Page 106 of A Reign of Roses
Ethera plopped two cubes of sugar into her tea before dipping a dainty red-polished finger in and swirling it as Kane spoke.
“The battles I wage against King Gareth of Amber and King Thales of Garnet are not exactly as they seem.”
Ethera pulled her finger out of her tea, and—
My stomach churned in revolt.
Her fingernail was missing. Not the bright red polish—the actualnail.It had just…fallen off her finger as she stirred. Unbothered, Ethera took a sip and hummed. As if she knew we’d all seen the curious occurrence, and was pleased to luxuriate in both our shock and her own delectable strangeness.
My gaze shot to Griffin’s across the table, whose rarely emotive pale green eyes flared as he sipped from his cup. He’d also seen the beautiful queen decay right before our eyes.
“Yes, lovely,” Ethera said to Kane, pursing her full red lips. “You needn’t offer me a history lesson. I know of your diabolical father and your otherworldly heritage. But I must confess, I can’t envision my humble kingdom assisting much at all.”
Ever since Hart had told us of Ethera’s blood oath with Aleksander,we’d assumed that she’d know more of the Fae Realm than other mortal monarchs.
“Are you aware of the seer’s prophecy?”
Ethera nodded, and then, as an afterthought, flashed another dazzling, wide-eyed smile that made me shudder.
“Through magic beyond any of our comprehensions,” Kane continued after a sip, a little put off, “I have been reborn as full-blooded Fae. Arwen here is full-blooded as well. That makes not one buttwoopportunities to slay Lazarus with the Blade of the Sun.”
“Which you’ve located?”
Kane didn’t falter. “Yes.”
I held my tongue as I drank, steam curling around my nose. The tea was thick with milk and honey. More sugar than anything else. Kane’s words weren’t a lie but…if she agreed to work with us, we’d have to tell her where the blade was currently being held.
“We have my entire army positioned at the ready, but without Peridot or Citrine, and knowing no other kingdom has comparable legions, we will not have enough men to face Lazarus, Garnet, and Amber combined. We need your men, too, Ethera.”
“Hogwash. Why must it bemyarmy?”
“There is no one else,” Griffin cut in, irritated. “As we’ve just explained.”
Ethera’s red hair brushed through her plate of food as she leaned forward as if we were swapping clandestine secrets. “And why,” she whispered, “is it we must fight?”
Mari’s eyes widened in alarm, cutting to me and then to Griffin.
“Ethera,” Kane managed, not unkindly. “My father is going to sack all of Evendell. He’ll kill everyone in your kingdom.” When the mad queen didn’t react—didn’t even lift her hair from her desserts,Kane pushed on. “What is it you need from us to pledge your armies to our cause?”
Ethera sat back and pressed long fingers to her mouth in thought. Then she smiled brightly. “Oh! Nothing, my dears.”
Triumph sang in my ears at this crazy old bat, with her dementedly beautiful body and frilly tea parlor. Somehowsheof all people would be our saving grace. Even Griffin’s mouth turned upward.
“Holy Stones,” Mari breathed. “That is excellent news.”
“No, no, lovely.” Ethera’s pearly white smile glistened, and when she blinked rapidly a few eyelashes fluttered down into her peaches and cream. “There isnothingthat could convince me to lend you my army. They are quite busy—the vexatious southern half of my kingdom remains steadfast in their hopes of unseating me from my throne. If I sacrificed even a fraction of my men in your battle, I fear the delicate tapestry of peace I’ve woven might unravel beyond repair.”
Kane’s eyes blazed. He set his cup down. But already, my gut was churning. And…my bones—heavy and a little weak.
“We thought you might say that,” he drawled. “So we’ve brought one last thing.”
“A gift?” Ethera’s teal eyes sparkled like her jewelry. “For me?” She clapped riotously, and I braced for flying fingernails. Griffin pulled the ledger from his satchel, nearly dropping the heavy tome on a platter of apricot pastries. Mari’s and my eyes met across the table in silent confusion. Griffin had the preternatural strength and precision of an ox made of steel. He did not struggle to holdbooks.
“It’s the missing—”
Ethera sat up, shiny hair bouncing. “The other half! How in all the realms did you find this?”
“We know some people,” Kane said with a cunning smirk.
