Page 29 of A War of Three Kings

“I am no captive, and I do not needanyonemarching on my father’s lands.” She leaps out of her seat, backing away from Niall until she butts up against her father’s desk, instinctually seeking his protection.Iwant to be the one she goes to for protection.

“I have told him that a thousand times.” Niall’s tone is hard. “Reminded him he heard it from your lips that you were dedicating your life to the temple. The priestesses have confirmed it again and again. I begged him to call an audience with you and the High Priestess. He is mad in his grief, bothfor our father and for you. Finan has decided that you are his property and he will have you. That you don’t know what you want and need to be guided. I fear nothing I do can stop him.”

I become blind with rage at hearing another man claim Keira as his property, especially one who is so unworthy.

I am forced to control my breathing so as not to become a snarling mess of aggression. My fingernails puncture indentations in the leather armrests of the couch.

“Why are you here, Prince Niall?” Edmund stands and leans over his desk, ropy tendons sticking out in his forearms and neck. “Why betray your brother to us?”

The prince’s piercing blue gaze pins the Lord Proector. He doesn’t even blink. “Can’t you see? I’m trying tosavehim. To save you and our kingdom. Finan is mustering an army to march on the North of Strathia, and when he arrives here, it will be too late. You need to unite the North and meet him at the pass. If you hold Fort Blackrock, he will realize he can’t bully you into submission with a scare tactic. That he would need to commit to war.

“Finan has no resolve. No taste for anything that is hard-earned. He will give up and turn around. His generals will not support him if they realize this could turn into a long, bloody civil war. No one wants the sacrilege of fighting against the Mothers of Magic. It’s not like you are actually housing fae here.”

I narrow my eyes at the princeling as the others in the room turn deadly still. He must be a fool to look upon me and not know what I am. I have changed my ears, that is true, but the sharp angles of my face and my rare height among humans should be enough to tell him I am other.

“And what if there were fae here?” I arch a menacing eyebrow at him. “What if they were not holding anyone prisoner, did not have any ill intent, but were interested in trade alone? Then what would your brother and his generals do?”

The prince’s birdlike eyes home in on me, and I wonder how much they truly see. “They would have the fae executed for trespassing, as is the law. Many do not question the old ways.”

“And yourself?” I push. “If your brother were to be unlucky and you became king?”

“If these fae came here seeking peace and trade? I would at least hear them out and allow diplomats to pass. Especially if they had Edmund’s support.” Niall holds my gaze for a stretched moment, and I don’t back down.

Edmund slices through the tension. “How long until his forces will be upon us?”

Prince Niall starts that incessant tapping on his armchair again. “As long as it takes to ready the troops stationed at Sunbright City and march here. He will stop to enlist troops from each lord he passes along the way. Maybe a month until he arrives, but more will join forces with him during a long siege. This needs to be dealt with quickly.”

Edmund scratches his short beard. “We appreciate your honesty, and the fact you have put yourself at risk.”

“As always, my purpose is to minimize the damage done by my family.” Niall stands and steps toward the door.

“Wait, Prince Niall. Before you go, there is one more thing.” Edmund rounds the desk and places a hand on his shoulder. “I feel it is only right that we are as honest with you. There are high fae being held prisoner here, but they are being dealt with. None have harmed Keira or any of our people, nor will they get the opportunity to.”

“As always, I trust you with that role, Lord Protector.” The prince turns on his heel and opens the door, immediately flanked by priestesses. He pulls a hood over his head and disappears.

“Just a moment, my prince.” Naomi scurries after him. “I will personally escort you back to the portal.”

The old spider will whisper in his ear for the entire walk. At least this time, her venom will work in our favor.

As soon as the doors slam shut, Edmund collapses back into his chair, his face red and covered in a sheen of sweat as he lets out a string of curses under his breath.

Keira holds her face in her hands. “I am so selfish. Of course he was going to react like this! I never should have left him. I never should have thought I deserved more. There will be a civil war over my stupidity. People will die.” Her words come out faster and faster as she hyperventilates.

The sight breaks my heart. She came so far in finding her self-respect, and that bastard dragged her right back again.

I am out of my seat and standing before her, both my hands on her shoulders, absolutely hating the way they shake beneath my touch. “Keira, you know that’s not true.”

She shrugs me off, then slaps my arms away. “Don’t you dare speak!” she roars up at me. “You have done your part in this too!”

“What should I have done?” I say through gritted teeth. “Ignored you when you called for me?”

“YES! No. I don’t know, Aldrin!” She scrubs her tears away angrily. I stagger backward from the intensity of those words. “I didn’t know you could hear me through the moonstone!”

“Okay. Okay. This is not helpful. Take a seat, Aldrin.” Maeve steps between us, palms raised. The motherly reprimand in her voice is so strong, I do as she says. “The blame for this lies entirely on Finan. He is unhinged and unfit to rule. You are not responsible for his bad behavior.”

I grunt in agreement and receive dark looks from the other three in the room.

Soft words escape Keira. “Where do we go from here?”

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