Page 31 of Mortal Queens

Talen came down the stairs as I entered and immediately spotted the glass in my hand. “What is that?”

I twisted off the top of the glass where Bash had confined the stars and they orbited my palm with a buttery glow. “Three stars. They are mine.”

Instead of being impressed, his eyes were slits. “Only kings may summon stars. Which one?” The accusation was clear.

His warning against Bash echoed in my mind. “King Bastian,” I mumbled.

Talen moaned and put his face in his hands. “Thea, Bastian can’t be trusted.”

“Are these stars valuable?” I asked, holding them closer to inspect their design.

“Just as bragging tools.” He huffed. “I don’t think you’re hearing me. That fae king is no good. His heart isn’t cracked.”

I sighed at the odd saying. “I know that. He’s using me, but I’ll use him better.”

Talen froze, one brow lifted.

I lowered my stars so Talen could see my face. “Bastian wanted an alliance to secure his position among his islands. I can give him that. Meanwhile, I’m going to use him to get me home. I won’t get attached to him—he’s only a tool.”

Talen searched my eyes. “You’ll guard yourself against him? No falling in love?”

“It won’t be a problem. I swear, he’s nothing but a means to help myself.”

“You’re certain? It’s unwise for Mortal Queens to form romantic attachments.”

“I want to get home,” I stated. “Nothing else means anything to me.”

A sly grin spread beneath his mask. “Good. In that case, I can’t wait to watch you play with a king.”

His approving smile filled me with pride. This realm was a series of games, and I’d play them better than any queen before me. That would be how I saved all the future girls who would be bound to this place. To do so meant creating a plan more elaborate than anything this realm had seen from their High Queens, and that started with these stars. To me, they were more than bragging rights. They were proof I could get whatever I asked for, even the stars.

I tossed them to Talen. “Secure these into my throne so they are the first thing anyone sees as they walk in from the courtyard. I want all to know that a king pulled these from the sky for me.”

“Consider it done.”

“And don’t tell anyone about the alliance yet. I want to announce it myself.”

His brow creased. “My Queen?”

“If we can put it together in time, I’d like to host a dinner party the day after tomorrow, and invite everyone. There, I will make Bastian bow before me to show his alliance. I will let the realm know I have a fae king working for me.”

He held the stars close to inspect them. “You won’t convince him to bow. Fae kings are prideful.”

“And I’m determined. Bash will bow.”

He glanced up. “I’m not certain you have the true spirit of an alliance, but I support this.”

I picked up my skirts. The bath called to me from my room, where I could soak in creamy water tinged with lavender and vanilla and plot my next moves until my skin turned wrinkly. “I’d like those stars mounted as soon as you can,” I called over my shoulder. “So everyone will see I’m not a queen to be trifled with.”

I passed by the blank white walls leading to my chambers. The palace still stood too empty and dull before it opened into my room where color exploded in hues of gold and pink and red. I rubbed my hand over the stone wall in the corridor. Someday, I might like to paint these walls and brighten up the place until it felt more like a home than a cage. A temporary home.

Inside my room, a platter of chocolates rested on the bedside table. A folded note on silver parchment sat beside it.

Stolen just for you.

—Talen

I didn’t deserve that fae. The chocolate melted in my mouth with the first bite, and I grabbed the platter to take to the bath. Already the lavish scents filled my nose with their promise of relaxation, which was richly needed after this day.