I resented it, the warm hum of my anger growing. I’d bowed to the will of the Houses and commanded the strike, with mixed results. True, the outcome had not been the disaster I’d feared, but it could have been.
We’d tried. We’d failed. But in that failure, we’d demonstrated our willingness to respond to insult with force. We had proven we were not weak.
I would not be Faronne’s pit bull any longer. I would not even be my own. This constant wavering had to stop. I would have to choose a course and stick to it this time. Peace or vengeance. Wrath or diplomacy.
The way I’d been doing things wasn’t yielding anything but constant death.
Either we will have peace, or I will destroy you all.
Silence at the table.
I looked up, and realized I’d saidthatpart out loud.
Oh well. I'd slept poorly again last night.
Baba’s inquiring look asked “Are you done now?” I shrugged—for now. He turned back to Keysia.
My attention travelled around the table to meet the eyes of the other Lords representing Everenne's divided districts.
I smiled, showing off my pearly whites.
Peace or annihilation, vermin. My people's deaths will no longer be in vain.
Certainty settled into my bones, cold and crisp. I didn't Vow it because I had one ill-advised noose hanging around my neck, but it was apromise.
Strong fingers brushed the back of my hand, and I jerked from the spark. I glared at Renaud, his subtle warning to simmer the fuck down delivered.
He'd remained silent today, allowing Baroun to do the undignified work of arguing and negotiating with us plebs. Baroun could stir up shit because Montague'sposition remained thestrongest, and they didn't need to negotiate when lackeys like Labornne would do it for them.
It was a poor example to set for the page he had attending him, a Montague youth he called Lord Tybien. Lord. I snorted, meeting the boy’s hostile gaze with a lifted brow. It would take more than a title to bring me down, I let my eyes tell him. He looked away.
As the hours wore on, I kept hoping Renaud would rein in his dog, but I guessed he wouldn’t. At least Baroun wasn't negotiating on behalf of the crown,justhis House. Technically, the crown was neutral. Riiight.
I contented myself with sneering at Baroun and Keysia,in case it was unclear how much I loathed them. If they ever got together, they would make gruesome little babies I'd be obligated to drown at birth for the greater good, and damn the stain on my soul.
“Aerinne,” Renaud murmured, his voice soft enough I didn't think anyone else heard. “Pay attention.”
I frowned at him. Gods of my mother, so controlling.
I glanced at Baroun again, who idly brushed his finger across his strong throat, a smirk in his eyes. The boy behind him snickered softly. Please. Any time, any place, bitch.
Butmy enemy's expression sobered. I glanced back at Renaud, who had fixed his implacable gaze on his cousin. Baroun started behaving like an adult.
Finally. I smiled at the Montagues.
Renaud leaned toward me, his lips at my ear. “Cease eye-fucking my cousin, or I will take steps to demonstrate the consequences of such behavior.”
Eye-fucking? This male was crazy. He meant eyestabbing. Now I needed to wash my brain out with bleach because bloodyRenaudhad mentioned Baroun and fucking in the same sentence and related the loathsome combination to me.
I shuddered, snatching my glass of water, yearning for wine. But the Prince knew the Fae well, and no alcohol was allowed at the negotiating table.
If I were Princess, I'd pass a law saying wecouldn'thave these meetings without wine. Buckets of it.
Renaud fell silent again, a ploy to keep us all off balance. It made sense. If we were too busy running in circles, analyzing hisstrange behavior with the daughter of an enemy,thenwe weren’t paying attention to the fine print.
Sneaky bastard.
After all, he couldorder my assassinationonce the talks concluded and make it appear natural.
