Page 29 of A Storm in Every Heart
The emissary looks up and, seeming to decide that Daemon is not going to bid him to stand, straightens once more. “My name is Elio,” he says in a nasally, overly accommodating tone. “I’ve come on behalf of King Magnus of Hydratta.”
Beside me, Kastian stiffens. I resist the urge to reach out and grasp his fingers.What the hell am I thinking?
“We received the king’s letters,” Daemon says, “but I don’t recall agreeing to a meeting.”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Elio says. “Of course I can’t speak to your private correspondence with my king, but I was under the impression that he wanted to ensure you received his message.”
“I’ll fucking bet he did,” Kastian grumbles under his breath.
Elio’s eyes dart upward and land on Kastian for the first time. I detect a tiny flinch of surprise from the emissary, but he doesn’t say anything to acknowledge it.
“What does King Magnus want?” Daemon asks, his tone dripping with barely controlled contempt.
“The king is looking to forge an alliance…preferably an unbreakable one.” Elio’s eyes flick to me. “I assume, as Lady Odessa is attending this meeting, you’re aware of the proposed union?”
I can’t tell what the emissary thinks of the request—whether he’s surprised to see me in the room or not, or even if he cares either way. Perhaps he’s just a messenger, but I doubt it.
Emissaries are usually trusted friends or even family members of the ruler and are able to negotiate on the court’s behalf. It’s unlikely that Elio would be truly unaware of what his king is intending.
“We’re aware,” Daemon says flatly.
Elio’s dark eyes widen. “And have you had the opportunity to consider the matter?”
“It’s not fucking happening,” Kastian growls.
Daemon smiles. “That about sums it up.”
Elio clears his throat uncomfortably. “I understand this might seem like a sudden request, but if Your Majesty had beenwilling to meet with my king, I think you’d see that the alliance could be highly beneficial for all parties.”
“How so?” I blurt out.
Elio looks up at me, but his reply seems more directed at Daemon. “Increased military support, expanded trade routes, assistance in rebuilding your capital and access to?—”
Daemon cuts him off. “We don’t need or want any of that.”
My brow furrows. I realize that Daemon believes he’s protecting me, but perhaps he spoke too soon. All of those things would be extremely beneficial to Vernallis, especially in the short term as we’re rebuilding from the curse.
What we really need isn’t a betrothal, it’s an emissary of our own—someone who could negotiate for these things outright. Someone who could find out what Hydratta truly wants out of this alliance and why.
Seeming to be thinking the same thing, Elio speaks up again. “If Your Majesty would be willing to at least send Lady Odessa to meet with my king, perhaps a representative could accompany her and discuss all the benefits to both kingdoms in more detail.”
“What part of it’s not fucking happening didn’t you understand?” Kastian barks.
Elio focuses only on Daemon. “Your Majesty, if you would just consider?—”
“It’s not my decision to consider,” Daemon snaps. “But Odessa would never?—”
“I’ll do it,” I blurt out, the words escaping my lips before I’ve fully processed the weight of the decision.
A charged silence echoes in the room. Beside me, Kastian goes rigid, as if struck by a sudden, electric jolt. I catch a glimpse of him whipping his head toward me, and the intensity of his shocked and furious gaze pierces into the side of my face like daggers, searing with an almost palpable heat.
“You’ll what?” Daemon says, eyes narrowing on me.
I swallow thickly, my mind racing.
We need to find out what Hydratta wants and we can’t just go crashing into their court demanding answers, but perhaps a diplomatic visit would be the perfect time to gather information.
Moreover, if something went terribly wrong, I wouldn’t be on my own. Hydratta is mostly an island, and where there’s water, assistance is never far away…
