Page 93 of The Rebel Seer

She’s good at this. Thank the goddess.

“I was in this room all night, Your Majesty. I did not leave,” I say, telling him no lies.

The king sighs. “It appears there was a theft last night, and the wizard believes it was you.”

“I know it was her.” Myrddin looks a bit ruffled this morning. Like something’s thrown him off his game. Whatever it is, I’m here for it. “She is a known thief in her timeline. She stole the Goddess Chain, and she’s going to use it to some nefarious purpose.”

Now I’m a little confused, and it’s time for some honesty since the sucker is still around my neck. I pull it from my bodice. “I have worn this for years. You accuse me of stealing something that belongs to me.”

The king stills, his eyes on the chain. “It is similar but not exact. The one that belongs to me is slightly larger, and the crescent moon is done in silver, not gold.”

“Of course not. You took the other one,” Myrddin accuses. “I believe you stole it from its place in the library and you found a way to smuggle it to your son. He is using it to transform the temple.”

Myrddin doesn’t know everything. He is of the inner planes, a child of a human and a demon. He has been the mentor to the King of the Sword since there was first a king. He doesn’t understand Fae magic. He probably thinks it’s too soft to harm him. I pull the chain over my head. “I did not leave this room, and this is my Goddess Chain. I was given it by Declan Quinn in the name of his mother, Miria, the Queen of the Seelie Fae. I have worn it since our wedding night. Your Majesty, do you want me to give it to you? I am certain the wizard will tell you I am wearing the proof of my crime. I’m sure I changed it just enough to fool you. I can’t defend myself in any other way.”

“My mother gave it to you?” He takes it and holds it up to the light, inspecting it.

“It was actually your brother. He was her emissary that night. He did not want to give it to me, but Dev forced his hand,” I reply honestly, not bothering to clarify that it was another Declan Quinn entirely. I’m starting to worry there is something wrong with the king’s brain and he can’t think completely straight. “He thought we should not marry. He thought I should be kept as a mistress and Devinshea should screw as many pretty Fae girls as he could.”

A bitter expression crosses his face as he brings the chain back down. “Yes, that was his argument. My mother’s as well. Zandra was low born, and it wouldn’t do even when it was obvious she was my goddess and my magic was so much stronger when she was with me. I spoke with your Devinshea last night before the temple went insane. It unsettled me.” He holds the chain and looks to Grenelda. “What did she say to you this morning? Anything about me? Did she ask you to help her get away?”

Grenelda’s mouth opens, and her head shakes as though she’s not sure which question to answer first.

Myrddin sighs. “I told you. You have to be specific. Girl, did this one say anything concerning?”

Grenelda nods as though the confusion is gone now. “No, sir.”

“Did she say anything about me?” the king pushes.

“Yes,” Grenelda says.

“Well, what was it?” the king asks with utter impatience.

“She could…she could fall in love…with you.” The words come out haltingly, stumbling over each one.

A perfect performance. I lower my lashes as though the revelation is too emotional for me.

He comes to stand before me. “You could?”

Myrddin actually groans.

I let my eyes meet the king’s. All I can think about in this moment is somewhere beneath me my real husband is held in chains. “It’s what I said, but I understand if you cannot say the same of me because you think I’m a thief.”

“Think? You are a thief. You pretty much introduce yourself as a damn thief,” Myrddin complains. “You are proud of it.”

I shake my head. “I was once, but I have children now. You can’t think I go around stealing things. I left that life behind long ago. I never thought I would have to be anything again but a wife and a mother. Now I have to face a life where we are perpetually at war, with my children in constant danger because my husbands won’t do what they need to do to protect them.”

“Which is why you want a man who would burn the world for you,” the king says, and he holds out the Goddess Chain.

I bend my neck and allow him to return it to me. It settles between my breasts. “I simply want to be safe. I want to know my children are safe.”

“Well, he can’t keep your children safe,” Myrddin replies. “No one can.”

“You doubt me?” The king turns on the wizard, moving to my side. He holds his hand out, a silent request.

One I dare not refuse. I let my hand lay on his, the gesture regal in nature, a king about to lead his queen.

I am not his queen, and I will lead this game.

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