“Stop it.”
“We all saw her falling for him. You couldn’t bear to watch her love him, so you sent her from everything she wanted. I’m not the cruel one here. I’m not—”
He made a sound of disgust and tried to leave, but she clung on to him, desperation in her eyes.
“Drake,
please
. I’m the one who gave you everything I had. I haven’t given up on you once. I saw something in you, a strength Brendan didn’t possess, and I… And
Cara
… Everyone knows
she’s
moved on. Why can’t you?”
“I said, stop!” he bellowed, his voice full of pain and rage.
She shrank back against her pillow, dropping his hand. “All right.”
He felt disgusting, like a monster, an animal, but he walked away and left her there anyway. “Get back inside,” he ordered the group who were waiting patiently beyond the door. “You,” he said, addressing his bodyguard. “It’s time for court. Be on your guard.”
And as he walked away, he fervently prayed for his fingers to stop trembling.
***
The court was full. It seemed as though everyone in the castle had bundled into that one, large hall to watch him avoid glancing at the empty throne on the other side of the room. He and his wife had begun their marriage divided, and the entire court had followed suit. Even now, pressed against each wall, two factions grew apparent.
Gathered on his side of the room were the
daoine
sídhe
in their suits of armour and the banshees with their displeasing pallor and dark clothes. There were other
fae
with him, most of them dressed in poor fabrics closer to modern human styles. Those
fae
were loyal to him for other reasons. Many had once been solitary and craved to be part of something that was led by a man who knew what it was like to be alone.
King of the Underdogs
.
The other side of the room was filled with
Donella’s
supporters, most of whom were wealthy and noble. Some were more open with their affection than others. Many were genuinely in awe of her. She was cruel and ruthless, but she knew how to charm them. And he saw his own daughter doing the same with her people. What kind of adult would she be? His throat ached.
He needed to oust the
leanan
sídhe
from his court for good. Some of his people would leave with
Donella
, certainly. But others were only concerned with power. Surely, if she were banished, they would fight amongst themselves to take her place. He released a sigh of relief. He was doing the right thing.
Donella
had spent her time at court undermining the queen while flirting with the king. He had only tolerated her for so long because she brought many nobles with her. He had reached his limits months ago.
He tried to concentrate on the problems his court brought to his feet, tried to keep his temper even and his judgements fair, but all he could think about was
Donella’s
bloody face and the way Sorcha had looked when she asked him to love her. It was impossible. Love had no place in the games kings played. The women were foolish to think otherwise. Even Brendan was going to marry that awful woman, Yvette, for her army. And one day, the
Darksiders
would push Cara into a marriage she didn’t want, too. It was their way, and nothing could change that now.
How foolish he had been, grabbing the opportunity to steal a kingdom with both hands, thinking it would solve all of his problems. Reality had quickly set in, sweeping away his precious ideals. Sorcha had taught him how to hold on to his court, but even she hadn’t realised how dangerous their lives would become.
The doors burst open, and Dymphna strode in, hauling a pleading servant behind her. Five
daoine
sídhe
followed, keeping wary eyes on the whispering crowd. The tension thickened, and Drake shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to watch every faction at once.
Dymphna dumped the
fae
at Drake’s feet. “This is the one who dared defile the doors of this castle. This is the one.” She spoke loudly, kicking the
fae
at her final word. She made the
fae
stand. “He claims to have worked alone.”
“Of course he does,” Drake murmured. He gazed down at the servant and recognised the same sullen eyes he had witnessed only that morning. “You again. Kneel.”
“No,” the man said loudly.
“Kneel for your king.” Dymphna kicked the back of the man’s knee so that he collapsed to the ground.
He spat on the floor. “That’s what I think of your king.” He jumped to his feet, his eyes wild, and his voice excited. “I refuse to accept the authority of a king who stole the crown. I swear fealty to a true noble,
Donella
, the
leanan
sídhe
, creator of the royal bloodline that rules the
Darkside
!”
The room fell silent. A trickle of sweat ran down Drake’s back. So this was it. This was her play. Instead of leaving and taking half his court with her, she was simply going to take his court and his throne from him.
Donella
tittered, looking completely relaxed in her seat. “Me? Why, I’m flattered. It’s true I’m related to the Chaos queen, and also the heir of the Green Court.”
“Do you think Cara lays claim to you?” Drake scoffed. “Do you think my daughter will ever view you as a relative?”
“Your daughter? I don’t remember you making a claim on any child. It is the Green and Chaos Courts who are entwined. And I can easily link the Silver Court to their great reigns.”
“You can do nothing,” he said loudly. “Take the culprit before me to my wife’s quarters to be sacrificed for his crimes of treason.”
“Treason?”
Donella
stood. “Didn’t you hear him? He doesn’t accept you as king. He sees
me
as his queen, and he hasn’t acted treasonously toward me. In fact, I’m sure he’s not the only one with the same view.”
