Page 56 of A Courage of the Chosen

Today, I’m going to tell Hume he’s no longer the royal advisor. Today, I’m going to demand that we stop delaying telling the people of this world the truth. Today they’re going to stop denying what is mine.

It’s unclear how most of them will react to what’s about to happen, but I’m past the point of caring.

A guard moves to close the door, sealing us away as he has done for the last week and a half.

The council glance at each other before settling their attention on me, where I pull out my chair at the head of the table but don’t sit. Callahan and Brodie remain behind me, their presence grounding and subtly threatening.

I brace my hands against the surface, leaning my weight onto the wood so that it groans.

“We’re making some changes.” I hold all of their gazes, feeling the most confident I ever have in this room.

“We are?” Hector asks, not unkindly.

“Yes. Starting with the people. I want the court gathered by tomorrow evening. You’ve all skirted around this for too long, and I’m tired of waiting for you to agree.”

Something like respect, and reluctant admiration flickers across the faces of Lady Calder, and Lords Haddow and Garside.

“I’m going to tell them the truth, and we’re going to make sure it spreads throughout Elfayne, so that every Seelie knows that they’ve been deceived.”

“I must object,” Lord Fettis grumbles. “It will incite panic.”

“I don’t see how,” Brodie supplies. “Most people outside this city live in fear every day. At least if they know who their enemy is, they won’t be caught off-guard when the former king makes a move.”

“This isn’t up for discussion,” I add. “We’ve deliberated long enough. It will be done.”

“I’ll see to it,” Lord Garside says with a nod. His agreement makes me pause as I consider him. The tall man is even better than Callahan at hiding his thoughts, and this is the first time he’s expressly supported me. I’m not the only one surprised by it.

“I’m also going to tell them exactly who I am.” My words tuck into every corner of the room. A wolf amongst the sheep, daring them to test me. “You’ve all refused to acknowledge my title, the fact that I’m your queen. And that ends today.”

Hume sighs dramatically. “Any other demands you’d like to make of us?”

Callahan’s low growl makes my stomach tighten both with pleasure and anticipation as I finally take my seat.

“Actually, there is. As I understand, it’s the prerogative of whoever wears the crown to select their own advisor.”

I shouldn’t find the look on Hume’s face as amusing as I do, but fuck I love putting the sleazy shithead in his place.

“Am I wrong, Lord Haddow?”

His mustache twitches nervously. “You are correct.”

“There’s only one problem with your statement, girl.” Hume’s lip curls over his teeth. “You do not wear the crown. You are not the queen. You have no power to remove me.”

“Don’t I? Who’s going to stop me?”

The room is blissfully still for once. In a way, I’ve waited for their permission to be queen, but it was never theirs to give, and until now, I haven’t felt very queenly in this city.

Hume’s complexion turns a deep shade of red that almost looks purple. I watch him as he fights a losing battle with his temper.

“All you’ve done is condescend and belittle me, and I’ve had enough. Your overinflated sense of self no longer has a place here.”

His hand snaps out, aiming for my throat, fingers rigid like he wants to tear into me.

Callahan and Brodie step forward at the same time, but I stop them with a raised fist that has light dancing along the length of my knuckles.

Static builds around me as I let some of my savagery come to the surface. “Do it,” I challenge with a sneer. “I don’t need these two to protect me.”

Hume curls his fingers into a fist and grinds his jaw. “Who do you propose to replace me with?”