Page 61 of Queen of Ever

‘Moriana,’ Solas said, inclining his head with a charming smile as I met him in the centre of the bridge.

‘I assume you’ve bungled your plan if you’re calling on me,’ I replied without greeting him.The smile vanished like waning fog.He had a handsome face.Handsome faces were all the better to ruin.

‘What plan?’he asked carefully.‘I’ve come straight here form the conclave.I assume you heard what happened there?’

I laughed.‘I’m only surprised you got through the whole thing without anyone stumbling on the truth.My High Council are idiots.My son, more so.’

The last of the congeniality slipped away from him now, turning him surly, hostile, scarring him with deep frown lines around his sumptuous mouth.So ugly with a scowl.‘I suppose we can do away with any pretences then.’

‘Oh please do.I’m growing less charmed by your feigned civility by the year.But tell me, was my death in your plan?Because it was very clumsily done.Anexplosion.In a crowded court hearing.’He held his silence as I tapped a pointed nail against my chin.‘No, though I expect that would have been a welcome extra had it come to that.’

‘If you knew I was behind it, why agree to the conclave?’he asked, folding his arms.

My shoes clipped as I took another step closer to him, my skirts drifting over the line between Seelie and Unseelie lands even as my feet toed that boundary exactly.‘Because I am just as interested in finally having a cause for war as you are.As you well know, my dear Solas.’I patted the Seelie King’s cheek, causing him to curl his lip.‘What I don’t understand is this little conflict over my son’s ill-suited mate.’

‘Why did you send him in your stead to the conclave?’he demanded, shaking my hand off and taking a step back.‘You had to know he wouldn’t stay away from her.’

‘I did it with a better understanding of my interests than you have of yours.Bringing her along and parading her about in front of him was unwise if you were hoping to hang onto her.I, on the other hand, am content with the fact that he’ll eventually bring her back onto Unseelie lands, since she’ll make a lovely,compliantpiece of leverage when he does.’

Solas smoothed at his jacket, fingering his buttons as they sparkled in the slowly rising sun.What was he considering with that pensive set to his jaw?There was a move he had yet to play, I gathered.Something he wasn’t telling me.

‘Maybe Imogen is not quite what you think she is,’ he began slowly, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, potentially believing his information interesting enough that he would gain the upper hand in the conversation.‘If Tarian ties himself to the little changeling, he’ll have the right to challenge you for the throne.’

I narrowed my gaze.‘What?You can’t possibly be saying what I think you’re saying.’

He only smiled, unbalancing me, winning the round.

‘So that’s why you were so eager to have her for yourself.’I did not like to be caught unawares.Thin threads of anger were wrapping themselves around me, sharpening my tone, tightening my posture.‘Well then I have no interest inyouhaving her either.’I began to pace the line between our kingdoms, my thoughts slicing through actions and consequences to end in places I hadn’t even considered it was possible to go.Of all the interpretations of Tarian’s fate, I had never expectedthat.

‘If they figure it out, they’ll come for you as soon as they’re done with me,’ Solas said, almost gleefully as he watched my slipping composure.

‘Tarian wouldneverchallenge me,’ I fumed.‘He has too much of his father in him.He’s soft.The realm would fall to ruin under his hand.And with thatchangeling…’

‘But isn’t he yourheir, Moriana?’

I stilled in my pacing, turning back to Solas.‘I’ve been grooming my son for his role all his life.The fact that he hasn’t taken to it only serves to prove that he shouldn’t have it.He will never have the gall to demand it.’

‘Are you willing to bet your crown on that?’

I eyed the Seelie King, speculative now.‘What do you suggest we do?’

‘Kill him,’ he said simply.‘I was going to attempt it when we attacked the rebels.Orchestrate a disaster, blame the lesser fae, prolong the amendment.But they’ve taken Imogen captive now, and he’s gone after her.’

I considered this.‘You’ll kill her too if you want my acquiescence,’ I said slowly.

‘That wasn’t part of my plan.’

‘Your plan has already failed.And now that I know what she is, you’ll not be keeping her alive to use her yourself.We kill them both, and we’ll settle our differences in war instead of with games of succession magic.’

He exhaled loudly, frowning down at the ground for a moment as he considered his options.He had none, really.If he refused to play bymyrules, I’d turn over all this information to those who kept the balance, and Tarian’s death would end in a new Seelie monarch.Solas was forbidden from killing an Unseelie royal, as he well knew.He could only blame the lesser fae if I agreed to play along, now.

Finally, he nodded.‘Alright.Sign the amendment and they’ll both die.Then we’ll have our war.’

‘Wonderful.’Stepping a foot behind me, I dropped into a low curtsey, though my eyes never left him.‘Then I will meet you again on the battlefield, Seelie King.’

Chapter 25

Imogen

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