Thereis no defense for stupidity. Haven't I taught you better?
Ah. The crux of the matter.I'm not entirely sure that's possible, considering you are me and I am you. I don'tknowwhat else Icouldhave taught myself over the years. Maybe Icouldwork on thinking before I speak a bit more, but. . .I trailed off.
His displeasure increased, seethed.Extricating you from this will require energy needed elsewhere. I should just strangle you and be done withit.Itclicked that theemotionI’d thought to be panic, was fear. For me.
Thefeelingwas somewhat mutual.
His angry presence withdrew.
I emerged from my mind as the first of my family entered. The warm, textured walls failed to comfort me as Édouard, Baba, and our highest ranked knights took chairs at the heavy wood table. Everyone else sat on benchesthatlined the walls. Someone drew the thick russet curtains from the large window overlooking the courtyard, revealing the moon drifting serenely in the sky.
“We need to scour our organization,” Juliette said, dropping into a chair. She flicked a throwing star in her fingers, round and round, her under eyes bruised. “Wegot suckered bybad information and that only happens whenthere'sa traitor in the ranks.”
“Yes,” Baba said slowly, his accent stronger today. We wereallexhausted. “That is a problem that needs solving. Ifeelconfident you cangetto the bottom of the matter, Édouard.” My father paused for a beat. “The more pressing issue is our strategy now that Prince Renaud is awake.”
Leaning on the table, I stared down at the grains, my hands flat on its polished surface. “The real question is what will Prince Renaud do.”
I'd met my greatest enemy in the flesh, and he'd. . .saved me.
Saved my life. Saved the lives of my people who were not dead before his arrival.
“What exactly did he say to you?” Juliette asked again.
“He asked me is this what you want.” I shook my head. My gaze traveled around the table and settled on Édouard.
He stood legs slightly spread, arms crossed over his chest, impatience in every line of his body. This meeting was an interruption; when we’d arrived home, he’d shut himself in his office to comb over weeks of intel to figure out how we’d been lured into an ambush.
“Why you?” Édouard asked. “Why approach you?”
Juliette scoffed. “Because she was the highest-ranking person from Faronne in the field. You're an idiot.”
“I wasthere.” His expression closed. He was thinking. I hated when he was thinking.
“He called me Maryonne's daughter,” I said. The way he’d said her name, almost as if they'd been friends. Or enemies for long enough to become friends.
Darkan proved he was listening.Thatoftenhappens wheneveryone competent dies and you are surrounded by children who know nothing of history. Your enemies become your allies.
Heavy, bewildered silence blanketed the table. “Does the Princeknowhe killed High Lord Maryonne?” someone asked. “It'sbeen thirteen years.”
“He must.” I chewed my bottom lip in the same place I'd bittenit. Remembered restless flecks of bright blue in moonstone eyes as his gaze rested on my bit lip. “Isitpossible hefeelssome kind of remorse?”
“The Old Ones don'tfeelremorse. Theyknowitis useless. But each death is a lesson.”
I turned to Nora, one of the only three High Fae in Everenne since my mother’s death. My great aunt, the eldest of my House, though that was the simplified relationship—she wasn't my mother's sister. She may have been my great-grandmother's youngest sister, or niece.
“Youknewhim before, didn't you?” I asked.
She did,Darkan said, intonation soft.Nora came through the realm gate with Maryonne. She has slept many times.
Everything in me sharpened. How could he know that?
Nora slanted her grayish-lavender gaze at me. We waited quietly for her to speak. She often lost herself in her thoughts.
“I did,” she said, echoing Darkan. “He came shortly after Faronne established the House here. There was no contest. We bowed. The bloodshed came later.”
“But who was he? Why did he come?”
“We all fled monsters. At first we tried to maintain the bonds, but we reminded each other too much.” She fell silent, eyes distant.
