beginning of an amicable relationship between our two kingdoms.”

I raised my eyebrows, impressed by her boldness and flattery, even as my stomach twisted into knots at the wordsamicable relationship.There was nothing amicable about our relationship. Not once she found out that Mother had stolen a dragon.

Mother only offered a single slow blink; other than that, her fierce expression remained unchanged. “I want to know why you two entered into this agreement,” she said.

“Mother, I’ve explained this to you,” I said.

“I want to hear it fromher.” The queen kept her gaze pinned on Aurelia.

The Summer Princess was unfazed. Her blue eyes sharpened as she said calmly, “Fenn and I entered into an agreement that would benefit both our kingdoms. He needs dragons. I need stardust. We both need the appearance of a strong alliance to signify to the realm that we are a powerful force to be reckoned with.”

Mother chuckled, the sound low and full of ire. “I seriously doubt you were willing to put to rest the centuries of turmoil between our kingdoms simply because you needed stardust. I’m surprised your people didn’t invade my land to just take it for yourselves.”

Aurelia’s nostrils flared, her face turning pink with anger. I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep from intervening. Aurelia would need to prove herself to my mother one way or another. But could she keep her anger in check? Or would this encounter turn volatile?

A few tense seconds passed before Aurelia responded, “Fenn is the first representative of your court who was even willing to negotiate with me. Now, I cannot speak for my parents. If they were unwilling to smooth relations with you, then I apologize. I do not know their thinking or their reasons. But I am different, and Ihope to lead my court differently. I do not hold petty grudges simply because my ancestors did.”

Mother’s thin eyebrows lifted. “Is that so?”

“It is, Your Highness.”

“Well, if it is only an alliance with mycourtthat you need, then may I suggest marrying my nephew, Sir Cordon? Or Lord Halsburg, a wealthy noble in my court? Anyone will do. Just not my son.”

My stomach hollowed. Shit, what was she doing?

Aurelia’s face paled. “Forgive me, Your Highness, but our bargain has already been struck.”

“You and I both know that any party of a faerie bargain can dissolve the terms if they only speak the words. Even with a blood bargain. As long as the bargain has not been fulfilled, it can be annulled in the same way it was contracted: by blood.”

Aurelia exhaled in frustration. “I am next in line to my throne, and Fenn is next in line to his. It is a fair match.”

“And I am asking for a show of good faith. If your intentions are as pure as you say, then marry someone else. Make that first step, Princess Aurelia.”

My heart slammed against my ribcage, my pulse roaring in my ears. This was falling apart. We needed to salvage the situation, and quickly.

“That will not do,” I said loudly.

Aurelia and Mother both looked at me, the former with alarm, the latter with annoyance.

“And why not?” Mother demanded.

“Because you and I both know you don’t give a damn if Cordon or Halsburg live or die. Neither of them would provide enough leverage to ensure this court keeps our side of the bargain. But I do.”

Mother opened her mouth to object, but I spoke over her, my stomach fluttering from the prospect of what I was about to do. “Furthermore, to arrange a marriage between Aurelia and another man would be devastating to me, because—you see—I am utterly and hopelessly in love with her.”

The world seemedto stop from the force of those words.

I am utterly and hopelessly in love with her.

Gods above. Fenn couldn’t lie.

He… was in love with me.

The Midnight Prince wasin lovewith me.

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