A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #2)(81)

Brain him, my animal said. Twist off his head and kick it around.

No. Physical violence won’t work here. They think with their pockets. They don’t like sharing.

“Fair enough,” I said, and I felt Nyfain’s surprise. “There are a couple of things you should know. First, the nulling elixir doesn’t work forever. It’s a patch. A good patch, but a patch nonetheless. It doesn’t cure. You will never stop needing it, and eventually they’ll die anyway. When they get close to death’s door, you’ll need it more often—stronger, if you can get it—with the best leaves available.”

Slick spread his hands. “We understand. We thank the prince for his generosity.”

“Second,” I said with a smile, “it isn’t his generosity. It is mine. And now that generosity will come at a cost. If you want more, or if you want instruction, you will pay for it. I’ll accept your coin or your trade on an as-needed basis.”

His expression froze. Everyone else’s eyes darted around. Smug pride rolled through the bond.

“You should also know this,” I continued. “I will be donating my time and services to those less fortunate. I will personally help them create and distribute the elixir, and I will be working with an experimental recipe for those on death’s door. I will do this for free until this council decides to create and distribute the nulling elixir as I have requested. If I hear that any of you have ventured into the poorer areas to take what they have made, or to interfere in any way, I will kill you.”

The room froze now, all eyes on me. They hadn’t heard threats like that before. Before long, their gazes drifted to Nyfain.

He dropped his hands to the arms of the chair. “I am declaring this demon-created sickness a kingdom-wide emergency. Internal village rents and taxes are to be frozen until such a time as we have rectified the issue. If that decree is ignored, I will withdraw the crown’s aid and leave you to succumb to the sickness.” He stood and placed his hand on the small of my back. “I back the royal healer’s efforts and stand by her decisions. I will be her broker if you decide to go that route.” He paused for a moment. “Stand,” he commanded, and power pulsed through the room.

Looking around as though they’d been slapped, they slowly got to their feet. None of them uttered a peep.

Nyfain stared them all down, and I wondered why he got to wear jeans and a T-shirt when I had to wear tailored finery. Though I did have to admit that the effects of these very comfortable clothes were worth looking like a snobby noble.

One by one, they offered stiff bows.

“Come,” Nyfain said to me, his hand applying pressure.

When we stepped outside, he led me around to the back. Dabnye followed at a distance, probably nervous to be in the presence of the prince.

“I’m impressed,” he said. “I thought you were going to explode.”

“I felt like it.”

“This was the better way. The professional way. You’ll get the same results, but they’ll respect you more for this approach.”

“It wasn’t nearly as fun, though.”

“No. Not to fear—at least one of them will defy you. You can set the example then.”

“We’re not done yet,” I said as the horses came into sight.

“I figured. How bad is it?”

“Very. And I am incredibly disappointed in you that you didn’t know.”

He stopped me in front of his horse. Hadriel glanced over from the corner of the building, where he stood talking to a buxom woman with a ruddy face. He straightened up quickly and smoothly put a mug of what was probably ale behind his back. I wasn’t sure who he thought he was fooling.

“Finley, as I said, this village operates a certain way,” Nyfain said. “They all do. Since the curse, this is a fractured kingdom. They won’t let me get too involved in their day-to-day affairs, and I don’t have the resources to push the issue. Just there, I did what I could. I froze taxes and rent so that they can’t siphon the extra money from people you’ll be helping for free.”

“I get what you’re saying, but Nyfain, you are the only person still able to shift in this entire kingdom. You turn into an enormous beast. You have more than enough might. You keep telling me it’s your duty to protect all these people. Well, part of that is protecting them from themselves and each other. This isn’t like normal times. Nothing right now is like normal times. These people are stuck here. They can’t get out and find better treatment. They can’t change their stars if they are constantly kept down. And they are definitely kept down. If you don’t push the issue and do something for them, who will?”

His eyes sparkled and warmth seeped through the bond. He ran his thumb along my chin.

“You will. You will do something for them. You will be their savior, and I will be your muscle. Together we will cure this kingdom.”

He kissed me slowly, nibbling on my bottom lip. “Now I must go to the other villages and warn them of your coming. This village had to learn the hard way. Hopefully the others will start working a little more diligently on spreading the wealth. Hadriel will take you where you need to go. I assume it is to get supplies to help the slip of a girl who likely reminds you of a younger you?”

I put a hand on his chest and then leaned in a little, wanting his arms around me. He complied immediately. “Obvious, is it? She looks about my age when I first had to go into the wood after everlass.”