Page 155 of Crown of Slumber

“Either let him through, or he will tear out your throats,” I snarled. To prove my point, Mal bared his fangs, his wings spreading even wider. “I could have landed directly in front of your king, even let this creature slash his guts open with his claws. Instead, I came to you to request a formal appearancebefore the king. Don’t make this any more uncivilized than it needs to be.”

The captain stared me down, his eyes full of venom, but he nodded again, the motion stiff, before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Mal and I trailed after him, pushing past swords and breast plates, shields and helmets, and the unyielding rows of soldiers who were reluctant to let us pass.

When we reached the cavalry, with their mighty steeds and massive spears, my eyes fell on the biggest and grandest stallion in front, the rider’s sword drawn and shield at the ready. It was Callan, the new king of the Autumn Court.

The captain led us straight to the king, who removed his helmet, his eyes blazing with intensity. He dismounted from his horse and strode toward us, each step purposeful and commanding. He oozed authority, even more than his brother had, which was surprising. Callan had seemed unassuming and feeble, but perhaps that was just a mask he had worn—something I was all too familiar with.

When we faced each other, Callan raised an eyebrow at Mal, who growled again.

“Your Highness.” I bowed.

“King Fennick,” he said coldly. “I was surprised when Captain Reynolds informed me of your mother’s demise.”

I said nothing at that. Instead, I gestured to the row of soldiers waiting behind him. “What is this, Callan? What the hell are you doing?”

He stiffened at the informality. “I am invading an enemy court.”

“Summer is not your enemy. For years, they were your ally.”

“Not anymore.” His tone was harsh, but he gave no further explanation.

I sighed. “On behalf of my betrothed, I implore you to elaborate. Was there a breach of contract? Did Summer commit an act of war against your people?”

Callan was silent for so long, I wasn’t sure he would respond. At long last, he said in a low, broken voice, “The Dream Mage commands it.”

My blood chilled. “Y-You are here under her orders?”

He nodded once.

Oh, shit. The Winter assassin had been right. Autumn had aligned themselves with the Dream Mage.

“Dammit, Callan,why?” I hissed.

“I had no choice!” he barked. “Tyrone was in league with her, and now I’m left to clean up his mess. I tried to refuse her. But she enchanted my mother. Said the only way she’d let her go was if we invaded the Summer Court.”

“So you would condemn your entire court to war just to protect one person?”

“She’s my mother,” Callan growled.

I snorted. “Don’t talk to me about loyalty to one’s mother. I was loyal to my mother for years. My entire life. And she still threw it all away for the good of her people. She may have been a manipulative monster, but at least she was willing to do whatever it took to protect her people.”And I sacrificed her in the name of peace. In the name of keeping my kingdom safe.

But gods, killing her had nearly destroyed me. The ache of it still ripped through me, fresh and festering. Could I really ask Callan to do what I had done? To destroy his soul and carry that weight with him forever?

A muscle feathered in Callan’s jaw as he stared at me. “Would you refuse? If it was Aurelia’s life on the line?”

I froze at that. The devastation in the king’s eyes told me just how much he still cared for the Summer Princess.

Eliminating my mother had been one thing. But could I have made the same choice, if it was Aurelia?

I was surprised by how quickly the answer came to me. “As much as I love Aurelia,” I said in a low voice, “I would never subject my people or hers to the brutality of unnecessary war. She wouldn’t want that. Is that what your mother would want?”

Callan went perfectly still, his dark gaze betraying nothing.

I opened my senses, unleashing a mere tendril of my power. I didn’t want to alarm him, just in case he could sense the presence of fae magic. “Don’t do this, Callan.”

He only watched me, blinking once.

I added more power into my voice. “Take your armies back. Turn around, before you do something that cannot be undone.”

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