I peered around Alec and glared at the King. His gaze narrowed as his smirk widened. “On the contrary! She’s a gift. I’m sure Lady Violet misses her mother dearly. Why, I was just reuniting the two!” The King affected a surprised, innocent face I didn’t buy for one second.
“She’s human!” Alec shouted.
“Watch your tone,” Kazimir reprimanded. For a moment, I’d completely forgotten he was there. He’d seen my mother; surely he must know our connection by now. Unless he didn’t remember her …
The King shrugged. “So what if she’s human? She’s an official guest of the crown and will be treated as such.”
I scoffed and pushed out from behind Alec’s back. “Isthatwhy you gagged her and threw her in a cage?” I countered.
The King waved a hand in the air. “Call it dramatic effect.” He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. “Do we have an understanding, Lady Violet?” A litany of meaning was infused in that one sentence.
My mother might be a guest of the crown and free to roam around, but in reality, she was a hostage. And unless I did as I was told, my mother would be the one to pay the consequences.
There was no kindness in the Unseelie Court, and I’d just learned the Seelie were no better. Ansel was right when I first met him … I shouldn’t trust him.
Any of them.
