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The council had gone very still. Linh paled at Amalia’s side, suddenly realizing the power of the Witch she had just threatened. A sound not unlike purring arose from Kellos, and at his side, deSanguine leaned forward in his chair, his movements so quick it was as though he’d jumped. His eyes sparkled.

All eyes on her, Fey slowly nodded.

“So, I ask again,” Kallista continued. “Why did you not crown yourself Queen? Do you not have that right?”

“I don’t want it,” Fey said simply. It wasn’t the truth, but it was close enough. The truth was it hadn’t occurred to her at the time. Even if it had, though—her answer would have been the same.

“You don’t wish to be Queen?” Kallista pressed.

“No,” Fey insisted. It took all her strength, but she held the Demon’s stare as she said it. “I have no desire to rule. I don’t want to be Queen. I don’t want power. I just want to be left alone.”

Kallista smiled, and it was both a beautiful and terrifying thing to witness.

“In that case,” she said. “The Demon Faction votes no to death. And we would also like to thank these upstanding Witches for their time, and for their role in bringing the Queen’s crimes to our attention. We hope this council will have no further reason to bother them in the future.”

Amalia left the moment Kallista had voted no, not acknowledging Linh or any of the High Priestesses. She had simply stood, turned her back on them, and left the council room without another word.

“You should go,” Kallista advised Fey, with a smirk, nodding toward the door. Leandra and Sana were arguing, close to shouting, and Kellos looked wildly uncomfortable with their public display. DeSanguine was laughing, more to himself than anyone in particular.

They didn’t need to be told twice.

“Come on,” Alice hissed, pulling them out the door.

Someone had removed much of the art and crimson curtains that Fey associated with the palace interior, she noticed as they snaked through the hallway and toward the open doors leading out of the palace.

“You go ahead,” Fey told them when they reached the palace entrance. “I’ll meet you back at the apartment later tonight, okay?”

“Are you sure, Fey?” Alice asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“Yeah. I have a few things I need to do.” Fey insisted.

Joy pulled her into a tight hug.

“I should kill you for what you did back there,” she whispered, and Fey chuckled when she instead squeezed her tighter. “But I know you did it out of love.”

“I did,” Fey admitted.

Joy gave her a wide grin, and then, clasping Alice’s hand, they descended the palace steps together. Fey watched them go, smiling after them, knowing that whatever happened next at least they had this—this love, between Alice and Joy. If nothing else good came from the Queen’s death, this was enough.

Fey watched them until they faded from her sight, and then she settled in to wait.

Chapter 66

KALLISTA

They bickered like children, these mortals.

Such sad, short lives they had, and they chose to waste it arguing about such trivial matters. It was exhausting.

Kallista tasted their shadows while they argued amongst themselves. The Witch in Yellow, far older than the others, tasted of anger and fear—two scents intrinsically linked in Kallista’s experience. Fear made people angry, made them rash. She would be a problem in the council’s future, Kallista thought, but a small one. Easily solvable.

The Blue and Brown Witches tasted of sadness, one so deep it would break her. And soon. A pity. The Red Witch was strong, but not as strong as she thought. Another pity.

The Cat’s shadow tasted old and sinewy, like wild mutton. It wasn’t a bad taste, all things considered. Now he, Kallista found intriguing. The Mother of Shifters had been more Wolf than anything. Did he know that? Did they remember her, all these hundreds of years later?

She began to taste the Vampire’s shadow, but Cassiel’s eyes shifted to her immediately, flaring in anger. She smiled and gave him an apologetic shrug.

Can’t blame a girl for trying, can you?