Page 94 of The Light Falls
Not liking where this conversation is going, I look around for my guards, but we’re in a back corner, hidden from view. “So?”
“The light Fae deserve a queen worthy of their lineage, not some half-breed who carries dark Fae in her blood,” Lorn sneers. “I’ve called for an emergency council meeting. I will ask for your crown and present Allandra as a worthy alternative.”
“Why not yourself?” I say flippantly, even though I’m beyond furious right now.
“I’m not Lord Basilus’ child,” he reveals, to my astonishment. “Lady Kyra stole me. She lost their baby, but didn’t want to tell Basilus, so she brought me home and presented me as his son and heir. I didn’t find out until many years later when I fell in love with Allandra. My mate.”
What the hell?
Shocked, I stand there and stare at him. “No wonder she was so jealous.”
He laughs. “It was her idea. She thought if I got close to you, we would find a way to get rid of you, and it worked. Although she did get a little jealous when I admitted I enjoyed spending time with you.” He peers earnestly at me. “I do, you know. I genuinely like you, and you like me too.”
I stumble backward only to come up against Laken. Lorn’s dark purple eyes flash with something dangerous. “Liked. Past tense. I’m going home. See you at the council meeting. Lorn.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT
MERI
The council decides to delay the meeting for another day to give Faris time to finish his discussions with the Fire Fae. Lorn sends a message to all the council members with details on my background and asks them for a vote of no confidence.
Weary, I drop into bed, pull the covers over my head, and sleep for hours.
When I wake, the world is in an uproar. Eris bustles in at her usual time and informs me that Lady Estrella’s keep was burned to the ground.
“Fire Fae?” I ask, dreading her answer.
“Lord Faris,” she responds gleefully. “He awarded the land to the Fire Fae, then burned her keep to eliminate any contention between them.”
Shit. He certainly took the opportunity I gave him and made the most of it.
She stares at me. “It’s not all good news. The Water Fae are assembling not far from here. They’ll launch an attack on the palace within a week.”
What the hell?
I scramble into the navy-blue pinstripe suit Eris is laying out for the council meeting. “I don’t understand. Fisk and I have a treaty.”
Cormal steps from the shadows. “Rumor is Fisk is dead.”
“When?” I pick up my phone and text Rivan.
“Shortly after they returned from the negotiations,” he says tersely.
Kaius bursts into the room, followed by Callyx. “My sources say Fisk was murdered.”
A tear slips down my cheek at the loss of such an old and honorable Fae. “Any information on Rivan? He isn’t answering my texts.”
“He disappeared,” Callyx informs me. “Sources saw him in the vicinity. Some are trying to pin this on him.”
“That’s not the only thing going on.” I tell them about Faris and his deeds and follow it up with my conversation with Lorn. “Our enemies are attacking us from all sides. It’s going to be one hell of a council meeting today.”
Putting my head in my hands, I try to think of what to do next. The Fire Fae situation will cause an uproar, but the council gave Faris the right to negotiate. The crown will, of course, provide reparations to Lady Estrella for the loss of her keep and land. Lorn. He’ll do his best to sway the council with his potent charm. Frowning, I immediately text Laken.
“Fisk thought he had a mole, remember? Only a few knew about Kaius’ mission,” I remind them. “Camon was one of them. Maybe the High Fae isn’t playing both sides. Maybe he’s playing the long game.” I look at Kaius. “Too bad you can’t access Kaius’ real memories.”
I know I’m grasping at straws, but I don’t even know how to unravel this mess.
Cormal squats down in front of me. “Breathe. That’s it. Go to the council meeting. I’ll look for Rivan. If I can’t find him, I’ll see if I can find out what happened to Fisk. Whatever you do… don’t give them your crown. They can’t take it from you.”
