Page 7

At the far end of the room, the arched double doors open, dragging my attention away from Des. A man with a lion’s tail and mane is escorted into the room.

Just seeing the Fauna fae has me squeezing my armrests. One of my jailers had looked similar, and it’s dragging my mind back to that cavernous prison with all its horrors.

A warm hand envelops my own. When I glance at the Bargainer, he’s staring down our guest, his face set into uncompromising angles, even as he gives my hand a squeeze. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that look.

I relax just the slightest bit. Whatever happens here, Des won’t let that Fauna fae touch me. I feel the fierceness of the Bargainer’s devotion even across the space that divides us.

The Fauna fairy strides down the aisle, carrying a large leather bag. He doesn’t look intimidated by Des. If anything, the Fauna fairy seems like he’s all pent-up aggression, his tail swishing back and forth agitatedly.

“The Fauna Kingdom has a message for the King of Night,” he announces. Even his voice is aggressive.

I would’ve thought this would frighten me. Everything else about this moment has struck fear into my heart. But seeing this Fauna fae walk toward Des—towardme—full of anger rather than repentance…

My nails begin to curve back into claws.

I feel my bloodlust rising, the siren whispering all sorts of grim thoughts at the back of my mind.

Remember what his kind did to us. To those women.

He deserves to die.

One quick slice across his throat would be enough…

I push those thoughts far, far away.

The Fauna fae reaches the end of the aisle, several feet away from the dais where Des and I sit. In one smooth motion, he throws his bag on the ground in front of him. It lands with a dull, wet thump, and four bloody severed heads roll out.

I nearly fall off my seat. “Holyshit!” My wings flare out, accidently bowling over a soldier standing too close.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with this world?

Around me, Des’s subjects gasp, their eyes riveted to the sight of all those decapitated heads.

And the dead…the dead look as though they’re still screaming, their eyes wide and their mouths gaping.

The gasps turn into cries for vengeance, and soldiers reach for their weapons. I’m acutely aware that this room is one hot minute away from taking this Fauna dudeout.

The only one not reacting is Des, and that should worry me deeply. He looks almost bored as he stares down at the severed heads.

Des holds up his hand, and the room falls silent. He sits back against his throne, his gaze moving to the Fauna fae, who looks on challengingly.

“Who are they?” Des asks, his voice echoing throughout the room.

“The last of the Night Kingdom’s diplomats staying in our territory,” the lion-tailed messenger responds. “Our people demand justice for the murder of our king, the destruction of our palace, and the death of all the Fauna fae trapped inside the castle when you destroyed it.”

The Bargainer smiles at that.

Holy crap, if I were that messenger, I would’ve just wet myself.

“Refuse us, and the Fauna fae still left will not rest until every last Night fae in our realm has been dealt with,” the messenger says.

The crowd hisses its displeasure, and something ripples through the room, something darker and more insidious than the night.

“What sort of justice do you demand?” Des asks, leaning forward and placing his chin on his fist.

“We demand that the Night Kingdom pay for the construction of a new palace and that the current king abdicate his throne.”

All right, this guy has some serious cojones walking into this place and requiring the Night King step down from his position—to his face.