Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Did your parents teach you nothing about hospitality?
He quirks a brow at me. You didn’t expect me to let her run loose around my castle, did you?
Sol shoots us an accusatory look. “You’re lucky you had Konner join us this morning, or I might have dismissed any thoughts of alliance after being brought here on false pretenses and made to wait.”
“It was unavoidable, I’m afraid,” Misha says. “I had an unexpected complication arise in the western region of my territory. By way of apology, I’ve brought a couple of friends to join us.” He leans his head out into the hall. “We’re ready for you.”
Sol’s glare falls away as the queen of the shadow court glides into the room, red hair loose around her face, posture regal.
“Good morning,” Brie says, nodding to our Eloran guests. “Thank you for letting me join.”
Behind her, Remme steps in from the hall. Misha and I met with Brie and Remme when we finally made it back to the castle and Misha updated them on what we’ve learned since we last spoke.
“This is my friend Remme,” I tell them as Remme surveys Misha’s guests skeptically. “He’s here to represent the interests of the Chosen Eloran monarchy.”
Konner acknowledges him with a lift of his chin, but I don’t miss the look Sol shoots him—a look that says maybe she’s not so happy about Remme being here.
“We’ve caught the queen up on everything Konner shared with Felicity about Erith’s special brand of immortality,” Misha says. He pulls out two chairs opposite Konner and Sol and nods for Brie and me to sit. Remme sits beside the shadow queen, and I expect Misha to take the seat at the head of the table, but instead he lowers himself next to me. “And we’re ready to hear what you have in mind for Elora and how an alliance with the Wild Fae Lands might work,” he says.
Sol looks to Brie. “What about the Unseelie Court? Are you offering us an alliance as well?”
Brie lifts her chin. “I would need a great deal more information before I could consider that.”
When Sol goes stiff, Konner puts a hand on her arm. “In that case, we’re glad you’re here.”
Sol sighs, directing her attention at Misha. “Luckily for you, I find your sister and former queen quite delightful, and Konner has used his time since arriving to convince me to forgive you for scheming against me and to forgive this one”—she points at me—“for taking my form.”
Misha nods to Konner. “I appreciate that, Konner. Thank you for your diplomacy.”
Konner glances toward the door. “I appreciate you bringing the shadow queen and a representative from the monarchy, but I’d hoped Kendrick the Chosen himself would be joining us for this meeting.”
“He’s detained in the Eloran realm at the moment, but we will bring him up to speed when he returns.” Misha waves a hand and a breakfast spread appears on the table between us, complete with croissants and pastries, coffee, tea, and juice. “Please help yourselves to some refreshments,” he says, taking the pitcher of orange juice and pouring himself a glass.
Konner rubs his eyes. “Given Kendrick’s vested interest in the direction this conversation goes, I’m almost willing to wait even longer if it means he can join.” Brie leans forward to object and Konner holds up a hand. “But we don’t have the luxury of time, so we’ll have to do this without him.”
I fold my arms. “What do you mean? Aren’t we here to talk about how we’ll put the Eloran monarchy into power?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Konner says.
Remme’s chair squeals as he shoves back from the table. “I told Felicity this morning that it was foolish to trust anyone from the palace.”
Brie puts a hand on his arm. “Let’s hear what they have to say.”
Remme huffs but seems to relent. He snags a croissant from the tray in front of him and tears into it without bothering with a napkin or plate.
“It’s not that I don’t understand the efforts of your people,” Sol says. “I get it. The monarchy is what came before the Seven, so in your mind the monarchy is the solution.”
“But it is the solution,” Remme says, tapping his fingers on the table. He looks to Konner. “Even you see what has become of the Seven—or were you lying when you spoke to your sister about this matter?”
“I spoke only the truth,” Konner says. “But the old system is too flawed, too vulnerable to exploitation.”
Misha narrows his eyes, leaning back in his chair, juice untouched. “Was it ever exploited?”
“Why do you think the Seven chose to overthrow the monarchy to begin with?” Sol cocks her head to the side. “My grandmother never would’ve been part of it otherwise. There’s a reason people believe we protected them from the fae—the queen was allowing her allies in Faerie to take our humans, to turn them into their unwilling servants.”