“Nothing, Queen Mother. Nothing at all,” Prince Lock looked at me with disdain, as if I were a roach that managed to crawl out from beneath his boots. “Come, I hear we have a revel to prepare for, and the Orc See likely needs an audience as they had been privy to your reception of the goblins,” he said, deftly ushering the queen toward the newly arrived orcs.
The orcs were brutish yet cunning. They did, after all, time their arrival in order to claim guesting rights mere hours before a revel. The Orc See was composed mainly of the most powerful chieftain, his second, and the spiritual advisor. Females didn’t rank among their leaders.
I was glad to give the rulers a wide berth as Anafiel and his guard followed the rest of the courtiers into the flow of the manor.
I didn’t like the way the orc second-in-command looked at me, obviously sniffing in my direction as if I were prey to be hunted. I met his gaze with a practiced expression of challenge, and notched my chin up a little when his hand rested on the handle of his blade.
Caressing my own blade’s handle at my hip in response, I nodded to the Orc See, and moved on. My back itched with the knowledge that the second’s gaze was still on me.
I didn’t relax until we were well inside the outer courtyard.
“That was close,” I said.
“Yes, good thing the crown prince was there to save the day.”
As I still had my hand on Anafiel’s arm, I punched him in his side. He had his armor on but the effect still worked. “Get over yourself,” I said, as I prodded him forward. The quicker we got into the keep, the sooner I could hide in my suite of rooms.
I was rewarded with one of his rare smiles. “Did that hurt?” he teased.
My hand throbbed, but I would never admit it to him. “Not even.”
“Liar.” He covered my hand with his as we followed the rest of the courtiers into the keep. “Would you have actually accepted Lock into your circle, Lady Fire?”
For a fleeting moment I pretended to consider it. After all, Prince Lock’s dark skin and warrior build was not a hardship to think upon. However, I must be immune to his charms, unlike most females in the Night Court.
“Of course not. What strategy would that be, to walk on eggshells around one in my court, let alone, inner circle?” The type of queen that resonated with Prince Lock would need to be as ruthless as his mother.
“Some would say that it would be wise to keep your enemies closer than your allies.”
“You’re just confirming that some people are stupid. When I eventually come into my powers, I doubt that the Deity would allow anyone to resonate with me who also wanted to kill me. That’s not how Inner Circles work.”
At least, I hoped not.
I longed for the day that I could finally be able to rest, and be at peace at least for a little while. To be a queen regent was to have a target on my back. There weren’t many born queen, and those that were lucky to survive to their Blessed Moon Revel when the Deity usually conferred powers.
That was the reason why most were fostered–to ensure that rival realms had a semblance of peace, even though the seeds of discord and violence were always present.
“No, but there are those who could still be part of your court and not in your Inner Circle. You’re living that reality at this current moment.”
“Touche,” I relented. This talk of courts and guards and circles was moot at the moment anyway. I wasn’t marked with power yet, though a restlessness grew inside me, telling me it would be soon.
Gods above and below, how I prayed it would be soon. It would be the only way to cut short my place here as a benevolent ward and return to the Ember Dominion. I was allowed a few hours a week to sit in daylight, but it was not enough.
I wondered if Lady Frost felt the same? My home was likely sweltering for her, as oppressively hot as hers was cold. I tried talking about her to Anafiel, but even he didn’t dare bring her up.
He and his guard escorted me in cordial silence to my suites. I could tell by the subtle wards I placed throughout that no one had entered, but Anafiel still scoured every inch, assuring himself that I would be fine.
I removed my cloak, hanging it behind the door of my armoire. Slumping on a cushioned ottoman, I worked off one boot before tackling the other. “Satisfied?” I asked, gesturing around the room with my boot before letting it drop to the floor next to its pair.
Anafiel gifted me with a smile. “For now. Unless you would rather I stay and watch over you while you bathe?”
Heat flushed over my skin. I hastily took off my socks, stuffing them into the boots. “Ha, ha, get out,” I deadpanned.
He shrugged as if to say, your loss. His face settled back to his expressionless mask. I referred to it as his “court face.” “I will just be out here,” he said, as if I needed to be reminded.
“Yeah, yeah, I think I can handle myself in my bath—no comment!” I quickly added when a knowing smirk danced on his lips. I rolled my eyes and made sure he saw me as I shooed him out of my room.
Leave a Reply