Drake rose to his feet, a reaction to the movement in the room. The crowd had clearly divided and taken their sides. All of the
daoine
sídhe
unsheathed their swords as one and surrounded him in a protective shield. Many voices near
Donella
proclaimed her to be the true queen. Too many.
“Death to the pretenders on the throne!” somebody screamed.
Drake drew his weapon amidst cries of protest and accusation. His court had turned on itself because of that woman, that evil
leanan
sídhe
.
“Calm them,” Drake commanded. “Stop them from fighting.” If the
fae
lost control, only senseless deaths would occur.
“Let them kill each other,” a banshee called out. “It will strengthen Sorcha.”
Drake hesitated long enough for the condemned man to jump up and attack him with a small blade he had hidden in his clothes. Dymphna cut through him before Drake could even raise his weapon. First blood had spilled, and that was a signal to all.
The crowds surged toward each other, filling the room with sounds of clashing swords and cries of pain. The stench of death. Drake held his sword, momentarily shocked. The entire court had been more prepared for civil war than the king.
Drake caught sight of
Donella
across the room, a wide smile across her face as she observed the chaos before her.
“I’ll kill her,” he spat, and he lunged toward the fighting crowd to reach the
leanan
sídhe
.
Dymphna got in his way. “You cannot. Any blade could kill you before you ever reach her.”
“Then I’ll die fighting,” he snarled.
“Think
. Sorcha needs us. She’s the weaker link.
Donella
could be using this distraction to end the banshee before she can bear you an heir.”
Drake swallowed his rage long enough to see sense. “
Daoine
sídhe
, with me to protect the queen.”
Dymphna stayed by his side as her people fought a path to the doors. But the fighting wasn’t just going on in the great hall. The stairs were full of warring
fae
, disgruntled servants sneakily attacking loyal subjects in the midst of the mayhem.
Drake stepped over dead
fae
who had obviously been on the wrong side. Enemies came from every hallway, splitting up the soldiers, and leaving them all weakened.
“There’s too many of them,” Drake said as he ran his sword through an unfamiliar faery who had charged at him.
“We need to get upstairs,” Dymphna said, shepherding him toward the nearest staircase.
Drake fought his way up a flight of stairs, Dymphna at his back. Most of the
daoine
sídhe
who had accompanied them were stuck on the bottom step, surrounded by foes.
“We should help them,” Drake said.
“They’re warriors. They will survive. We must reach the queen’s quarters.”
Dympha
shook Drake. “If she dies, this is over, Drake. Hurry!”
Forgetting he was a king, he followed her in the race to reach the queen. Along the way, they rescued a number of soldiers who gratefully accompanied them the rest of the way.
“If we reach the queen’s room, we can bottle-neck the corridors and stairs and keep the floor contained,” he said.
“Drake, I sent for help,” Dymphna called out as they defended against yet another attack.
Donella
had been more successful at persuading his people to turn against him than he thought.
“What are you talking about?” he shouted, raising his sword to meet an assassin’s blade. He knew the woman. She smiled at him every day. He had no regrets as he plunged his blade through her heart.
“I knew you wouldn’t, but I felt uneasy when I knew that
Donella
had discovered the pregnancy, so I sent word to the other courts.”
“Why?” he demanded angrily as they pushed on. “You make us look weak, Dymphna.”
“We
are
weak! We’re in the worst position possible. The king is running through the castle, fighting off his staff, in order to save his queen. This isn’t how it should be.”
He leaned against a wall during the momentary reprieve. “Did you receive a reply?”
“I fear I sent the messages too late,” she said. “It’ll be days at least before any help arrives.”
His stomach sank. He couldn’t hold off
Donella’s
followers for days.
They finally reached Sorcha’s level. To his horror, there were bodies everywhere. The
Miacha
stood outside the door, covered in blood, while Sorcha leaned against the doorway, looking pale and haggard. Her stomach was slightly rounded. He hadn’t really looked at her body when she lay in the bed. His son was in there, a son she refused to give up, a son whose mere existence threatened her life in more ways than one. An unfamiliar flicker of warmth lit up in his chest.
“What are you doing out of bed?” he demanded, coming to his senses.
“They killed one of the guards. It gave me enough strength to help,” Sorcha said, panting. She almost collapsed. He caught her in his arms. She looked up at him with complete trust.
He gazed down on her, his stomach twisting into knots. Her faith in him might condemn her to the slaughter going on elsewhere in the castle. “
Donella
turned on us. She’s trying to take the crown.”
“We should have dealt with her long ago. I’ll kill her,” she swore. “I’ll take her life for you.”
“No, you’ll get inside this room and let me deal with it.” He frowned at Blue Eyes. “You, too.”
The woman nodded and helped Sorcha inside. Dymphna was dragging an injured
daoine
sídhe
inside, too, when Drake heard footsteps, many footsteps. A group of soldiers rushed around the corner. The leader immediately beheaded one of the soldiers loyal to Drake.