Page 85 of Power
Archer
My whole lifehas been leading up to this one moment.
Or so it feels.
As I lead Bailey into the Inner Sanctum where the Court stands, my nerves get the better of me, and I tense up, gripping her fingers tightly.
She looks up at me in query, wrapping her other hand around my upper arm. It’s possessive and makes my black heart sing.
“Everything okay?” she murmurs.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
She smiles tightly. “I’m good. But are you?”
“Always, baby girl.” I kiss the top of her head.
She draws her gaze away from mine and exhales slowly. She takes in the rest of the Court with a shrewd eye.
“My Queen. This is Duchess, Dormouse, and you know, Gryphon, already.” I try to hide the smile at the memory of her slapping her father yesterday. “And, of course, Knave and Mad Hatter” I indicate Owen and Finn, who have walked in behind us and shut the door.
She takes in the heavy-set woman who is the Duchess before sliding her gaze to Dormouse. He is exactly how you would picture him. Weedy, mousey, and a bit creepy. She ignores Gryphon, which only increases my amusement, and I relax, completely at ease now. Pulling out a high-backed wooden chair for Bailey, she sits, and I take my place on her right side.
“Queen,” Duchess huffs. “We are now left with a small hole where Alice should be.”
“No, we are fine without an Alice. We are seven; if we bring in one more, that makes an even, which could lead to a stalemate.”
“Agreed,” Knave says.
Everyone is their Society name here.
“The Queen is Alice, and Alice is the Queen,” Mad Hatter adds.
Duchess purses her lips. “Very well. The first order of business is the incoming elites. We are behind schedule.” She shoves a folder across the table.
Knave reaches for it and peruses for a few moments. “I’ll take a look at my leisure, and when we reconvene, I will have a short list.”
Duchess nods curtly. “Very well. Moving on. Your coronation, my King. Again, we are off schedule.”
“We can do that now,” I say, taking my Queen’s hand. “We can be coronated together.”
Duchess’s beady eyes narrow. “Are you sure about that?”
“It is my wish.”
She nods and rises, gathering a few bits from the side table behind her. I stand and pull my Queen up.
Her eyes go wide. “What is this?”
“Don’t worry; this will be painless, I promise.”
“It fucking better had be,” she growls but steps forward, showing me she isn’t afraid.
A swell of pride and lust washes over me, carrying me forward to stand by her side.
Duchess holds out the sharp dagger. My Queen hisses and shakes her head.
“Just a little prick,” I murmur, taking it and gripping her fingers to hold her hand up high enough to stab the tip.
