Page 43 of Kiss the Filthiest King

She does so, and from the way her eyes widen, seems shocked to find herself on her feet.

"Given your feeble attempt at a threat, you're no longer welcome here after today. You may send a representative in your stead for the time being, but understand that should your court of wings fail in its duties to the high crown, I will disband it."

Her mouth opens.

"Silence. You may leave."

This is two leaders I've taken on. From one, I took his crown, the other, her seat. I have two new enemies, which brings the total count to three—four, if one counts Rena, though I don't believe she's a serious one yet.

Three and a half, then. It's not too bad, out of thirteen.

"Understand," I say into the silence, "that I am endeavoring to remain as impartial as I should. I know the power I've inherited. I am aware of what it could do to all of you."

I let the words hang for a moment as I look at each of them.

"But you did chase me for three days. Most of you would bury a dagger in my back given half a chance. These are facts I have not forgotten. When you break our very simple laws, I will bestow punishments fit for the crime. Threatening the high queen is treason, punishable by death. The only reason the duchess walks is because I stopped her from finishing her sentence. And I didthatbecause I am fair. I realize this is difficult for all of us." I smile. "I'm also not stupid. Don't try me."

There's silence. Smiles. Glares.

"The first to have disrespected me lost his crown. The court of bone has passed fromValmort to his son, Valdred. And speaking of. I note Lord Junis didn't see fit to come," I add conversationally.

"He hasn't been seen today, my queen," Loch announces.

"You can't expect him to show himself for his beheading," Rena remarks. "Or are you saying you intend to befairto him? He broke no law in taking you after a bargain you didn't understand."

Four. I definitely have four enemies.

I speak slowly. "I’m not here to cry that he was mean to me. Junis stands accused of taking mortals without bargains nor right and torturing them for sport. I can't very well start my rule by allowing this from alord. The fact they were my parents is immaterial."

No one can argue.

"Should he not present himself to be judged for the offense, according to our laws I shall pass a sentence in his absence. If you're friends, you may let him know."

Rena snarls. "Friends? Certainly not. But you cannot say you think that your judgement is fair, my lady. Taking two mortals isn't a crime punishable by death."

"I never said I'd kill him," I reply."Does it give me a sense of satisfaction that he’s proved himself quite the coward? Certainly. But this is not personal. I sought advice to understand my role here, as I said. The lords govern their courts and I govern the lords. When they misstep, I intervene. And hemissteppedby making a game of torturing mortals from another world. Several laws are against that.It is my duty—and in this case, my pleasure, certainly—to see that the lords follow the charters upon which this great civilization was built."

Ryther and Loch gave me two courses of action; one in case he showed, the other, in the more likely event he didn't. I'm pleased to say we're going with option two. I'm certainly not fond of the idea of deafening myself with a spell until they've taken his tongue out.

"In the place of the coward," I say, rather than naming him, "someone should stand here for the winter court. It is unseemly to invite the thirteen courts and have one missing."

That someone came to mind rather easily.

"As we can all agree her banishment wasn't recorded or approved by the high court, I call Cissvana, the legitimate heir of the house. Should neither show themselves on our next meeting, another lord will be appointed to oversee winter. Perhaps the house of night should absorb it the way day took summer."

"Can she do that?" I hearRebalga whisper to Rena.

Rena doesn't bother to lower her voice. "Junis failed to come. She has them by the throat. Now when Cissa comes, though they despise her, it’ll be as the savior of winter. And she’ll have stripped Junis of his title on a technicality. He didn’t have much else," the bright queen adds with a sneer. "You do know how to play, my queen. Or how to listen."

She means it as an insult, and a reminder that for all my talk of fairness and impartiality, I am still firmly bound to the unseelie courts.

I smile. "Let's go with both. I'm glad we got to know each other. Now, let us rest or make merry. As we're all already gathered here, I invite you to remain until the morrow, when I will take my mother's crown."

And though some seem to see they've been played, the lords and ladies nod.

I survived my first night facing the thirteen courts, and when I declared that tomorrow, Iwill officially be their queen, none thought to deny or delay it, though tradition dictates it should take weeks, months before an heir is crowned.

I call that winning.

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