by K. M. Shea
For a moment my heart was crushed.
I can’t be safe or free in a single part of my life, can I? No, I have to be pushed in from all sides and be ever-aware that even my husband will try to play this stupid power game. Particularly when he finds out how much I mean to change about this rotten place.
I reached the gazebo and climbed the few stairs into it. Giant spotlights were pointed at it—because we couldn’t go for elegant—and cheaper—mood lighting. Gosh no.
Naturally, my Court would want to see every detail of my unwanted engagement in clear lighting.
Skye’s forehead puckered with worry. She started to reach out, hesitated, then returned her hand to her side. “Just make the announcement of your fiancé,” she whispered. “And this will be over.”
The slight smile she gave me brimmed with sympathy. Then she bowed and made her escape, leaving me alone under the hot lights and the expectant stares of my Court.
I forced a smile and nodded in greeting. “Thank you for coming to this important event, where I announce my chosen husband.”
The crowd seemed to inch forward, pushing against me with their sheer will. I swear the individual faces I could make out were all drawn with anticipation and greed.
“After giving this unusual and clearly outdated requirement some thought,” I started. And yes, the rip on the marriage thing was entirely necessary! “I have chosen he who will rule with me, share the burden of power, and safeguard our people. And it is—”
I glanced at Lord Dion—he was easy to spot with his bright red hair. He was, of course, standing with Lord Rigel. Lord Dion gave me a charming smile, but Lord Rigel’s eyes were half mast, barely disguising his open boredom. At least there was one member of my Court who didn’t care about political movements!
Wait.
Everything in my mind sharpened, and I stopped breathing.
Wait. Lord Rigel doesn’t have any political connections. Lord Dion is his only friend, he’s the only surviving member of his family, and since he’s an assassin everyone leaves him alone.
Rigel has no ties to any power except his own.
I stared at him, and I felt something dangerous in my chest: hope.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Leila
What I really wanted was a shell to stand around and play the role of husband. I didn’t want anyone sticking his oar in trying to tell me what to do—because no fae would willingly agree to break the game of power like I intended to.
I wasn’t looking for love, or help, or protection.
I just wanted someone who would leave me alone—and maybe not kill me as a major bonus.
He believes in all the power plays, but only because he thinks the pattern can’t be broken. He did try to kill me, but he said he canceled the contract, and he can’t lie. But is just canceling the contract a clear enough action to gamble my entire life on? I mean, he’s an assassin.
I licked my lips, and was only distantly aware that the crowd was starting to stir at my long and awkward silence.
Can I do it? Do I have the guts to make an assassin my consort?
The possibilities made my brain buzz, and I knew I had made my decision when I ripped my gaze away from him, thinking, Skye is going to have to give Chase some of her antacids.
I cleared my throat and smiled again. “And my chosen husband is Lord Rigel.”
When I glanced at the Wraith, I saw to my delight that I had managed to elicit another response in him: shock, I think?
He straightened up, and his lean and usually relaxed body was stiff as he stared me down.
His dark eyes didn’t look dead at all, oh heck no. Now they very much had a certain light to them—whether it was the aforementioned shock, or building rage, I couldn’t tell.
Please, please let me survive this decision!
Lord Dion at his side dropped his jaw and gaped at me—along with the rest of the Court.
No one moved—not even to twitch a muscle. The only noise in the gardens was the hum of the spotlights and the chirp of the crickets.
There was a scuffle near the back of the crowd, and when I looked I saw Chase with a hand slapped over Lord Linus’s mouth. The fae lord’s eyes were as big as moons, and Chase seemed unable to stand still or straight as he gawked at me. A clatter near the front drew my eyes to Skye. Her hands were arranged in the position they’d normally be when she was clutching her tablet, except it must have slid out and fallen to the ground.
Yep. Clearly my people thought I’d lost my mind. I swung my gaze back to my potential fiancé.
“Lord Rigel? What is your response?” I held out my hand.
Please say yes!
Air leaked out of me, and my lungs seemed unable to suck it back in as the moment stretched on forever.
A year passed before he moved, and it took my shocked brain several seconds to process the fact that he was coming toward me.
He climbed the stairs to the gazebo and stopped at my side.
When he moved again I almost winced—afraid I was about to get payback for my most definitely unwanted request.
Instead, my heart stopped when Rigel took my hand in his, and turned to face the crowd with me.
“Is that an acceptance?” I whispered.
Rigel didn’t even look at me. “Yes.” His voice was loud enough for the Court to hear.
“Hah!” Lord Dion broke out in a loud, amused honk, but he immediately smothered his reaction and switched to a smile and an enthusiastic clap.
He was still fighting a grin as the rest of the Court joined him—though they lacked the enthusiasm and were clearly going through the motions with their polite golfer clap as their brains tried to catch up with this unexpected twist.
Rigel didn’t look at me as he said at a volume I could barely hear over the shocked applause of the Court, “I assume you have a reason for this?”
“Oh yeah,” I assured him.
“You will explain it to me—in detail—tomorrow.”
“Gotcha!”
The crowd grew louder—they were still applauding at the same level, but now they were also murmuring to one another like a cloud of hornets.
