Page 57 of A Courage of the Chosen

Footsteps announce the arrival of who I’ve chosen, deceptively light for someone who is lethal when they want to be. An unmistakable flash of red hair enters the door frame, a wide smile on her face as she walks toward me.

“Lady Macleod will be my advisor.” She’s met with a ripple of murmuring around the table. “Is there a problem?” I question with an arch of my brow.

“No,” Lady Calder offers. “It’s just . . . Reyne is a little . . .” she hesitates, shooting a glance in Hector’s direction, who has turned toward her fully. “Young.”

“Your concerns are valid, Lady Calder,” Reyne says, bracing her hands behind her back. “But I’ve been amongst the lords and ladies of this court for most of my life. I’ve spent time in the armies with my father, and I’ve spent many hours learning the laws of this world as well as any of you. I have been by our queen’s side since she arrived in our kingdom. I know her as well as I know these lands, and don’t intend on abandoning her now when she needs my support.”

I can almost hear Rach’s ‘slay’ bouncing around the room as if she were here, and it affirms why I chose her. Above all else, Reyne always has my back.

She turns her focus on Hume. “You’re in my seat.”

I haven’t missed my phone since arriving in Elfayne, there’s something freeing about not being attached to it all the time. Right now, though, I really wish I could slip it from my pocket and take a photo of Hume’s face, the shock and outrage immensely satisfying after enduring weeks of his vitriol. I’ll have to settle for my memories of this moment, and the relief of finally taking back some power.

“Your services are no longer required, Lord Renfrow.” My tone drips in sweetness, and boy does it taste delicious.

“I . . . I still have a seat on this council,” he objects.

“No. You don’t.” Turning my attention to the men stood at my back, I grin up at them. “Can you please escort Lord Renfrow from these chambers, and inform the guards that he is no longer welcome at my council.”

Brodie dips low in a dramatic bow that I make a note to bring up with him later. “It would be my absolute pleasure, Your Majesty.”

“You can’t be serious?” Hume’s question is bordering on hysterical.

“Not that I owe you an explanation.” I look to all of the Seelie at this table, watching the events unfold in various states of disbelief. “I owe no one here an explanation. Whether you like it or not, I’m your queen. I will rule this council as I see fit. And that no longer includes Lord Renfrow.” The thing that stirred in my veins when I stepped onto the battlefield alone, with only the knowledge that I’m exactly where I was supposed to be, springs to life once again. It reminds me of why I chose this path, and why I accepted my title.

This is what I was born to do.

And I’ll be fucking damned if I let these people make me feel less than what I am because they refuse to see the truth of it.

“Up you get.” Brodie’s glee is a physical presence, and Callahan isn’t far behind him.

“Take your filthy, traitorous hands off me!” Hume spits as Brodie clasps his upper arms. “This won’t be the last of it!”

Callahan strides to the far end of the room, to where four guards are waiting at the door as I instructed on my way in.

“This man is to be escorted to his home. He is not permitted to stay within the palace walls unless explicitly given permission to do so by myself, or Lady Aitken.” Callahan issues the demand with cold authority.

The guards peer at each other, confused at the order given by someone they either don’t recognize, or someone they’ve been told to fear.

They look at Hector where he’s sat to my left, a toothy grin splitting his face. “You’ve been given an order,” he says with an easy shrug.

The guards nod, and Brodie half-drags Hume to the door. “You can’t do this to me! I am the advisor to the king!”

“The false king is no longer here, and you’re advisor to no one,” Brodie chuckles, enjoying this more than he should. He shoves Hume, who stumbles before one of the waiting Seelie catch him.

He should’ve let him fall on his ass. I would have.

Callahan seals us back inside, and we listen to Hume being wrestled out of the throne room. The quiet that follows is heavy, everyone waiting for the spell to break.

Reyne takes the chair on my right. Callahan takes the seat next to Hector, and Brodie occupies the same space he did last time, at the far end of the table. It truly seems as though there’s been a minute shift, and the rest of the council have realized I’m not above getting rid of them if I want to.

Hector, Dhia bless him, is the first one to crack the strain that’s building. “Good. Now that’s settled. Let’s discuss what you want to tell the court.”

Chapter 17

Elsie

After everyone has composed themselves following Hume’s dramatic exit, the next hour goes surprisingly smoothly. Most of the council agree to addressing the court, not that they have a choice now, and for once, they offer some useful advice on how I should convey the message.