Page 133 of Bride of the Fae Prince

This could work.

The sleepy haze over my brain quickly dissipates.

This could really work.

I shut the door as quietly as I can, and my heart picks up its pace with every step down the hallway.

I turn the corner, and there he is.

The Neverseen King sits on one of the settees, his knees spread wide, one arm hanging off the armrest, his chin propped up on the fist of the other. He doesn’t wear his usual shadows, and when piercing, cerulean eyes shoot to mine, I realize just how long it has been since I’ve seen his face.

I smile at him—and it’s not the smile I give Stella. “Hello, Neverseen King. It’s been too long, my dear cousin.”

His brow darkens. “I’m not here for pleasantries. You’ve sent conflicting messages. I understand you wish to redeem your favor. So tell me if I am to take your wife away from here or if there is something else you want. But be quick about it. I don’t like being away from the Bridge.”

“I am aware,” I reply with another cool grin as I move to pour cups of tea from the tray Edvear left for us. The Neverseen King doesn’t touch his, only stares at me with that piercing gaze. “Howisyour wife? It’s been a long time since I had the pleasure of her company.”

“Get to the point, Prince Trenian.”

I chuckle, taking a sip of my tea as I make myself comfortable on the opposite couch. “’Tis a shame. We used to be such friends when we were boys. But you’re right. We should get down tobusiness. I do not want you taking my wife. I have something else in mind for your favor.”

“Out with it.”

I set down my teacup. “Stage a coup for the High King’s throne.”

The Neverseen King is quiet for a whole minute. Then, in a low growl: “You havegotto be kidding me.”

“Indeed, I am not,” I reply, taking another sip of my tea. “I’m not asking you toactuallytry to take over the High King’s throne. Nor am I asking you to kill him.”

“Then whatareyou asking me to do?” he demands, barely contained anger coloring his tone. “If it puts my throne or my queen at risk, the answer is no.”

I say nothing, letting his words echo in the quiet room between us. He may say such things, but we both know the truth. He is indebted tome, and the terms of our bargain dictate he fulfills any favor of my choice when I request it. He doesn’t have the right to refuse.

“I may be bound to honor the bargain,” he says, as though reading my mind. “But if you make an enemy out of me, you know I will make you pay. You have the upper hand of this bargain, but I have the Bridge. It wouldn’t be difficult for me to take your wife from you, as you once tried to take mine.”

If I didn’t have so much practice holding my composure with Faradir, I would have cracked the teacup in my hand. My smile is made of teeth and sharp edges. “I am glad we understand one another. Hear my demand, then, Neverseen King. I, Trenian Ashrift Solavirth, do thus claim your favor: that you stage a false coup against the High King according to the timeline and specifications I will give you. I do not ask you to commit treason against the crown and—”

“Only to pretend I’m committing treason,” he replies darkly. And yet, the fist under his chin has loosened slightly—as though he is secretly relieved I did not ask for more.

Icouldhave asked him to kill the High King and forfeit his throne, and likely his life and queen in the process.

But I don’t want him as my mortal enemy. And neither do I want the Bridge without a king. That disaster would be even worse than what I’m facing here.

“I also bid you wait on my order to destroy the human lands with Crenfyre,” I say.

The Neverseen King shoots to his feet. “You are out of yourmind!”

“I vow that I will not order such a thing. I merely need this as part of our bargain so my bargain with Faradir does not collapse. We may bargain again to ensure it so you know this is no trickery of mine.”

“You are going to be the death of me,” he says, sinking back into the chair and running a hand through his hair. “Tell me what these specifications are, then, before I lose every fragment of my patience.”

And so I oblige him.

I still haven’t brokenmy fast before I knock on a door I have always avoided.

A human servant answers almost immediately. She’s young and pretty, with bangles down her arms and her ankles, but her cheeks are sunken, and the eyes that meet mine are those of a frightened animal’s.

She makes me think of that man who chased me down in the Small Cities to save his daughter from this very plight.

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