Page 98 of A Darkness So Sweet

Breathing in slowly, she walked between the banquet tables and made her way to stand in front of the man who used to be her king. She dropped into a small curtsey while Ragnar remained standing beside her. He did not show the king any kind of respect whatsoever. And that alone should have told her that this wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d thought.

“Welcome home,” King James said, his voice low and soothing. “We were so worried about you, Maia.”

Ragnar’s snarl echoed in the chamber. “You do not get to use her name, King. Not without permission.”

“What am I meant to call her, then?”

She glanced over at Ragnar to see him cross his arms over his massive chest. “You can address me.”

Something dark marred the king’s expression, but he nodded like that wasn’t an issue. “How lovely. I forgot that your people are more barbaric than ours. I wish to speak with the woman who came from my kingdom, and to ensure that she is healthy and well. How else am I supposed to ease the fears of our people?”

Maia understood that Ragnar was trying to keep her safe, but if she wasn’t allowed to speak, then her people would never believe that she wanted them to join her under the mountain.

So she took a step forward, farther from Ragnar’s side and right in front of the king. All of his attention turned to her, and the weight of it was nearly overwhelming.

Brave and strong, she reminded herself. That was what she was going to be today, because that was what a troll wife would be.

“My king. I came here with the trolls in a bid for peace. I know there have been struggles at the border of Trollveggen, but I thought perhaps it would ease people’s minds to see that I am alive and well.” She tried a smile, although she was sure it was a little shaky. “More than well, honestly.”

“More than well?” His brow raised. “I fail to see how that is possible with such... creatures at your back.”

The insult did exactly what the king thought it would. The trolls growled behind her. She knew they couldn’t help the unbidden sounds that came from the other side of their nature, but those growls sounded terrifying to the humans here.

This was going to work, she told herself. All she had to do was tell the truth.

Maia turned toward the people in the crowd, looking over them and measuring the differences between the trolls and the humans. “They do look very different from us, don’t they?”

A few tittering laughs rose from the humans in the crowd. Her words stopped the growls as well. The trolls were now looking at her with confusion, likely unsure why she was joining in on poking fun at them.

But then her smile curved into something soft. “Since going to Trollveggen, I have found nothing but beauty and kindness. There is so much we don’t know about them. It’s hilarious to think, really. Did you know the trolls were impressive jewelers? Their piercings are not just marks of beauty, but all the deeds they have done in their lives.”

She turned her head so the light could catch on the emerald gems in her own ears. A few women in the crowd leaned closer as though they were trying to see the markedly beautiful adornments.

“The trolls are more than we ever thought them to be.” She turned back to the king, that soft smile still on her face in a way she desperately hoped was believable. “And their king sent me here with an offer that you should take.”

He was flustered. Bright red splotches appeared on his cheeks, and she knew that he wasn’t going to let this go easily. “Why would I do that? What offer could the trolls have that would tempt people like us?”

“A promise of peace. If there are some brave women in this kingdom, just like me, then the trolls will take them.” She turned again to the crowd. “The trolls are not what we have been told. They are kind and true-hearted. They worship their women and the ground we walk on, and they amplify the natural magic that we carry with us. The troll king has offered to take in any woman who is interested in coming to the troll mountain. I am here to speak with any of you who might show interest.”

Silence. That was all that answered her.

Maia cleared her throat. “Of course, maybe there are no brave women in this room. Which is fine.”

A feminine voice rose from the crowd. “Why should we marry animals?”

Maia had never been able to answer a question more honestly than right now. “Because they aren’t animals. They are descendants of elves, and we’re lucky that they would ever consider marrying us at all. You cannot tell me you’d rather be chained to the bed of an overweight man fifteen years your senior who only sees you as breeding stock. The trolls are young, virile, and I can promise you that you will never lie there and stare at the ceiling, waiting for it to be over.”

That did it. The outrage roared in the crowd as countless human men who were exactly what she had described started shouting at her. The trolls stepped in, enraged any man would ever speak to a woman like that, but there were a few women who were inching closer to her. They were interested—she could see it. If she could just get a few minutes with them, then she could make this work.

“Enough!” the king shouted behind her.

Everyone froze and looked at the man who had lost his temper on the throne.

But maybe he hadn’t. Because he drew himself together and pinched the bridge of his nose. It took a while, but eventually, the king started to laugh.

“I thought we could have a banquet with you animals,” he said. “I thought we could all be civilized and be together for at least a few hours without tearing at each other’s throats. I see now that I was wrong.”

“Your highness?—”

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