Page 82 of MidKnight
Because I couldn’t prove a sarding thing.
My crown felt as sharp a knife. It cleaved me in two.
What I wanted to do and what I had to do had never been further apart.
Chapter Twenty-One
Istrolled into the winter courtyard without a cloak, letting the cold air cool my rage.
The moonlight fell on the cobblestones and painted them a soft chalky white until a cloud passed overhead. I glanced up to see more clouds gathering. The sky looked dark in the distance.
Isla and her entourage were gathered, their winged bears were lined up and saddled in the background.
I strode up to her and grasped her outstretched hand. I gave the warmest smile I could manage.
“Thank you so much for being the first to welcome me to my throne. I look forward to working together for years to come.”
“I think you will settle into your new role nicely,” Isla patted the back of my hand. “Next time we see one another, I hope things will be vastly different.”
I caught the double meaning in her words but kept my face pleasantly neutral. She didn’t know I was aware of anything. It was best not to give away that small advantage.
I gestured behind me. “I want to apologize for my knights. They wanted to come say goodbye, but they ran afoul of the wrong end of a skunk.”
Isla pressed her lips together, smothering either a laugh or whatever she really wanted to say. “You do seem to have a bit of an animal infestation.”
I nodded. “Yes. We do. Perhaps they can sense that I’ll protect them.”
“From what?”
“From those who use magic to hurt others,” I replied, studying her features.
She simply raised her brow.
I didn’t have my knights here to hold me back, so I pushed further. “The animals who come to me are people who’ve been transformed and trapped by magic.”
Isla’s eyes darkened. “How interesting.”
“Isn’t it?” I smiled.
“Trapping and transforming others is a very, veryunfortunatepractice,” Isla responded.
She meant Avia. I knew she did.
My voice was thin and tight as I responded, “One I would never approve of.”
Isla’s face tilted as she studied me. “I almost believe that.”
“My mother used enough magic to bind me that I could not abide such methods.”
Isla raised an eyebrow. Then she leaned forward. “Never say never. When people are starving and revolting … a queen will do whatever it takes.”
“So, I should forgive my mother then?”
She smiled and pulled her fur-lined cloak tighter around her neck. “Bloss, I have so enjoyed our visit.”
Back to formalities and trivial lies? I thought. Fine. Two can play at that.
“As have I. Perhaps next time your daughter could accompany you,” I said.
