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Asusual,CiaranandKes were the last to enter the council chambers. The rest of the council members had been waiting on them an excessively long time, and Ciaran could feel the animosity pouring from around the table. Ciaran had been running behind all night due to the way he and Etain spent their early hours before, and even well into first night.
He could not find it in him to care one bit, not that he tried, if the deplorable beings who made up his council had to wait a million first nights for him to show. If that meant he got to spend his time coaxing the small sounds and gasps from Etain, he would happily oblige. Everyone of those sounds made the more animalistic side of him want to beat his chest in male satisfaction. Ciaran smiled to himself. If they were angry now, they were about to be in full outrage. He couldn’t wait to ruin any scheming he knew a few of them had been planning, and he really hoped he got to shed some blood at this meeting. He wouldn’t mind creating a whole new council. Most of these creatures had been appointed during his father’s time, and they were as weak minded as his father had been. He would take swift and exacting action towards anyone who spoke in a threatening manner towards his mate.
“Ah, I see we are all here,” Ciaran said to the gathered fae.
Kes chuckled softly under his breath when a few faces flushed so deeply with anger they looked like they might explode.
“I have much to discuss with you all…”
Before Ciaran could finish his statement, he was interrupted by the ugly green idiot, Royad. “Prince Ciaran, I believe you owe me and my daughter an apology. At the very least an explanation as to why a human pet was placed above my daughter at the Lunar Ball. And why you felt it appropriate to take her hand for correcting the human thatyoushould have had a better control over. If you can’t control a simple human, how will you ever control this court?”
It wasn’t often Ciaran was stunned silent, but he could not believe the audacity of Royad. If Ciaran wished, he could have killed his daughter, or Royad, at any time he pleased; he didn’t need a reason. He saw Kes straighten in his seat and glower at the slimy goblin. Ciaran took a moment to inspect the faces of the remainder of his council, noticing who appeared to side with the goblin. He was not surprised to see Balric wearing a smug expression, since he was likely in on this blatant display of treason.
“Yes,prince,”Balric said with venom. “I hear you and Kes both lost your pets. Taken right out from under you. The ‘all powerful’ prince and his cousin couldn’t even keep two females in line. Perhaps we have been duped into believing you were strong enough to ascend the throne. And after the less than ideal Lunar Ball, I for one am beginning to question your capabilities.”
Ciaran had been thinking about the night of the ball nonstop. He had come to the conclusion the Day King had to have had inside help.
Balric was ambitious and conniving. He also had an entire network of informants. Ciaran knew Balric had heavy influence over the political-social elite of the court and also had knowledge of the comings and goings of the beings who worked within the palace walls. Perhaps it was Ciaran’s fault for allowing Balric to get this out of hand. There was no question in Ciaran’s mind, Balric had something to do with Etain and Anin being taken from the palace without a single alarm being raised.
As Ciaran thought about it a little longer, he realized no human would have been able to go unnoticed by the entire palace unless there had been a path cleared for the man in the halls. There was only one being he knew who had the power to get that done, besides Kes and himself. Ciaran still had yet to comment. He rose slowly from his chair and walked around the table until he stood directly behind Balric. He placed his hands on Balric’s shoulders to ensure the fae could not turn to look at him.
“Do you know what I have been thinking about, Balric?”
He shook his head; his earlier bravado quickly dissipated.
“I was thinking about how it could have been possible for a human to carry another human out of the palace. How he could have passed through all the halls he needed to travers, and not once noticed by a single soul.” Ciaran felt the male stiffen under his palms. “It would have taken someone rather knowledgeable of the internal mechanisms of the palace. I’ll be honest with you – I’m not even sure I amthatknowledgeable about it currently. Do you know who is, however?” Ciaran let his claws slowly protrude from his fingers, then he clenched Balric tightly, watching his tunic darken with blood at his shoulders. “I promised to remove the hands of anyone who dared touch Etain, as Royad and his daughter are well aware. What do you think I will take for colluding with the Day King to take what was not his?” Ciaran yelled.
There was a gasp from someone at the mention of one of their own working with the Day King. Ciaran held his grip firmly on Balric as he tried to escape Ciaran’s clutches. He was not stupid enough to believe he was getting out of this unscathed. Ciaran looked at Royad and noticed the sweat dripping down his temples.
“I tell you what, Balric – you tell me who else in this court was committing treason with the Day King, and I will be merciful to you.” He watched as Royad shifted in his seat.
“My prince, is this really necessary? You seem to have your culprit,” Royad said as Balric’s head turned toward the green goblin.
Ciaran made eye contact with Kes silently indicating to go secure Royad. Kes got up and stalked over to Royad, then stood behind him. Kes placed his hands on Royad’s shoulders and dug his claws in, securing the goblin to his chair.
“Oh really, Royad? You expect me to take the fall alone? Foryou?” Balric spat at Royad.
This is exactly what Ciaran had been hoping for. There was decidedly little loyalty in the Night Court. Ciaran thought he should have a council that was at least loyal to him. He wasn’t sure how he hadn’t seen it before – the rot festering in this court. He enjoyed being wicked as much as the rest of his court, but there was a difference between wicked and treasonous scheming with the Day Court.
“Ah, Balric, do you mean for me to think Royad was the mastermind behind all of this? Royad, really?” Ciaran laughed; Royad turned a dark shade of green. “I think we can all agree there is not much going on behind that ugly face of his. Honestly, does anyone even know how he got on this council?”
“Your father…,” Royad began, but Ciaran cut him off.
“My father was a weak male. He may have been the king, but it was in name only. None of you can be dense enough to believe he inherited the true power of the court.”
It was the closest he had been able to speak of the curse. Ciaran looked around at the three other members of the council. None of them were bothered by what was happening. Syndari actually looked as if this was the best council meeting of their life.
“Balric? Do answer the question, or I shall have too much fun making you answer in my fun room,” Ciaran said with as much hostility as he felt for the fae.
“N-no. He was not the mastermind and neither was I. Royad and I didn’t know we were each a part of it until our paths crossed. The Day King tasked me with clearing the halls in a particular path. He told me he would help me take the throne once you and Kes had been eradicated.”
Kes laughed darkly, likely thinking of the attempt made on his life that night.
“Ah, so you fully admit to treason not only against me, but also treason against the Night Court itself? To let the Day King wander the halls of this palace, where we keep many of our most valuable secrets, was negligible at best, and treasonous at worst.” Ciaran pulled the male up from his chair and walked him towards the head of the table. “Are there any other names you would like to give in exchange for more mercy?” Ciaran took great satisfaction at the way Balric shook under his hands.
“I do not know, my prince. I would guess there were several more, but none that I can confirm.”
Before Balric could continue, Ciaran placed his hands on either side of his head and whispered in his ear, “This is a mercy. I would have loved nothing more than to keep you in my playroom for nights upon nights for daring to putherin harm’s way.” Ciaran jerked Balric’s head to the side and pulled with an unnecessary amount of force. Ciaran held his dismembered head in his hands. Not spending a moment longer on Balric, he chucked the head behind his back and approached Kes and Royad.
