Page 11 of Broken Star

“Now,thisis interesting.” She brings her hands together, and I swear she’s truly delighted. “Tell me, Prince Riven—what has inspired you to request my daughter’s hand in marriage? Other than her obvious charm.”

“Clearly not our undying love for each other,” he says the first sensible thing he has since sealing the deal with that dryad. “However, the Winter Court’s strength combined with the Summer Court’s resources will give us the best chance possible to defeat a common—and very dangerous—enemy.”

“Explain,” the queen commands, sounding the most serious she has since we met her.

“Happily,” he says. “Because the Night Court and the Blood Coven have formed an alliance. And if we don’t stop them, it will mean destruction not only for the Winter and Summer Courts, but for the mystical and mortal realms entirely.”

Sapphire

Lysandra freezes.

“The Blood Coven,” she repeats, as if the three words turned her body to ice. “We neutralized that threat after vanquishing their shadow army from New York City.”

“The Blood Coven is far from neutralized,” Riven says. “As I said, they’re currently in a growing alliance with the Night Court. And the Night Court isn’t just another enemy. They’re former winter fae who’ve been turned into vampire hybrids.”

Lysandra’s brow furrows. “That’s not possible.”

“It shouldn’t be,” I say, grateful to have something to focus on other than my fury at the fact that Riven had the audacity to mock me to the point ofproposing marriage.“But it is. Because the first night fae was a winter fae turned by Ambrogio.”

If we hadn’t already gotten Lysandra’s full attention, speaking the nameAmbrogiodoes it.

From there, we explain everything we learned from Zythara. The Night Court’s growing numbers, their alliance with the Blood Coven, and their goal of becoming Revenants.

Lysandra’s on the edge of her throne as she listens.

The best part?

Since Riven and I are fae and can’t lie, shehasto believe us.

“In order for the Winter Court’s army to launch a coordinated attack on the Night Court, it will need to be as strong as possible,” Riven finishes. “My father has handled my mother’s passing… less than ideally. Sapphire and I are creating a potion to stabilize him, so he’s best equipped to lead the upcoming war. She and I made a deal that binds her to do everything in her power to help me until the potion is completed,” he adds, as if he’s particularly proud of that part. “There’s only one ingredient we don’t currently possess. Duskberry. And we’ve heard that the only place it can be acquired is your personal garden.”

Lysandra initially says nothing.

Instead, she lets the silence stretch, her gaze moving between Riven and me as if she’s a cat deciding how to toy with its prey.

Then, finally, she focuses on me and smiles.

“I will give you the duskberry,” she decides, although she continues on to add, “if you accept the Winter Prince’s marriage proposal.”

Her words slam into me like a fist to the ribs.

“You can’t be serious,” I say, although from the satisfied look on her face, she’sdefinitelyserious.

“You will give me your answer at sunrise,” she continues. “Which means you have two hours to make your decision. And in case you were planning on making any impulsive attempts to return to the mortal realm at six, the magic here will only let you through if I allow it. And—” She stops to give me a pleased smile. “I will not currently allow it.”

Throughout everything she just said, only two of her sentences make sense in my racing mind.

I will give you the duskberry.

If you accept the Winter Prince’s marriage proposal.

“You can’t do this,” I say, my voice shaking with barely contained fury.

Her expression remains calm. “You made a deal with the Winter Prince,” she says—as if I needed reminding. “To do everything in your power to aid him in his quest for the potion.”

My pulse stutters.

“Yes,” I say. “But?—”

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