89

I had never seen such a grand procession of carriages. I had to intentionally keep my jaw shut as they rolled seemingly without end through the gates of the manor. The carriages were pure black, detailed with gold, and pulled by gorgeous horses with sleek black pelts. They carried no markings of the jaguars, but the sheer beauty of the carriages proved they were royal. Two carriages rolled ahead, guided by a few servants hustling on foot—luggage and servants of Askon’s own, I assumed. The third carriage in the line came to a stop at the front doors of the palace. The horses tossed their heads, nickering; the driver hopped down and swept into a dramatic bow before he opened the door to the carriage.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. I had a vision of what jaguar shifters might look like—tall and elegant, catlike and sleek, dressed in gold and jewels, like the dragons of Shianga. But the two that stepped out of the carriage surprised me.

The queen emerged first. She was a short, lean woman, with large brown eyes and hair cropped close to her skull. She had a dramatic birthmark that cut across her face, a dark stain which traveled from her eye across to her neck. Instead of a crown, she wore a shimmering silver veil that fell to her shoulders. Her clothes otherwise were simple: a sleek black gown with a loose skirt for comfort, and a heavy cloak over her shoulders against the Frasian cold.

Her husband, the King of Askon, stepped out behind her. He was much taller, taller than Elias, wearing similar simple black slacks and a shirt with a thick, fur-lined cloak. He had a strong jaw and high cheekbones, dark, narrow eyes, and a silver band around his neck in lieu of a crown.

“Welcome,” Elias said. “Thank you for journeying on such short notice.”

“We have much to discuss, it seems,” the queen said with a curious smile. Then she approached me and took my hand in a warm handshake. “Queen Reyna. I’ve heard much about you. I’m Queen Enet, of Askon. This is my husband, King Khainan.”

“Lovely to meet you,” I said. “Please, come inside out of the cold.”

“The servants will show you to your quarters,” Elias said as we walked through the doors of the manor into the throne room. “I’m sure you’d like to get settled, and then—”

“That won’t be necessary,” King Khainan said in a rumbling voice. “I’d prefer to hear more about the claims made in the invitation we received. If these issues are as pressing as you’ve said, I’d like to get right into it.”

“Certainly,” Elias said, only looking a little surprised. “This way.”

In the throne room, the servants hurried to bring out whatever the visiting royals might want: coffee, wine, whiskey, a plate of cured meats and fine cheeses. Seated at the table, Elias laid out the same discussion we’d had at the summit—what had happened in Shianga, and the threat of the Fae building in the west.

After hearing all the details, King Khainan leaned back in his chair and rubbed his short beard thoughtfully.

“We have no history of the Fae in Askon,” he said. “How can you know she plans to take over?”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “I heard her say this when I was held captive.”

“Draunar of Shianga never caused anything but trouble for Askon,” King Khainan said. “His removal from the throne is not necessarily a sign of trouble for Askon. Frasia are the ones who have initiated conflict with the queen—has any diplomatic resolution been attempted?”

“She held my wife hostage in Faerie,” Elias said in a low growl. “Would you be keen to initiate diplomacy after such disrespect?”

“If it were to the benefit of my kingdom, I would,” Khainan said, meeting Elias’ gaze steadily.

“I highly doubt that,” Enet said with a teasing roll of her eyes. She patted her husband’s thigh, throwing him a fond smile, then turned her attention to me. “If the Fae queen had kept me in my jaguar form for months, he’d be storming the castle by himself for a mere chance at revenge.”

Her joke cut the tension building between Elias and Khainan. Both them glanced away, visibly irritated, but Enet caught my eye and threw me a wink.

Some relief cut through my nerves. At least Enet might be on my side—if not fully ready to join an alliance against the Fae.

Elias cleared his throat. “I understand your hesitation, and I’m not opposed to a diplomatic solution. It’s only that from my experience with the Fae queen, I can’t imagine a situation in which she accepts one. If she wants to take control of the whole realm, we’ll be better prepared to meet her if we work together. It’s not closing the door on diplomacy.”

“What if Askon chooses to reach out to the Fae first?” Khainan asked.

“I can’t say I recommend it,” Elias said.

“She’s wily,” I said. “She may lead you into negotiations that seem genuine, but aren’t. She’s likely to turn on you to get what she wants.”

Again Khainan rubbed his beard. “If what you say is true,” he said after a long moment, “and the Fae queen is determined to take over the realm fully, where do you believe she’ll start?”

“Queen Reyna,” Enet said, “do you mind if we have a discussion of our own while the men talk details?”

I wanted to be a part of the strategy, too—but something in Enet’s eyes made me nod in agreement. I stood and walked with her toward the balcony just off the throne room. Elias’ eyes tracked me as I went. I met his gaze and offered him a small, careful smile, but I could feel the anxiety radiating from him. I knew he didn’t want me to leave, not when we were in the middle of tense negotiations. I knew it made him think of Draunar’s study, when my foolish decision had led him to haul me into the sky.

He feared I might leave again. I didn’t know how long it would be before that fear went away. But I’d wait, however long it took to prove that I wasn’t going anywhere. Never again.