Page 20 of Court of Lies and Deceit

“Yes.” I quickly explain what Nysara told me about our past. When I’m done, Draven, Galen, and Lyra are all staring at me with wide eyes.

“You didn’t know,” I say. It’s more of a statement than a question.

They all answer anyway. “No.”

“We were taught that you forced us all with dragon steel,” Galen says. “Well, not our clan specifically since we weren’t a part of your politics on the mainland. But all the other clans on the continent.”

Alistair lets out a low whistle under his breath. “Shit. They lied to you too.”

“How?” I demand. “How is that even possible?”

Draven flexes his hand, his features darkening. “You’d be surprised how easy it is to rewrite history. If enough people repeat the same thing, spreading it far and wide and for long enough, it eventually becomes fact. Regardless of how blatant the lie was when it began.”

Tense silence settles over the cozy living room. The couch creaks slightly as Alistair shifts his weight.

Lyra heaves a sigh and rubs her forehead. “Well, this is depressing.”

“Why don’t we just leave?” Alistair suddenly says.

Sitting up straight again, I turn to look at him in surprise. To my utter shock, he blushes a little when everyone stares at him, but he forges on anyway. Sweeping out a hand, he gestures to our three dragon shifters.

“You said it yourself,” he begins. “You don’t want to get involved with the mess on the mainland. And we’ve all escaped the Ice Palace now.” He motions at me. “Selena is fine. We’re allsafe. Why don’t we all just disappear and leave the world to its fate?”

His words stun me so much that I can’t even form a reply. I could never just… leave. I would spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, fearful that the Icehearts might have at last caught up to me. And more importantly, I can’t just leave the rest of our people trapped in the Seelie Court.

I know that it’s stupid and ridiculous and selfish, but I want to prove them all wrong. After how they have treated me all my life, I want to see the look in their eyes when they realize thatIam the one who saved them. When they realize that they were wrong about me. That they should have trusted me. Should have let me in. Should have let me be a part of their community instead of shunning me for something that I had no control over.

Deep down, I know that a real hero would want to free their people solely for unselfish reasons. So the fact that I want to do it partly because I want the recognition I deserve but never received from my own people, and partly because I simply want revenge on the Icehearts, rather than for any heroic reasons of the greater good makes me sick to my stomach. I’m supposed to be a good person, aren’t I? So why, when I open the lid and peek down into the dark pits of my soul, do I only find burning rage and festering hatred in there?

Draven clears his throat, shattering the tense silence that had fallen. “Let’s just get through this assassination first.”

Paper rustles as Draven pulls out the map that the Unseelie King gave us and spreads it out across the low table before us. Schemes glint in his eyes as he smooths down the map and then looks from face to face.

“Here’s how we’re going to do it.”

CHAPTER NINE

The night lies dark and still around the imposing manor before us. Hidden in the shadows outside the garden wall, the six of us move until we are positioned at the back of the property. Draven rises up on his toes and casts a quick glance over the top of the tall stone fence before yanking his head back down.

“Two more here,” he whispers as he meets our gazes. “That makes six total in the gardens. Just like Orion said.” His eyes lock on mine. “Selena, how many inside?”

Calling up my magic, I throw it across the house. First, I aim it at the gray sparks of boredom. Then tiredness. Then impatience and suspicion and several other emotions that the guards inside might be feeling. Each time my magic connects with a different person, I add it to my mental count.

“Eight, most likely,” I reply as I let my magic fade out again.

Draven nods.

“That also matches what Orion said,” Galen comments. A pensive expression blows across his features. “Maybe he’s not trying to screw us over after all.”

“Who even needsfourteenguards?” Alistair huffs and casts a scowl in the direction of the house. “Who does this guy think he is?”

“Someone who knows that he has pissed off the Unseelie King,” Lyra replies with a shrug.

Next to her, Isera scoffs and rolls her eyes. I raise my eyebrows in silent question, but she doesn’t elaborate. However, I think I can guess. Her animosity towards the Unseelie King was plain for everyone to see during that disastrous dinner yesterday evening.

“Just stick to the plan,” Draven says, his voice pulsing with authority. “The faster we get this done, the faster we can get the hell out of this court.”

Alistair narrows his eyes at him. “Anyone ever tell you that you give a lot of orders? Who even made you team leader anyway?”

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