Page 71 of Promise of Darkness
“Please,” says the prince smoothly, gesturing to the remaining thrones. “Take a seat.”
My mother seats herself directly opposite him.
“This is Alliance business,” she says, ignoring me. “What is she doing here?”
“She’s my witness,” Thiago replies smoothly.
“Witness?” My mother smirks. “Do we dare trust her account, after she’s been with you for over a month? We all know how seductive you can be, how… convincing.”
My eyebrows rise. How little she thinks of me, if she considers me to have fallen for his pretty face and charming smile.
I can sense him stiffening at my side.
“It’s not as though I’m the one who likes to toy with people’s minds,” he says, “and use them as pawns.”
“You should speak carefully of pawns,” she replies. “You were the one who bargained with her life. You were the one who began this.”
“And I will end it.”
My mother’s eyes blaze. “You little upstart. I look forward to finishing this. When my daughter stands by my side and watches you squirm on my hook, I will know absolute satisfaction.”
“I’m right here,” I say through clenched teeth. “If the pair of you would like to talk about me as if I’m not, then perhaps save it for later. We wouldn’t want to waste the alliance’s time.”
Queen Maren watches me with a considering look. Then she smiles. “The girl hardly looks beguiled, Adaia. How frustrating for you, Prince. You’ve barely managed to gain a foothold.”
“Patience holds its own rewards,” he says.
I can’t help feeling as though I’m the bone thrown between a pair of snarling dogs. “Stop it. All of you. I am nobody’s pawn. And I will not be used to amuse you all.”
Silence falls.
Every single one of them stares at me as if I’m an amusing dog who’s performed a trick.
“The die was cast. The game begun,” Lucidia murmurs, “but now the players intend to make their own rules. It shall be interesting to see how this will end. I think… I will back the girl.”
“It’s all very amusing, but this is a waste of my time,” Queen Maren says. “Where is Kyrian? He should be here by now.”
We wait.
The bells remain silent, motes of dust shivering through the air.
“Perhaps he’s avoidingme,” says my mother, with mock sincerity.
“I cannot understand why,” Queen Maren murmurs.
The two share a smile.
“The request said midday,” Queen Lucidia growls. “You have ten more minutes of my time. I have important matters of business to attend to.”
And so, Prince Kyrian’s chair remains empty.
I can sense Thiago’s frustration. No doubt he hoped his one ally would be here to stand at his side. In a realm filled with queens, the pair of them are considered brutal upstarts, and the three queens will be disinclined to believe him.
“The request was sent,” Maren says. “His absence speaks to his lack of care. Begin, Prince. We’re all dying to know what this mysterious summons is all about.”
Thiago wastes no time. He cannot afford to. “Angharad is trying to resurrect the Hallow in Mistmere.”
Queen Lucidia sucks in a sharp breath. “She wouldn’t dare.”
