Page 77 of Fate and Flame
“Take your pick,” he said, finishing his bite.
“Well, she’s not important. I’ve come as a messenger on behalf of King Fenlas.”
“Ah yes, the little princeling is now a ruler. We must have missed the invite to his coronation.”
“It was a private affair,” I said sharply.
“Nothing’s private in Alewyn.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Please, come sit closer, I hate to yell across the table.”
“I have good hearing. No need to shout.” I sat the dagger on my lap and brought my hands forward, planting them firmly on the table.
“Indeed,” he said, smiling. “Tell me why you have come, then.”
“My king extends his apologies for not coming in person, but as I’m sure you can imagine, he has his hands full at the moment.”
“Go on.” He waved his hand in the air, huffing as if he were bored.
“My king wishes to know how tight your grasp is on the Wild Hunt.”
He coughed. “What is it with everyone trying to take my Hunt from me? Why is yourkingso concerned?” I wasn’t a fan of the tone, but Coro had been playing this game a lot longer than I had.
I held a neutral face and answered honestly. “King Fenlas is concerned because before I traveled south to work for him, my father was a part of the Hunt, and even then, Morwena was trying to get her hands on it. She’d poisoned the minds of the fae she could get to, trying to steal it. My father was steadfast in his loyalty to you. He turned her down. She was so angry, she had him killed, so I’ll ask you again, do you have it secured?”
“Who was your father?” he asked, as if he hadn’t heard or cared about any of the rest of it.
“It’s not important.”
“Ah, but it is. I wish to know who remained loyal to his king until death, only to have a daughter run traitorously to the south.”
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard, the taste of blood tinged my tongue.I hate this motherfucker.
Don’t let him get under your skin. In and out. Don’t cause waves.
“You shouldn’t meddle here. Especially when you can’t hold a conversation. The prince should have sent someone more qualified.”
I gripped the edge of my knife below the table.“My qualifications are quite vast, I assure you.”
He took an oversized bite and through his disgusting chewing said, “Go back to your kingdom and tell your prince that when he grows up, he can come see me himself if he wishes to talk of wars and traitors.”
Greeve flinched beside me and the guards did also.
My muscles tightened, ready to move.“What do you know of the ocean, Coro?”
A look of amusement crossed his features, and though I wasn’t sure he’d answer, he did.“I know Morwena would eat you for a snack before her main course.”
I slumped back in my chair. “Would she, now?”
A giant grin spread across his face as he seemed to imagine it.
“That’s strange, because to my recollection, I’m the one who killed her.”
He jerked his head back and sucked in an audible breath. Greeve cleaved to the door, pulling his sword. Coro stood and stared me down.
“Is that supposed to be a threat?”
“Oh no, only listing my qualifications,” I answered, tucking the knife away as I stood to lean on my knuckles flattened against the smooth surface of the dining table. “You see, Morwena had a habit of underestimating me too, and while the news of her unfortunate death hasn’t spread too far, you can bet Autus already knows about it. You seem to be out of the loop though. That’s too bad.”
“You’re a liar,” he yelled.
