Page 21 of The Crowned Queen

These were the people they needed help from? They could barely take care of themselves.

Maerin pushed open the door at the end of the hall, magic flashing across its surface so fast Loren wasn’t even certain he saw it. He ducked his head, stepping through after her—and stopped dead.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice strangled.

None of these fae were soldiers. They were children and mothers and emaciated, magic-starved males—barely strong enough to lift a weapon. But they sparred in pairs, working through clumsy forms and exercises with the focused dedication of the most eager recruits. Others labored over smoky forges, transforming scraps of metal and broken tools into weapons that would get any fae caught carrying one executed or worse.

“This?” Maerin glanced around, her lips curving into a cold smile. “This is what we’ve been doing while your people hid and ran away.”

“Maerin—” Finn’s voice turned warning. “We’re on the same side here.”

“Are we?” Maerin cocked her head, studying them both. “Sometimes I’m not so sure.”

She set off across the room before either of them could answer, weaving her way through sparring pairs. Fae scrambled to get out of her way with respectful nods, curious gazes lingering on Loren and Finn. Across the room, Loren spotted Kai with a group of fae, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows as he laughed at something the female next to him had said.

“What is he doing here?” Loren muttered, intending the question for Finn alone, but Maerin glanced back over her shoulder, following his gaze.

“Kai comes most nights,” she said. “He helps without asking for anything in return. Which is more than I can say for others.”

She shoved open another door, leading them into a cluttered office dominated by a massive, rough-hewn desk. She slid into the seat behind it, folding her hands on the scarred surface.

“Now,” she said. “What exactly do you want from me?”

Loren sank into the chair across from her, the shadows slipping from beneath his cloak. Finn stepped forward, taking the lead like they’d discussed.

“We’re working on a plan to evacuate a high-value target from the Shaw estate,” he said. “We were hoping you would lend several of your fighters to the effort⁠—”

Maerin cut him off with a wave of her hand. “I don’t lend my fighters to people who lie to me.”

Finn’s brow furrowed. “I’m not lying to you.”

“You’re conveniently leaving out the fact that this high-value target is Araya Starwind.” Her gaze flicked to Loren. “Bond to Jaxon Shaw.”

The shadows hissed, the temperature in the room plummeting.

“Don’t call her that,” Loren said through gritted teeth. “She doesn’t belong to him.”

“My apologies.” Maerin leaned back in her chair, studying the seething darkness with an unreadable expression. “She’s your mate, isn’t she? I’m not well-versed in fae law, but doesn’t that make her your queen?”

“Yes.” Loren squeezed his hands into fists, nails biting into his palms. “That’s why it’s so important that we get her back⁠—”

Maerin lifted a hand, cutting him off. “I’m not unsympathetic,” she said quietly. “But the kind of attention that would bring down on us?” She shook her head slowly. “Why should I risk it?”

Finn shot Loren a warning look. “Maerin,” he started, his voice careful. “Surely there’s something we can offer⁠—”

“I could make you do it,” Loren said, the words bitter on his tongue even as they spilled from his lips. The shadows bristled at his back, speaking over each other in a chorus of seething condemnation. Who was he to demand they risk their lives for him? But the Shaws had his mate. He had to do everything he could to get her back. “I’m your king⁠—”

Maerin laughed in his face.

“You are not my king,” she said. “Oh, I’m sure you could kill me. But that doesn’t grant you the authority to command my people.”

“My people,” Loren growled. “Dara’el chose me.” Even if they’d made a mistake, there was no undoing it now.

“And?” Maerin challenged. “I was sixteen when the Arcanum overthrew your family. Old enough to fall asleep at night praying to the Absent Goddess that your father would come with his shadows and save us all. After he died, I prayed you would come.” She shook her head. “But you never did.”

“He was a prisoner.” Finn shot Loren a desperate look, trying to regain control of the situation. “The Arcanum kept him underground and in iron for twenty-five years⁠—”

“I don’t care,” Maerin said plainly. “None of that changes what happened to me. Did you know that Maya is my third child? The first the Arcanum didn’t steal from my arms. She’s too fae for a human family to want her.”