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He scoffed and stood before me, towering over me with his height and breadth. “You’re not going. You can give me the book, and I’ll find them for you.” Then he turned and marched for the door.
“Goll.” I hurried after him. “You don’t understand. I have to be there.”
He whirled around, scowling fiercely. “Why must you?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just feel that I must.”
“Well, I feel that you must remain out of danger. Farther north into beast and shadow fae lands? No, Una. I won’t allow it.”
“What could possibly happen? We’ll have your Culled with us.”
“Anything could happen.” He glared down at me. “Dalya foresaw someone who means to take my throne. An enemy. And you want me to take my mizrah into enemy lands?”
“You are enemies with the other dark fae?”
“The beast fae, not so much. They simply don’t like us and we don’t like them. But we have a violent history with the shadow fae, and I’ve suspected for a while that the enemy Dalya warned me about might very well be among them.”
I bit my lip. “Then we’ll be careful.”
“No, Una.” His posture and expression told me he wasn’t going to see this my way.
Calmly, I stepped around him toward the door.
“Where are you going?” he snapped.
“To prepare for the feast. If you recall, we still have a guest from Issos to entertain.” I whirled at the door. “That is, if you’re going toallowme to speak again with my countryman.”
I knew referring to Athelyn as my countryman would stir his anger, but I didn’t care. He may want to protect me, but herefused to even acknowledge that the gods may have a plan for me as well. It was always about what he wanted. The tyrannical wraith king.
When he did nothing but clamp his jaw tighter, I left without a word to get ready for my first feast at Näkt Mir.
Chapter 29
THE TRAITOR
A roarof cheers and the beating of chests greeted Goll and Una as he escorted her into the great hall for the first time. The king had been absent from every meal since the army’s return.
My sweet little spies in the servants’ hall had told me the king and his soon-to-be mizrah had shared only one meal together since their return. But after the Rite of Servium, they hadn’t once been in the same room. As far as anyone knew.
The ambassador from Issos trailed behind the royal couple, but I cared not. My only concern was what was happening between Goll and Una now. Their shared glance was filled with tension as I’d hoped and expected.
Yesterday, she’d escaped from the palace and had been caught fleeing into the woods toward the borders of her homeland. When the Culled caught up to them, Goll had appeared out of the woods and dragged an upset mizrah onto his dragon’s back.
What I’d expected upon seeing her for the first time since that had happened was dried trails of tears, fury, and seething rage at the king for whatever punishment he’d doled out on her.
She appeared unharmed. In fact, she appeared absolutely beautiful. Radiant. As always. She was a vision, glowing like the goddess she was. But when she looked at the king, there was a tightness in her expression.
Good.
I laughed at Lykel’s jest on my right while my sole focus was on the two making their way toward the dais. I was a good pretender. I clapped and applauded the king and his new mizrah as they stepped up onto the small stage, as Goll held out her chair for her, as he leaned over and whispered in her ear. She shared an unreadable look with him but did not smile.
The ambassador took a seat next to Goll, and the rest of his precious favorites surrounded him as always.
No matter. I would be sitting upon that dais soon. In the king’s chair. I would hold court for my kingdom. And Una would smile atmywhispers and blush atmytouch.
I curled my fist under the table as I settled in to eat my meal, digging my claws into my palm, letting the pain relieve my anguish.
I’d already waited too long. I’d felt a surge of triumph when I’d discovered she was unhappy with the king and her anger for his arrogant, self-indulgent ways had only grown worse. Her unhappiness had been an encouragement, but I wanted the kingdomnow. I wanted hernow.
