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“Eoin wants your court?” He asks, barely concealing the shock in his voice as he reads the letter. I grunt in response and the shifter shakes with laughter. “We wouldn’t accept him, does the kid not understand that?”
I shrug, tapping out a rhythm on my thigh as my mind works overtime to balance my many current problems.
“You might not—you’re loyal to a fault. But the rest of the court might.”
“They would never accept him over you. He doesn’t have Umbra blood in his veins. You do everything for the court, Rai. From protecting our side of the Gleam, to employing the local families and offering a fair wage, to—”
“It doesn’t matter what I do to protect them or our realm,” I roar. “What matters is their perception of the situation. And if they deem my bloodline impure, they’ll rip the court from me. Eoin’s blood might not be Umbra, but it is Royal Fae down to the very last drop—”
“So you think,” Kenisius says. He tosses the letter down on my desk, and I quickly snatch it up and add it to my stack. “I’ve bent his mother over a few times. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. For all we know, he could be my kid.”
I rub my temples. “Never subject me to that imagery again.”
“At least it wasn’t adulterous. Her husband was well aware—” He takes in my lethal expression and cuts off, gripping the back of his neck. “I’m just saying.” He gives me a toothy grin. “It’s very easy to taint a bloodline.”
“Keep Eoin out of my business. Ensure this doesn’t become a larger problem. And speaking of Terra Court, send for Sennah’s best warrior. We could use assistance in the woods.”
“Even their best will need training. Do you have time for that, Rai?”
“No.” But we need to make time. It’s better than the alternative.
“Perhaps it’s time to assemble your own—”
“No.”
We’ve been through this so many times. Kenisius knows why I don’t want an entire army—why I rely on him only. The two of us—and the forest—are plenty enough protection most days.
I run a hand through my hair, trying to hold it together. Damn this human girl for showing up and throwing another problem into the mix. I turn to the window, gazing out at the forest beyond.
“Is now a bad time to mention Ostara is coming up in under two months? And that Sennah will be here to help plan it in just a few weeks?” Kenisius pauses. I turn to catch him giving me an apologetic look. “With Eoin?”
I grit my teeth at the reminder of the spring equinox celebration. That is the least of my priorities. I hate festivities, and even worse, I hate planning them.
I slam my palm into the wall beside the window. “It’s always a bad time for that.”
“How can I help in the meantime?”
“Get information on the girl…and keep her far away from me.”
“Got it.” He chuckles before leaving the room.
Let’s see how long the new human survives here. Hopefully, for her sake, I wasn’t wrong about seeing a glimmer of fight in her. Because, by the gods, Kenisius is correct.
Something inexplicable draws me to her. I hate it, but I don’t know how long I can fight it.
I am conflicted.
nine
Pay Off My Debts
Alessia
I’m suffocating.
Though the room is spacious—even with the carved wooden bed big enough to fit four, the massive armoire, and a seating area complete with an unused fire mantel and other various furniture—it's as if the walls are closing in on me.
I’ve escaped one prison in favor of another, and this time I don’t have Char by my side to comfort me. It’s not entirely surprising the broody, blue-eyed faerie trapped me here—not after the tales of the bloodthirsty trees and vicious fae I’ve heard—but it’s infuriating nonetheless.