And based on the glittering eyes, stiff expressions, and raised chins, I was betting the nobles weren’t happy. The common fae still appeared mostly overcome by shock—though the troll’s confused but thunderous claps were the loudest in the area.
I gave Lord Rigel a thumbs up and a wink when he finally glanced at me.
This close I think I could safely categorize the expression in his eyes: puzzlement.
I managed to baffle the Wraith. That’s gotta be an achievement!
“You don’t love me,” he stated.
I inhaled my own spit and choked. After about ten prolonged seconds of coughing, I assured him. “No!”
His expression cleared—he seemed to feel better about it—and Skye slowly approached the base of the gazebo. “If you would step forward, Queen Leila and…Lord Rigel. I will arrange a receiving line so the Court can…wish you both well and give you its congratulations.” Skye kept giving me a meaningful look during the lulls in her sentences.
Lord Rigel dropped my hand like it was a dead fish and glided down the stairs. I was a step behind him—moving more carefully because I still wasn’t great with heels.
Once Skye arranged us to her satisfaction, she stepped to the side to converse with some of the guards, who started motioning at the fae like an airport employee directing landing airplanes.
Indigo joined Lord Rigel and me, looking markedly less disturbed than anyone else on my team as she scooted around to stand behind me.
“Congratulations, my Sovereign, and to you, Lord Rigel,” she said.
I peered back at her. “You seem remarkably chipper.”
“Of course!” She sniffed up at me. “I was really worried for you. But this is exactly the sort of thing I would expect from you normally. I’m glad you’re still doing fine.”
“Gee. Thanks.”
“Now smile!” Indigo poked me in the lower back for emphasis. “And enjoy this moment. Because everyone is going to be furious that you’ve outfoxed them again!”
“Are you insane?” The Paragon planted his feet and set down the baby car seat he’d been carrying. It was about six in the morning, and he’d obviously just woken up based on the fuzzy blue slippers he was wearing, as well as his blue bathrobe that was dotted with overweight, gray cats.
Given how late the celebration “festivities” had lasted the previous night, I was still in my fancy dress—although I yanked off my gloves with enthusiasm. “What do you mean?”
“Marrying him!” The Paragon poked a finger in Lord Rigel’s direction. “What else—besides a loss of all intelligence—could inspire you to marry an assassin?”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t be quite so strong in your words, Paragon?” I suggested.
Lord Rigel didn’t look upset. He’d settled against a wall where his dark shirt let him blend in with the early morning shadows.
Still. He was one of the deadliest fae in America.
And I just got myself engaged to him. Shock was settling in, but I didn’t regret my decision.
The anger of the nobles had actually convinced me I’d taken the best route by choosing Lord Rigel.
The Paragon scoffed. “I have no reason to be afraid of your new beau. Even if he is a murder hobo, my power is far superior—he’s just a cub. But a deadly, murderous cub that you’ll be living with!”
“Mmert!” Aphrodite poked her head out of the car seat.
“Oh, Aphrodite.” The Paragon scooped his pet up—she was wearing what looked like pink baby pajamas. “I’m sorry, are you cold?”
“I think this whole thing is the best thing that’s happened to the Court in decades.” Lord Dion laughed as he flopped down on the couch, looking much freer than I’d ever seen. “It’ll be good for Rigel—and it’s hilarious!”
The Paragon gave Lord Dion a withering gaze. “You’re an idiot.”
Lord Dion shrugged. “I was prepared to do my duty and marry her because you asked me, but I think this is a far better outcome. I mean, who is going to mess with her now?”
The Paragon turned back to me. “Is that why you asked him?”
“Yes, tell us, my Sovereign,” Indigo drawled as she eased herself into a chair. “We’re all dying to know your thought process.”
Chase and Skye stood behind her—Chase with his arms folded behind his back and an expectant look in his eyes that said Indigo was right. Skye was still chewing on antacids—I don’t think she’d stopped taking them since the receiving line finished the previous night.
That can’t be healthy. Maybe I should send her to a doctor?
“I asked Lord Rigel to marry me because you, Paragon, told me to marry someone who didn’t have split loyalties.”
“Yes,” the Paragon agreed. “But I was talking about Dion!” He gave the young lord a dirty look when he laughed again.
“Except Dion has political loyalties.”
The Paragon peered at me over the rim of his spectacles. “To whom?”
“You.”
The Paragon made a strangled noise, and Aphrodite patted at his face with a paw.
“Lord Rigel is the only one with virtually no connections—he couldn’t have any or he wouldn’t be trusted as an assassin,” I said. “Which means I can do what I want, and I don’t have to worry about the political baggage he’ll bring with him.”
It was around then that it occurred to me the genius of my idea might backfire if Lord Rigel stopped getting work as an assassin because he married me, and he got angry as a result.
But he’d be untouchable by the Court. From his point of view he’d still be escaping political games…right?
I glanced at my fiancé, who was still brooding in the shadows.
“Perhaps.” The Paragon put his cat back down in her car seat, then adjusted the tie of his bathrobe. “But I still think you’re nuts. And why are you concerned about political ties? I thought your greatest aspiration was to survive?”
