Page 168 of A War of Three Kings

I know Titania.

She will kill every person in this room without hesitation if provoked.

Edmund charges up the dais steps and stands over her. “Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you come here and treat my family like this? Abuse my people? Where are the rest of my guards?”

“Father.” Keira’s voice trembles behind me. “Look up.”

Dozens of guards wrapped in cocoons of vines hang from the ceiling and walls. Their forms writhe and make smothered cries. At least they are still alive. All around them are threads of magic,weaving together wards and traps that will surely fall on us at Titania’s demand.

We have walked straight into her ambush.

Edmund’s face pales at the sight. My mind whirls, looking for a way out, a way to decipher her plans, but she has always been too wily for me.

Titania tsks. “Caitlin, dear child. You didn’t do a good enough job announcing me when they arrived. I am the true ruler of the Spring Court, not that useless fae next to you.” She flicks her eyes to me, then holds out a jeweled hand to Edmund, as though she expects him to kiss it. The Lord Protector looks at it, then flicks it away.

“Unhand my wife, my daughter and my granddaughter,” he grinds out between clenched teeth. “Leave us.”

“Where would the fun be in that?” Titania looks him up and down, crossing one long leg over the other, still holding the babe like an accessory.

I clench and unclench my fists. We are moments away from this escalating into bloodshed. An overwhelming desire for violence fills me, and I no longer care that the fae soldiers in this hall are citizens of my court, following their ruler’s orders. I don’t care for a fair election.

I want Titania dead.

A single glance over my shoulder shows me Keira is safe in Cyprien’s clutches. Her entire body has frozen while her mind reels with shock.No. No. No. Don’t hurt Morgana. Don’t hurt her. Don’t hurt her!she screams inside her head and mine, again and again. I have to dampen the bond just to think clearly.

I need to act.

I step up onto the dais beside Edmund and scowl as I lean down and get in Titania’s face. “You are making a mistake here. The humans do not take kindly to threats. It has takenme almost a year to convince their ruling class that we are not monsters who will force our will on them.”

Titania stands with agitation and pokes me in the chest with one of her claws. “Am I not making friends here?” She flicks out her long nails on her free hand, indicating the party. “I’m even cuddling this little halfling.” She croons the word that is so often used as an insult in our realm. There is an evil glint in her eye as her lips curl; she knows the humans do not understand the ancient slur. “I just want to make allies. To become trade partners with these humans. Isn’t that what you promised them from our court?”

She knows they would back me if a war broke out between us. Titania wouldn’t place any value on an alliance with humans, but she can’t stand losing at anything.

This is all a popularity contest to her.

I feel like I am standing on the edge of a blade. One wrong step and these fae will kill Keira, her family and everyone else in this room.

I grind my teeth. “Give me the baby, and then we can talk.”

“Give the baby to a brute like you! Ha! I wouldn’t dare.” She tickles Morgana’s cheek.

Caitlin jumps to her feet and reaches for her daughter. “I’ll take her so you can speak with my father.”

“BACK DOWN, pet!” Titania explodes in her face, jostling the babe in her hands. Caitlin jolts and obeys. Titania clicks her fingers at the human servants again. “Bring in another throne for your Lord Protector.”

Her unnerving eyes slide to Edmund, another smile plastered on her lips.

“Do you see how gracious I can be? Sit on this dais with me, as though we are equals, and take it as an act of good faith. Let us discuss this trade agreement that Aldrin merely started. I canmake you a very wealthy man, Edmund. Of course, I would need to meet with your king as well.”

The servants scurry away, but Edmund doesn’t move. He glowers at the High Chancellor. “Neither I nor my king will ever enter a trade agreement with you. Especially not after you have threatened my family. You have disrespected me by taking my castle and attacking my guards.”

“Careful, Edmund, I might take offence.” Titania retakes her seat, all her false charm gone. “You see, these were necessary measures. I knew poor little Aldrin, who lost his throne to me by the popular vote of the people, would sully my good reputation in this realm.”

“Hand back the child and we will speak.” Edmund reaches for Morgana.

Titania pulls the baby back, smirking. “I don’t think I will.”

My temper flares. “By the Soul Ripper, Titania. Enough with the games! We already know you have enough traps rigged through this hall for you to kill us instantaneously, without you having to traumatize the baby as well.”

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