Page 96 of The Light Falls
The crowd looks at me but remains silent.
Lorn steps down to the floor. “I ask you to render a vote of no confidence. We have a better option for our queen. My sister, Allandra. She carries the royal blood of the light Fae. Basilus was King Arles’ half-brother, not his cousin, like everyone believes.”
Whispers rise.
Solandis stands and regards Lorn with disdain. “Whether your story is true or not, I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. There are quite a few individuals here with royal blood. The crown chose Merindah to be our queen. A vote of no confidence in a council meeting means nothing. If she wasn’t the right queen for us, the sacred throne and crown would have rejected her. It didn’t. There is no law against having dark Fae blood. You have no authority to ask for her crown.” She sits down.
Lorn looks around at the council. Most of them turn away from him. Instead of sitting back in his seat, he storms out.
“It is my understanding that Fisk was assassinated after our negotiations,” I tell the council, tackling the elephant in the room head on. “We’re currently investigating the situation. Once I have more information, I’ll share it with both the Water Fae and council.” I hold out my hand for the vault copy, but nothing appears. “We have a treaty. I’ll share copies of it with everyone once we have answers about what’s happening.”
Keir stands. “We deserve to know what’s in the treaty, especially with the Water Fae beating down our door.” He slaps a fake smile on his face, but I can see the glee in his eyes.
“Here’s a copy of the original agreement. It will have to do for now,” I tell him, pulling my extra copy from the Underworld. I quickly make copies for them, then put it back. “Read the terms at your leisure. We can discuss them at the next council meeting. Dismissed.”
I stand and escort Solandis out of the meeting and back to her rooms. Once there, I try to call my copy from the vault again. Nothing. “I put my original copy in the vault. It has my blood and Fisk’s on it to show its authenticity. I keep trying to call it, but nothing is happening. I need to go look for it.”
Solandis stops me. “Be careful. If it’s not coming to you, it may not be there anymore. If it’s not, take a look at Keir. He’s the only other person who can access the vault, but to do so, he would need a senior member of the council to give him permission.” She raises an eyebrow. “I noticed Lord Camon wasn’t there today. Perhaps he gave him permission.”
“If he did, he likely destroyed or hid his own copy of the treaty,” I surmise with a grimace. “Thanks.” I look around. “Cormal strengthened the wards on this room, too, didn’t he?” She nods. “Stay here. Don’t leave for any reason. I’m sure Kaius or Callyx will be back soon.”
I head straight to the vault. When I get there, it’s in shambles. Papers are everywhere, and the stack of jewels and gold I saw the last time are gone. Robbery or Keir?
Madoc slides into the room and presses a finger to his lips. “They’re monitoring your every move.”
“Who is?” I whisper. “And where have you been?” I can’t help but scan him for new scars.
“Taking care of a friend of mine,” he informs me coolly. “I don’t report to you.”
Rearing back, I put a hand on my hip and glare at him. Asshole. “The treaty is missing. Fisk is dead. Rivan isn’t answering my texts, and I haven’t seen or heard from you since the challenge. Forgive me for being worried. I won’t do it again.” I brush past him and enter the hallway.
Shit.I forgot to get an answer about who is monitoring me. Forget it. If he really wants to help, he’s going to have to step out of the shadows. I don’t have time to play tag.
Cormal’s waiting for me when I get back to the room. He immediately pulls me into his arms and seals the room. “Fisk is dead. Rivan’s in hiding. I can’t find him. Word on the street is that the Lesser Fae revolution has started.”
I fist my hands in his jacket and hold on to him. “The original treaty is missing. I gave a copy to the council but without the official ones with the blood, there is nothing to prove they aren’t fake. Everything I did was for nothing. War is here.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
MERI
Callyx arrives via the shadows. “The portals aren’t working. I was going to bring in back-up, but if I have to do it via the shadows, it will take all night.”
Cormal fills him in. “Where’s Kaius?”
Worry crosses Callyx’s face. “He went to assess the Water Fae army, but he should have been back ages ago. I’ll go check on Solandis.”
“Bring her back here, if she’ll come,” I tell him. We need to stay together.
Minutes later, Callyx walks back in via a shadow with an unconscious Kaius in his arms. He lays him down on the couch. “Solandis has been taken. There’s a note in my pocket.” The gravelly tone of his voice tells me his demon is close to the surface.
Cormal pulls out the note. “Give up the crown or she’s dead. Coronation hall tomorrow morning at sunrise.”
Callyx splashes some water on Kaius. “Come on, old man. Wake up.”
He doesn’t even move.
“How did they take him down? I doubt they snuck up on him,” I ask with a frown. Walking over, I feel for any lumps on the back of his head and neck, just to be sure. “Nothing.” As I roll his head from side to side, the glittery yellow dust in his hair catches the light.
