Page 142 of Curse of Darkness
Not the word he’d like to say.
It’s a gauntlet thrown down before the three queens. He and Thiago have always held an alliance of sorts against Maren and my mother, and he’s telling them nothing has changed.
Thiago escorts me to my chair, and Thalia gestures our party into place behind them.
My mother drums her fingers slowly on the throne-like chair she lurks upon. Raking her gaze over me—I know exactly what she’s searching for—she turns to Maren. “Let us begin.”
* * *
“As you all know,Asturia’s armies have marched toward the border with Evernight,” Mother begins.
“We may have heard something about that, yes,” Kyrian says sarcastically. “If you cross that border, Adaia, then you break the covenant. You shatter the alliance’s terms for peace. Both myself—and these two beautiful queens at my side—will be forced to come to Evernight’s aid.” His eyes glitter. “It will be such a regrettable turn of events.”
Maren hides a small smile.
Mother leans back in her chair. “But I was not the aggressor, Prince Kyrian. Have I not the right to hold Evernight accountable for their transgressions?”
Silence falls across the room.
“What?” The word bursts from my lips. “What transgressions?”
“Two weeks ago,” Mother continues, ignoring my outburst, “Prince Thiago and his wife, Iskvien, entered my kingdom. They stole my crown, burned my sacred oak, and threatened my people during the midst of one of our sacred rites.”
Maren leans back in her chair, her fingers steepled together. “I assume you have proof?”
Mother snaps her fingers, and one of the clerks at her side produces a box. Inside it are three enormous stacks of paper, bound together tightly. “Witness statements from dozens of my people detailing the theft.”
“You want to talk about theft?” I stand abruptly. “What did you steal fromme, Mother? From my husband?”
Thiago’s hand is a gentle restraint around my wrist.
“Don’t, Vi,” he whispers in my head. “This is what she wants. Let us hear her out. Let her lay her trap. We have to be very careful about what we say about Amaya. She may be feeling us out on the subject.”
He’s right, of course. But the fury bubbling inside me can barely be contained.How dare she? Howdareshe?I sink back into my seat.
“War is nasty business. None of us want war. I’m a reasonable woman. And so, I ask the alliance to sit in judgement,” Mother purrs. “If the alliance finds the Prince of Evernight guilty of theft, arson and assault upon my people, then he must face punishment. Asturia will back away from Evernight’s borders. Justice will be served.”
“Execution,” Maren murmurs.
Execution.
A chill runs through my veins, and Thiago places a hand over mine as if to comfort me.
“Don’t react,” he says.
“And if he is found innocent?” Kyrian challenges her. “What then? What price does Asturia pay for threatening war over such spurious claims?”
“Maybe we can settle this with a duel,” Thiago taunts Mother.
Mother’s eyes glitter. “Alas, the accords are very clear about the way these cases are to be brought to justice.”
Thiago merely smiles at her, looking unconcerned. “Of course. Evernight welcomes such judgement. None of us want war. And perhaps, since this meeting brings us together in such auspicious times, we can look at other pressing matters while we are gathered.”
“Other matters?” Maren asks.
Thiago doesn’t take my eyes off my mother. “Like the two armies riding for Evernight’s borders from the north. The Unseelie. And the goblins. And perhaps, we can assess what brings them here.”
Mother merely smiles. “I know absolutely nothing about such matters. Maybe others have taken exception with Evernight’s tone, of late.”
