Page 82 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

“We wish to establish a court here in Detroit, to govern us and unite us as is done in Faerie.”

As one, every fey in the room—all two hundred or so present—falls to one knee and bows their heads. Even Terrance and Illren kneel. Vesryn kneels but raises his head to speak. “We would have you be our queen.”

I gasp and stagger back.Queen? They want me to be theirqueen?

Rook steps up to my side, holding me steady. “Breathe, Nora.”

My head shakes before I can get a single word out. They’re all still on their knees. Panic starts to overwhelm me. I can’t even handle one fey swearing fealty to me. What am I supposed to do with an entire city of them? “Terrance?” The word comes out a nervous squeak. “A little help here?”

Terrance lifts his head but doesn’t stand. He places his fist over his heart. “I would follow you, Nora. It would be my honor to have you as my queen.”

I can’t seem to pull any air into my lungs. This is crazy. “No,” I mutter, still shaking my head. “No. I can’t be a queen. That’s insane.” I look out at all the kneeling fey. Some of them are looking up at me now. “I’m sorry,” I tell them. “I’m flattered. I’m beyond honored you’d willingly follow me, but I—I’m not a leader. I’m not—I know hardly anything about the fey.”

“We could teach you,” Illren murmurs quietly.

I continue to shake my head. “It’s more than that. Please get up. All of you.”

All of the fey slowly rise to their feet, but they’re still watching me.

“You would refuse us?” someone calls out.

“You said you wish to help the fey,” another says. “We need you.”

The crowd murmurs in agreement.

My heart pounds wildly in my chest. There’s no way in hell I could be a queen. But they’re right that they need unification and government.

Suddenly I know what to do. The fey do need me. Just not in the way they think. I stand up straight and pull my shoulders back. If I’m going to sway them, then I need to be confident. The crowd perks up, as if recognizing I’m about to give a speech. “I agree with you that we need someone to unify and govern us. We need someone to fight for us as a people and help us when we need it.

“Yes!” someone shouts. “We need a queen!”

“You are our strongest,” another says.

I hold up my hands and shake my head. “I know you guys are used to having monarchs and ruling courts, but you’re not living in Faerie anymore, and the human realm doesn’t work that way. At least, not in this country. You don’t need a queen. You need a government. And you have one. The FUA is there for you as soon as you accept them. They want to help you.”

Murmurs and grumbles sweep through the crowd. “What are you so afraid of?” I ask, lifting my chin and staring them down. “Does the FUA control the vampires? Or the shifters? Do they dictate the sorcerers’ business? Do you think the underworlders in this city would put up with them if they did?”

The fey start murmuring again and looking to those next to them to gauge each other’s thoughts.

“The FUA already allows each species to police themselves as much as possible. I’ve seen it. When I worked with the wolves, they allowed Alpha Toth to police his own pack and punish his traitors as he saw fit. The FUA asked if he wanted help, and when he declined, they left him to it.”

More whispers spread through the crowd, louder this time. Only, this time there seems to be less complaining. How could these fey not already understand this? Haven’t they been paying attention to how the rest of this city runs?

“The FUA only steps in as a mediator when things happen between the races,” I say. “Or when something threatens to out us to humans. Otherwise, they allow each species to govern themselves as you do now. But if you would join them, you’d have someone to help you when you need it. And you solitary fey would have resources not available to you now. You would have that governing force that you’re all looking for.”

“But the FUA are not fey,” Vesryn says. “We want one of our own leading us. You are familiar with the FUA. You are on friendly terms with them. You would be the best choice to be our leader.”

I sigh. This is getting nowhere.

Suddenly, Parker stands up off his barstool and faces the crowd. “What if therewasa fey working for the FUA? One that all of you trusted. One that could represent your voice.”

Oohh, that sneaky bastard.

“What ifNoraworked for the FUA? Would you consider joining?”

“Parker!”I hiss. I reach across the bar and slap his shoulder.“What are you doing?”

Parker grins. “Sorry, Nora. As the new deputy director, it’s my job to do what’s best for the Agency and this city, and whether you like it or not, you’re it.”

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