Chapter 3- A New Threat Arises

High Queen Titania’s POV (The Fairy Queen- The Seelie Court)

“Your Highness.” Alette’s frantic voice floats into my bedchamber as she makes her way closer to my rooms. A glance at the clock hanging on the wall causes a frown to form on my brows. What is Alette doing running through the castle halls when everyone should be asleep?

“Your Highness.” Her high pitched voice sounds once more, drawing closer to my rooms. A heavy sigh leaves my lips as I move towards the door leading out to the hall to stop my lady in waiting before she wakes up the whole Royal Court. The last thing I want to do this late in the day is deal with their whining over being woken up. 

Before my hand can close over the door handle, the door comes flying towards me, narrowly missing smacking me in the face. “Your High-” Alette’s words die in her throat when her startled gaze meets mine behind the door. 

Alette freezes in place, her tiny wings buzzing furiously in the air to keep her afloat as she waits for my temper to explode from almost being hit with the door. My temper that never comes because clearly something is happening for the small creature to be buzzing through the halls screaming my name. 

“What is happening Alette?” I prompt when the silence between us grows. Alette jumps back startled as if I slapped her with my words. After shaking her head, the urgency returns to her face as her eyes lock on mine. 

“High Queen Mab has sent her Dark Hunt soldiers over the barrier dividing the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.” Alette says quickly. “They are on their way to the castle as we speak.”

Surprise flits across my face at the news. High Queen Mab hasn’t dared to attack us in thousands of years. Not since King Oberon was wounded in that fight with her first husband Arawn the Elder King. 

My eyes widen as I turn to Alette sharply, causing her to flinch in her spot. “She is after our King.” It was only a matter of time before the Unseelie Court caught wind of King Oberon’s current weakened state. There was no way we would be able to keep it hidden forever. 

Ever since the foolish King attempted to break free of the Fae Realm those centuries ago he has been barely hanging on to life. No one knows for sure what happened to him while on the Mortal Realm, but whatever it was almost destroyed him, and in turn has weakened our Kingdom. 

“Gather the Generals and have them meet me in the War Room immediately. And send the Giants to guard our King. No one must take him from us or all is lost.” Alette nods her head before hurrying off out the door to do the Queen’s bidding.

After casting a longing look to the giant moss covered bed situated off to the side, my hand reaches for the string that will summon the remaining ladies in waiting to assist me into my war gear. It appears there will be no sleep tonight. 

High Queen Mab’s POV (The Queen of Air and Darkness- The Unseelie Court)

“Our scouts have finally found out where they are keeping King Oberon locked away.” Ice, the leader of my Dark Hunt soldiers, tells me as he stops in front of my throne and bows before me. 

A malicious smile spreads across my face at his words. “Excellent!” I exclaim, rising from my throne quickly. “Get your men together and bring him to me.” Ice rises from his bow. “It is time that King Oberon and I have a little chat.”

“As you wish your Majesty.” With one final bow, Ice turns sharply and leaves the room at a hurried pace. 

Once the sound of Ice’s footsteps can no longer be heard from within the throne room, I settle back into my place on the King’s throne, letting out a heavy sigh. Soon King Oberon will pay for his part in the slaying of my beloved Arawn.

A snort from behind me draws me from my thoughts. My eyes slide to the right just as my eldest son Kieran comes into view. “Father was no more your beloved than any of your lovers since him.” Kieran says, dropping into the throne placed beside me. 

“It is rude to read people’s minds Kieran, especially your mothers.” I tell him, slamming walls up in my mind to prevent him from reading anything further, earning a chuckle from him. 

“So you’re finally taking my advice and going after the old bastard King.” Kieran says, ignoring my mind reading comment. 

“As you pointed out.” I begin, turning my body to face my eldest son. “With King Oberon out of the way there is a good chance that you will be the Wolf Queen’s Fae mate and then we will have control over all of the Realms.” I finish speaking with a shrug of my shoulders. 

Kieran rubs his chin, a look of deep thought passing over his face as he ponders what I’ve said. His unconcerned thinking doesn’t fool me though. I’ve been around long enough to know when he is scheming. After a few moments of silence, Kieran finally lets me in on where his thoughts had gone. 

“In order for this to work you will have to take out High Queen Titania’s heir as well. Leaving me the eldest heir for all of the Fae.” His sharp eyes meet mine as he relays this information. What game is my son playing now? Everyone knows that King Oberon has only female children.

“I did say Titania’s heir.” Kieran says, a devilish smile spreading across his face at the slip of the walls around my mind. Kieran being away for the last thousand years has made my walls deplete in strength from disuse and easily forgotten about. Raising them back up I glare at Kieran’s unashamed face. 

“High Queen Titania has only birthed King Oberon’s children over the millenia’s, her heirs would be his heirs.” My eyes narrow on my son. “And stop reading my mind.” I tell him sharply. “If I want you to know something then I will tell you it.”

Kieran’s response is a deep rumble of laughter that fills the quiet space of the throne room, echoing off of the walls all around us. “Titania has most definitely had a child outside of King Oberon Mother.” He says smugly. 

“And where is this child then pray tell.” I ask, growing weary with being around my son. 

“Now that is the question of the evening Mother.” He says instead of answering. Great! More riddles. I roll my eyes and sink back into my throne. “What I do know is that the child she bore was a son and that he was raised by his father in one of the other Realms.”

“And where did you come by this information, Son?” The word son comes out with disgust. Gone were the days when I cherished the little bundle that I held in my arms. The sweet innocent child that was once my Kieran has long since died and in his place is a dreaded man that I would gladly be rid of if he wasn’t my son. 

A knowing smile spreads across Kieran’s face, letting me know that my walls slipped once again and that he heard my disdain for him but doesn’t care. “Don’t you worry about that Mother.” He tells me sweetly. “You just get your Dark Hunt soldiers to take care of King Oberon and Titania’s heir and then the Realms will be ours.”

Blanking my expression and mind, I nod my head in agreement and silently watch as Kieran makes his way out of the throne room. I didn’t think for a second that Kieran intends to share the power of the Realms with me, or anybody, even the Wolf Queen. Kieran intends to take control of the Realms for himself. 

A smile spreads across my face as an idea forms. 

Instead of working for Kieran to get rid of King Oberon and High Queen Titania’s supposed son, I could instead get rid of the Wolf Queen, thus removing the possibility that Kieran will ever gain Kingdom over the Realms, myself included. 

Once the Wolf Queen is taken care of then I can set my sights back on King Oberon and go after this son of High Queen Titania’s and take over control of the whole Fae Realm. Yes, I like that idea much better than my eldest son being in power.

High Queen Titania’s POV

“Your Highness, the Dark Hunt is retreating back to the Unseelie Court.” Alette says, flying quickly into the room as she speaks. My eyes search the horizon for signs of the Dark Hunt’s retreat, but nothing is visible in the darkness. 

What is High Queen Mab upto? Why would she march on the castle and then retreat at the last minute? 

“Tell the guards to stay vigilant until we know for sure this isn’t a trick.” Something doesn’t seem right.