A Kiss of Shadow (Court of Starlight and Darkness #2)(41)

I sighed and settled in for a long evening.





15





Sia



* * *



The speeches were all boring, until they weren’t. Three of the royals of other courts stood to honor our upcoming nuptials, and each one of them ended their speech with a subtle threat that we not overstep with our power.

Why the hell did they think I would make such a difference to the power of Lore’s realm?

I leaned close. “Are they not married?”

“They’re not. Only one of the fae royals has taken a spouse, and he is a recluse on an island in the North Atlantic. The Ocean Fae keep to themselves.”

“But…why?”

“A fae can only marry when they find their perfect match. Their partner. None of the other fae have found that.”

I blinked, staring at him. “Wait, what?”

The corner of his mouth tugged up in a wry smile. “Surprised?”

“More than.” I tried to form words but ended up looking like a fish out of water instead, my mouth opening and closing idiotically. “We’re meant to be together?”

“According to the seer who demanded that you join the competition to be queen.”

“Then why didn’t you just crown me instead of making me risk my life?”

He raised a brow.

Right. He’d already answered that question. I’d had to win to reveal that I was the one. When the competition had started, they’d thought I was just there to be fodder to cause another contestant’s magic to appear. And more than one fae in the competition had gained new magic as a result of it—me included.

“Fine. I’ve risked my life and now I’m fated to be your partner.” I kept my voice low, not wanting anyone else to overhear. Our court wasn’t bad about eavesdropping—they all respected Lore too much to try. But the servants who kept passing behind me with trays of food could be listening for tidbits. “If I’m the one who makes your kingdom more powerful, how will I ever be allowed to leave?”

I still didn’t like the idea of taking him up on his offer to return to my real life, but I wanted to know if he was lying to me about this possibility.

“We’ll find a way,” he said. “And I believe that the most important part of our union is to defeat the witch with the deathly magic. After that, you are free.”

I looked overhead, unable to stop myself from seeking out the dark clouds that hung heavy over the glass windows above. A shiver ran through me.

“She’s here,” I whispered. “She has to be, with the clouds so close.”

“I think you might be right.” He turned to the crowded room and scanned the occupants. “She could be any of the servants. Anyone lurking in the shadows that we do not see.”

I swallowed hard, hating the idea that there was someone watching me. Waiting to strike.

“Roast duck?” A silver platter appeared at my side, startling me.

“Um, yes. Thanks.” I’d actually never had duck before and wasn’t sure I wanted to eat something so cute, but I said it just to get him to go away.

He placed several dark pieces of meat on my plate, and my stomach turned.

Yep. Not going to be able to eat.

I reached for the wine glass, then stopped.

If I wasn’t eating, I couldn’t drink. It would just go to my head.

“I want to get the hell out of here,” I muttered.

“Dinner won’t last long.”

“I mean, I want to get away from the palace and back to your kingdom.”

“It’s not safe there, either.”

That was true enough.

Across the room, a woman entered. My heart leapt. It was her.

The violet-eyed woman. The one with information about my parents. I nodded toward her, leaning close to Lore to ask. “Who is she?”

He looked toward her. “Theara. Historian of the Fae.”

“Historian?”

He nodded. “She is a neutral party—member of no court, though she visits many. And she has kept the history of our kind for many decades.”

A historian would definitely be the person to know about my family. I just needed to find a moment to talk to her.

More courses were served, and I managed to eat some bread and butter, along with a bit of salad. It didn’t matter how off center I was—I still needed energy.

When I felt the gaze of someone burning into me, I turned to the left. It had come from the table containing the Court of Autumn, but no one was looking at me presently. There were about a dozen of them, all with auburn or brunette hair, and they were engaged in deep conversation with each other. Too deep? Maybe it was a cover?

I caught Vusario’s eye. He was walking behind their table, and he nodded at me. I nodded back, wondering if he was eavesdropping on them, then turned my attention toward the historian once more.

She looked up from her plate and caught my eye. A slight smile curved her lip, and she nodded her head toward an exit.

My heart leapt.

It was time.

She was going to tell me about my parents. And I could get away from this damned dinner.

“I’m exhausted, I think I’ll head to bed.”

He turned to me, his brow creased with concern. “Are you all right? You’ve been wounded recently.”