Page 89 of The Shattered Kingdom
I understand why Kie is uncomfortable with the faerie, but I have no history with Jackie. I’m not pleased with the way she treated Abby in the bathhouse, but seeing Lillian drown her lessened much of my anger.
She was humiliated. It’s enough for me.
Anox leans back in his chair. He doesn’t look as upset as I’d expect him to be. Maybe he sees through our lies. This was a last-minute decision, one made by our mate. Or perhaps he’s too pleased to be upset. He actively participated in the discussions regarding Kie and me taking Jackie as our wife.
Several moments pass before he speaks. “Council members must be voted in. I have not—”
“Nonsense, Anox,” Jackie says, smoothly cutting him off. “This couldn’t be discussed with you or the council, not when it was one of you who organized Abby’s execution.”
Lady Cassandra recoils. “One of us?” Her gaze flickers between Anox and Lord Bishop. “Who?”
I wonder the same thing. When Kie rattled off his list of suspects, none of the council members were on it. We would’ve never allowed Abby near them if they had been.
Jackie smirks. “Did you know Lord Bishop took out a loan against his estate late last year?” She levels her stare with Lord Bishop. “It’s a shame how far your family name has fallen. Youwere once renowned for your propensity to manipulate magic, but you’re nothing more than a beggar in expensive clothing. Rumor is you were denied a loan extension last month.”
Abby runs her fingers up and down my forearm. I see where this is heading, and my body is on edge and ready for a fight. I want to rip Lord Bishop’s heart out through his throat. I want to watch him choke on his blood. I want him to suffer.
Instead, I remain rooted to my seat. It takes all my self-control to do so.
“When word about Abby and Lillian spread, you were approached by a shifter. He offered you a hefty sum of money to kill Abby, didn’t he? Gave you a stone filled with gods’ magic and laid out what I must admit was a flawless plan. Nobody anticipated Kie being able to overpower the magic, though.”
Kie overpowered gods’ magic? How strongishe?
Abby shifts. She must be wondering something similar. I tighten my grip on her, using her to remain calm. Lord Bishop is much too close to my liking. One wrong movement and I will decapitate him. The sight will upset Abby, but it’s a necessary evil.
Lord Bishop shakes his head, his mouth gaping. “That isn’t true.” His gaze snaps toward me. “You have to believe me! I have no idea what she’s talking about. I would never—”
“It’s interesting that you were approachedbeforeLillian was discovered as a fraud,” Jackie continues. “Why Abby?”
Kie rises. “Alpha Theon and Callie knew that Abby is our true mate.” He stands behind Lord Bishop’s chair, holding the man captive as he speaks with Jackie. “How do you know this?”
“I have several connections within the Redstall Forest,” Jackie admits. She turns toward Abby. “The favors I called in were valuable, but I will consider the council position fair payment.”
Jackie has shifter connections? I shouldn’t be surprised. Most faeries would never consider it, but Jackie’s never been afraid toget her hands dirty. It makes her dangerous, and it reinforces our need to have her on our side.
Jackie points a finger toward Lord Bishop. She’s enjoying this.
“You are a sneaky, sneaky boy,” she teases. “It was a good idea, truly. One that would’ve worked if Kie were weaker.”
That’s not entirely true. Had Kie not been able to save Abby, I would have murdered every faerie within the room. They can’t hurt Abby when they’re dead. I would’ve saved her. It just would’ve been slightly more violent.
Chapter Thirty-Four
ABBY
MASON IS PAINFULLY stiff below me, his muscles tense and unmoving. I curl my fingers around his wrist, holding him in place. I can tell he’s a second away from lunging across this table, and I’d love for him not to do that—especially while I’m still sitting in his lap.
Lord Bishop is fumbling, his vibrant, violet eyes darting rapidly between Mason, me, and Kie. They show the most fear when they land on Mason. Everybody knows he’s the wild card, and from what I’ve heard, he has a long and dark history of murdering faeries.
Jackie’s smirking. She’s pleased with herself, and I imagine she must feel like the faerie version of Sherlock Holmes.
“And what proof do you have?” Lady Cassandra asks. “An accusation of this scale surely should have some proof beyond the words of ashifter.”
Woof.Mason shifts below me. I dig my nails into his wrist.
Jackie gestures toward Lord Bishop. He’s trembling. “What more proof do I need than this?” She makes a good point.
Lady Cassandra rises, disappearing from the room a second later. Where is she going? Nobody follows her, but after a minute,she returns with four guards in tow. These aren’t the regular guards who patrol the grounds. These ones are huge, and they’re wearing silver armor.
