Page 106 of Knightfall
“Would Willard bring in a dragon to kill your sister, but change his plans when you returned?”
I sucked in a breath. “He did ask me if I actually hunted dragons. When we had the mage spell.”
Everyone exchanged dark glances.
But then Declan squinted. “All of this gives Abbas a wonderful place to negotiate from. I wonder how much his hand helped stir that pot?” He turned to face me. “How much more likely are you to consider his proposal if you think Sedara is against you? If you think your own people are turning against you? It seems rather suspicious to me."
I’m sending someone to check Meeker’s chambers,Quinn told me.We’ll see if the real Meeker is in the woods or not.
“You think one of Abbas’ people is posing as Meeker?” I asked.
It’s possible.
Anything is possible,I retorted.
The possibilities crowded my mind, each one clamoring for attention. I put my hands to my head, trying to stop the noise. My first day as queen, and plots already circled me like sharks.
Is this how Mother felt? I wondered.
Perhaps this was why she'd wanted to control every last detail of every person around her. Was it because so many uncontrollable forces raged against her at every turn? Was that what holding the crown meant? She'd never said as much in her lessons, but I suspected it was true. Holding the crown was simply holding a target, waiting for the next person to toss their knife at your chest.
Connor stroked my arm.
Quinn sent a pair of turtle doves cooing and circling through the corridor. One of them landed and pooped on Connor's shoulder.
"That's not nice," I eyed Quinn.
Just getting him back for cheating at sex games yesterday.
You’re a silly asshole.I rolled my eyes. But Quinn quelled the panic that had been rising in my chest.
I took a deep breath. "Let's go. We'll deal with Willard later, when Ryan's back. Right now, let’s go see Wyle and see what he might be able to do for us. Let’s work on the Abbas problem first. I want to know why he’s here and what he really wants. Then we’ll tackle Willard. He’s not nearly as bright."
I didn’t say aloud that Meeker concerned me as I strode back down the passage. That the power of Sedara backing an idiot like Willard concerned me. Their navy made them the strongest kingdom of the seven. And if they were determined to replace me with a puppet king … a shiver ran down my spine. I’d prefer if Abbas had sent a fake Meeker to meet with Willard. I hoped that was the case. I’d rather one enemy than two.
I pushed myself to walk faster. I’d see what Wyle had in his bag of tricks to force the truth from Abbas.
Then I’ll wallop that shite-eating little Lord Willard. And his mother, too.
I had no doubt Lady Agatha was aware of every move her pudgy-little-roll of a son made.
I wrung my hands as I tried to weigh whether or not I could handle an alliance with Abbas. He was smooth, but not forthcoming. He made my skin prickle. In sensuality but also in fear.
Quinn butted into my head.There’s something wrong about Abbas. I don’t trust him,he yelled at all of us.
“New rule. Unless it’s an emergency or naughty bidding, you’re gonna have to tell us each individually,” I held a hand over my ringing ear.
“Abbas does have djinn powers though, if we’re considering alliances,” Declan countered. “His brothers can conjure. Not in the castle, obviously, with our preventative spells. But that could be useful.”
I stopped in my tracks. “Wait. Isn’t one of his brothers … can’t one of them shape shift?”
Connor waved a hand. “Anyone with a good spelled disguise can do that. We don’t need him for that.”
“Unless he can turn into a dragon,” I responded. No hedge-witch spell would be strong enough to transform a human into one of the most powerful magical creatures known to man. Even Wyle had never managed it, and I knew for a fact mother had made him try during the last Fire War. But djinn were a different story. Full djinn could easily transform. A half-djinn—I didn’t know the limits for half-djinn.
We all stopped and stared at one another.
“Why didn’t all the brothers come on this suitor visit again?” I asked.
