Page 117

“Thalia Verdana,” she says, “the most powerful Flora heir to be born within this millennia. No great beauty, but what is beauty to power?” Mara’s eyes go distant. “Of course, to Thalia, beautywaseverything. She coveted what she didn’t have.”

The Flora Queen’s eyes drift over me and Des. “One also knows you don’t need beauty if you’ve found love instead—and she found it in a traveling minstrel of all things. At least, that’s what we assumed he was.”

Mara stirs her cup of tea idly. “Our parents were scandalized by the match, but that didn’t stop Thalia from seeing him.

“Did you know fairies can bargain away their power?” Mara says to me. “They can share it, they can gift it, but they cannot bequeath it—death severs all deals.”

She takes in my glowing skin. “He ended up being an enchanter—a fairy who could ensorcell other fairies with a wish and a kiss. Thalia fell under his spell…”

She clears her throat. “My parents killed him before he could destroy our kingdom. Of course, by then Thalia was too far gone. She followed him to the Kingdom of Death.

“That’s how I became heir to this kingdom.”

Mara gives us a tight smile. “It has been a long time since I’ve met an enchanter—and never a human one. I find that despite all my reservations, you hold me captivated.” Her eyes flicker with desire as she takes me in.

“Yes, Callie does have that effect on people,” Des says, his voice a touch possessive. “Now, what were we talking about?” Des looks first to me then to Mara. He snaps his fingers. “Ah, yes, now I remember. Mara, you were insinuating that I was behind the recent disappearances.”

She rearranges herself in her seat. “When several witnesses all see the same thing, one has to wonder…”

This is the second time in two days another royal has cast doubt on Des’s innocence.

I want to lash out again.

“It’s not him,” I growl. The sound that comes out of my mouth is harsh yet melodic. “Janus took me. Either you must cast suspicion on both kings or on neither of them.”

The Flora Queen reaches out to one of the vines, and it begins to twine itself up her arm. “None of the other captured women have complained that the Day King has abducted them,” she says. “Only you, the mate of the Night King, have. How do I know you aren’t just protecting him?”

Only Des’s ironclad grip across my waist keeps me from throttling the fae queen.

“Furthermore,” she says, “those captured women have all said they were taken once they dozed off. Sleep, as you know, is ruled by the Night Kingdom.”

It all leads back to Des.Whydoes it all lead back to Des?

My skin dims as I consider this worrying thought.

“And yet here we are, sitting and talking as civilized people.” Des leans forward. “You haven’t sanctioned my kingdom nor kicked me out of the festivities. You haven’t barred me from any part of the celebration, even though I broke the neutrality agreement two nights ago when I fought Janus. Your actions—or lack thereof—don’t strike me as those of a concerned queen.”

The vines around Mara begin to whip about. “Donotpresume to know my intentions, Desmond Flynn.” The room fills with her power, the air nauseatingly thick with the smell of flowers.

Des’s eyes spark. “Send me and my mate away, Mara. We will leave, Solstice can continue, and you can test your theory concerning my guilt,” he challenges, his voice hypnotic.

The Flora Queen’s power still fills the room like a rain cloud poised to break wide open. But rather than unleashing her wrath, Mara appraises Des. “Give me your oath that you are innocent, and this can end,” she says.

The Bargainer, a man who makes half his living striking deals with fools, doesn’t hesitate now. “I will give you an oath in exchange for one.”

“I beg your pardon?” Mara says, looking affronted.

“I will swear you an oath of innocence, if you, in return, promise me fifty years of an unbreakable alliance between the Flora and Night Kingdom.”

A swell of anger rises at the back of Mara’s eyes, the floral smell once again thickening the air. “You would dare to leverage my good graces?”

“I would have you as an ally, not an enemy.”

And to think that only minutes ago, I was about to lose it on this woman.

Des’s words seem to pacify most of her anger. She leans back in her seat. “Fine.”

Using one arm to still hold me in place, the Bargainer reaches out with his other, and Mara grasps it.