Page 73 of The Light Falls
“Something keeps triggering it, but no portals have been opened by unauthorized individuals. Security is on high alert. They check every instance,” Kian states tersely.
For the rest of the evening, the alarm goes off regularly. It finally stops right before dinner. Callyx sends a note to let me know Solandis isn’t feeling well, and he’s going to stay with her. Cormal texts to say he and Kaius are running down a lead on Madoc.
Something stirs on the balcony, but when I get up to look, there’s nothing there. I turn away, and my magic sparks. I shiver. There is something out there, but whatever it is, it can’t get past the wards in my room. I close the curtains and move to the couch. Clasping my arms around my knees, I wait for something to show itself, but nothing happens.
Eris arrives a little later and finds me staring into space. Unwilling to get in bed, she wraps a blanket around me on the couch and grumbles about queens without any sense.
“Don’t forget your truffle,” I remind her. “This one is really good. Chocolate raspberry with white chocolate-covered almonds.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
MERI
Cormal steps from the shadows in the corner and immediately looks at the bed. Not seeing me, he scowls and turns toward the door, but stops when he finds me on the couch.
“What are you doing up? Did something happen?”
I tell him about the incident on the balcony and the weird stuff going on with the alarm. “Oh, and Callyx is here. He’s staying with Solandis. The Estrella thing hit her hard, and it’s going to be worse today when the delegation gets back.”
He stalks over to the balcony, pushes back the curtains, and opens the doors. Magic pulses around him in almost visible waves. “I’m definitely picking up a signature. Fae. Too dark to be a light Fae but could be mixed.” He eyes me. “You haven’t heard from Madoc, have you?”
I raise an eyebrow. “No. What do you think is causing the alarm to go off? Kian said they haven’t registered any portals opening anywhere.”
Cormal thinks about it for a minute or two. “The alarm is supposed to go off if someone opens a portal from the outside into the palace. My guess is the spell is being triggered by someone entering the palace, but shutting off when no portal is opened. I would need to examine the spell to see if I’m correct.”
“That would explain someone on my balcony,” I say with a shiver. “Good thing you reinforced the wards with your own brand of magic.”
“If Kaius can find out where the spell has been cast, I’ll slip in there and see if I can fix it,” Cormal offers. He drops down on the couch. “We didn’t find a trace of Madoc, but I’ve stationed lookouts for both Leandra and him. It’s only a matter of time.” He yawns and lays his head on the back of the couch. “What’s on the agenda today?”
I put the copy of the treaty in his lap. “Can you take a look at this? I think I have a way to release Rivan, but I want your opinion.”
He raises his head and stares at me. “You know he won’t be able to stay if you release him, right?”
My heart cracks at the thought of him going, but it will break if he stays. “I know.”
Cormal takes the copy from me and starts reading through the pages. “Nyssa’s arrogance knew no bounds. With the addition of her Prime powers, she probably thought she couldn’t be defeated and tied Rivan to her and her court. It’s enough to release him. Are you prepared for the fallout from the court?” He hands it back to me.
“It’s the right thing to do,” I state firmly, avoiding the question. Cormal gives me a pointed look, but I ignore it. “Did you see the last part about the land?”
He rubs a hand over his face. “I did. Because it’s written in the treaty, the Fire Fae will have to petition the court for the land. The court will likely refuse to give it back to them, which means war.”
“That’s a cheerful thought. It’s probably what’s holding them back from attacking. If the court denies them the land, it will light a fire under all Lesser Fae. A win-win situation,” I surmise. His eyes close, and I get up and cover him with the blanket. “Take a nap. I have to get ready. The delegation will be here in an hour, and we have to arrest Estrella.”
I slip into a black pantsuit with a platinum silver blouse that perfectly matches my hair, and of course, the power heels. The stranger in the mirror approves. Queen Meri.
Solandis and Kaius are in the portal room along with several guards, and to my surprise, Lord Camon, who is loudly protesting our move to detain Estrella.
Solandis turns around in fury and points to the door. “Do you think it’s easy to stand here and arrest my oldest friend? Do you think if there was any doubt, I wouldn’t be protesting too? If you can’t act like a High Fae, get out. If you think you can conduct yourself with dignity, you may stay.”
Camon looks at her, then Kaius, and something ugly twists behind his usually urbane mask. “I’ll stay. I want to hear the interrogation.”
I move to stand beside Solandis.
Lorn and Faris arrive first. Lorn looks like he’s barely holding on to his patience, and Faris is talking nonstop about wiping out the Fire Fae. Lorn glances at me, then leaves.
Estrella arrives next. She, too, throws an irritated glance at Faris before striding forward to stand directly in front of Solandis.
“I knew you would be waiting for me. That last hit to my thigh really messed up my plan to stay incognito,” Estrella says with a strained voice. “Unfortunately, the story I tell you isn’t going to make things any better.”
