Page 191 of Night's Fall
Dang, heck, dang, andfarg.
“What’s this?”QueenCalisainquired.
“Aleksei andIhave granted theMakepeacesan audience,”KingFillionexplained.
“You’ve donewhat?”
The ice in her words frosting the entire room took my mind off the decisionIno longer had any time to procrastinate in making and brought my attention to her.
“Dearest,” the king murmured.
“Why wasn’tIinformed of this?” she demanded.
“It’s not a formal visit,” the king explained. “We’llspeak to them in the receiving room?—”
“You will do nothing of the sort,” the queen snapped.Sheclicked open a handbag tucked at her side, pulled out aPalm, glared at the display and instructed it, “CommDita.”
“Caly,” the king clipped.
I feltAleksei’smouth at my ear. “Whenwe discussed giving them an audience,Iexplained things toDad.Myguess withMom’sreaction, he explained them to her as well.”
I wasn’t sureIunderstood what was going on, outside the fact they knew of my history with my parents, somethingIdidn’t know how to feel about it, butIdidn’t have time to figure it out.
“Your majesty.”Avoice came from the queen’sPalm.
“There are beings at the guard terminal.They’reexpected.Whenthey arrive, take them directly to the throne room.”
“Caly!” the king bit.
She didn’t miss a beat and kept issuing orders. “Twochairs at audience distance.Donot offer them refreshments.”
“Yes, your majesty,” the voice replied.
“Tick me when they’re settled,” the queen said.
“Will do, your majesty.”
The queen tucked herPalmback in her purse as the king blustered, “Thisis precisely whyIdidn’t tell you.Iknew you’d horn in just like this.”
She took a sip of tea and, completely unperturbed, replied, “Youknow me so well.”
“They’reLaura’sparents,” the king stated. “We’remeeting them like civilized beings in the receiving room.”
“The receiving room is for honored diplomats,” she retorted. “Electedofficials.Noblesof good standing.Itisnotfor the likes ofthose two beings.”
I was suddenly feeling a lot, butIdidn’t have time for that either.
“What’s this about?”Aleeceasked.
“You will come with us,” the queen told her instead of answering. “Unitedfront.”
On the wordsunited front,AleecegaveAlekseibig eyes.
“It’ll beAlekseiandI,” the king stated.
“It will be all of us,Fillion.Allof us.Andyou know why,” she retorted.
Aleksei took my hand before he said, “Laurahas yet to decide if she’ll join us.”
