Great. I now had a possessive Fae artifact in my life.Not that I’m disagreeing, I said carefully as I sipped my tea,but can you elaborate on why you think our fates are linked?
You are a descendent of the Seelie King.
What? I choked, and the tea went down wrong, causing me to sputter. The conversation died as all eyes fell on me. I ungracefully set my cup down and grabbed a cloth napkin as I tried to get my coughing under control. “Apologies,” I rasped. “Swallowed wrong.”
Carmilla looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.” I nodded and tossed the napkin down. “Please continue. I believe you were discussing the Houses’ inventories of gems to power the wards?”
She studied me for another moment before turning her attention back to the advisors, who had been staring at me wide-eyed before snapping their attention back to Carmilla. I could only imagine the rumors surrounding me right now. The House Harker Heir locked in the dungeons and trotted out to attendvarious meals by her aunt, who had deposed the previous Moroi Queen.
You need to work on how you broach topics like that, I thought.Maybe ease into them a little more.
A tinge of amusement fluttered across my mind.I will make a note of that for the next time I need to inform someone of their lost royal heritage.
Was that sarcasm? Did the Fae seriously make a sentient artifact . . . and give it a dry sense of humor?
The Fae did nothing of the sort. I am this magnificent all on my own.
Well, they definitely passed on their arrogance.
You do realize I can hear all of your thoughts, right? I remember the Seelie royals being smarter.
Can you explain why you believe I’m related to the Seelie King?My stomach churned, and I fought to keep the tea I’d swallowed from coming back up. Draven was the Seelie King’s son, and we’d?—
Flashbacks of the things we’d been up to the last few days played through my mind. Oh god.
Is there a reason why you just threw a bunch of smutty images at me?the crown asked, sounding puzzled.You seemed to be enjoying yourself quite thoroughly in them, so I’m not really understanding why you suddenly feel like you’re going to spew your tea all over the table.
I’ve had—some of the best fucking of my life—relations with the son of the Seelie King, who you just said I was related to. So, yes. I’m feeling a little freaked out right now.
Dread coiled in my gut. This couldn’t be happening. What were were going to d?—
That man is not the son of the Seelie King.
Draven isn’t Erendriel’s son?How was that possible? Draven seemed so sure . . .
He is.
I inhaled a deep breath, trying to not let the tension strangle me—or drive me to reach across the table and rip the crown off Carmilla’s head.
You should actually do that. I’m meant to be sitting on your head. People should be bowing to us.
What the fuck?
One of the advisor’s glanced at me. Whoops. Must have whispered that part out loud. I gave her a polite smile and took another sip of tea. She stared at me a long moment before returning her attention back to Carmilla.
Can you please explain what you mean about Draven not being the Seelie King’s son? My smile was so tight on my face, it was causing my jaw to ache.He is Erendriel’s son—and Erendriel is the Seelie King.
Erendriel is an imposter.Rage flashed through me, and it wasn’t mine.Your paternal grandfather was the true Seelie King. Erendriel betrayed him and has been lying ever since.
What. In. The. Actual. Fuck.
Did my father know he was the son of the Seelie King? He had to, right?The thoughts fired rapidly in my mind.At the very least, he had to know he was half Fae. Did my mother know?
Your thoughts are very loud. And confusing,the crown grumbled.I only knew your father as a youngling. I do not know if he was aware of his true lineage.
For a second, it felt like everything in my mind went still.You met my father?