“I’m still very much concerned with that,” I assured him. “But my marriage is a long-term thing. And once I can finally convince the Night Court to follow me, I’ll still be living with the consequences of it.”
“Humph!”
The Paragon sat next to his cat, who affectionately purred and rubbed her head against his arm.
His reaction reminded me I had other people to be concerned about. I twisted, the skirts of my mermaid gown flowing around me. “How is the Court reacting, Skye?”
Skye set her tablet down and folded her hands in front of her. “There is anger to be sure, but acceptance as well.”
“That’s about what I expected,” I agreed. “Everyone was sure when I got married they’d know exactly how to control and move me.” I smirked. “Joke’s on them!”
“Lord Linus seemed…upset,” Chase said.
I waved it off. “Lord Linus frequently acts like a child. He’s probably just mad that Rigel isn’t the kind of person he can beg for money from.”
“Perhaps, but he left shortly after you announced the engagement and hasn’t been seen since,” Chase said.
I wonder what new level of debt he’s getting himself sunk in. Ugh. “It’s fine,” I breezily said. “He’ll drag himself back eventually.”
“The Court is mad and still can’t make a move, Rigel got himself a fiancée, and I’m free,” Lord Dion summarized. “All in all, I think this is the best possible outcome! And something tells me socials are going to be a lot livelier in the future!”
“Some of the lords and ladies who had previously signed up to enter the annual derby are threatening to drop out.” Skye picked up her tablet again and peered down at it. “Which may become a problem. A minimum of six entries from a Court are required in order for the Court to enter.”
“And we can’t skip it?” I asked.
“Not if you want to keep the tiny scrap of respect the Night Court still has to its name,” Indigo snorted.
“The results of the race—” Skye started.
“Wait, wait—let me guess!” I declared. “They greatly affect the always fluctuating balance of power between the Courts?”
“Yes.”
“Thought so.” I plucked my prism from my clutch and rolled it between my fingers—a habit that had become weirdly soothing. “Only fae would see power plays in a stupid thing like a race.”
Lord Dion popped out of his chair. “Now seems like a convenient time to tell you that I’d love to be the royal lawyer, should the need ever occur.” He handed me a business card, which was fancy with gold embossed font.
I studied it for a second before passing it off to Skye. “Are you seriously implying you think we’re going to get a divorce before we even get married?”
“No, not at all!” Lord Dion flapped a hand at me. “Rather, you are planning to marry a fae lord with a rather unique career that may one day lead him to cross paths with the law and—how to say it with refinement—get pressed with a murder charge.”
“And you would try to get him off?”
“Of course! My motto is ‘I may not be able to lie, but that doesn’t mean I have to tell the whole truth!”
“Yes, you do—it’s in the oaths!”
“Ah-ah-ah—witnesses take that oath! That’s my second motto, ‘follow the law to the letter, not the meaning’!”
I squinted at Lord Dion. “Wow. I am really glad I didn’t end up choosing you.”
“You and me both,” he assured me. “Because this is going to be hilarious—and relaxing—for me!” He meandered up to Lord Rigel and slapped him on the shoulder. “I still can’t believe it. Rigel, married! And becoming the consort, no less!” he laughed. “So much for skipping Court functions!”
Chase was writing up notes. “We will have to make adjustments for additional security for Lord Rigel.”
“I will arrange for the suite connected to Queen L
eila’s to be cleaned out,” Skye said. “But I expect Indigo will take point on having it redecorated?”
“Yep,” Indigo said.
“Wait—what?” I stopped fiddling with my prism.
“As queen and consort you two obviously require connecting rooms,” Skye said.
Oh. I didn’t know about that.
I wasn’t afraid that Lord Rigel was going to try anything inappropriate, or bust in on me swimming in my giant tub. No, the bigger danger was that he could now super easily murder me in my sleep!
I’m going to have to do something about that.
“He’ll need a wardrobe,” Lord Dion added. “He’s only got black and gray clothes. He needs some variety!”
“Noted.” Indigo dug her smartphone out and tapped away on it.
The Paragon let out a long, agonized sigh like an overdramatic actress. “When will the wedding be?”
“It’s scheduled for a week after the Midsummer Derby.” Skye said. “The first week of August. I imagine we should be able to achieve all of this.”
“A moment, Queen Leila?” Lord Rigel asked in a low voice.
I jumped—he’d somehow moved across the room without me noticing and was now standing close enough I could almost feel the deepness of his voice. “Ah, sure.”
The others were busy talking about wedding preparations, but Chase and Indigo both noticed when we started to leave.
I waved to them to stay put, but was thankful when Chase started typing away on his phone—probably letting the on-duty guards know we were on the move.
“What’s up?” I asked Lord Rigel once we entered the hallway and he shut the door of my study behind us.
“I believe you owe me an explanation.”
“Ah. Right. Okay—follow me.”
I found the closest door to the outside and led him all the way to the stables.
The sun was already high above the horizon, and my eyes felt like they were filled with bits of gravel. Thankfully, half way through the night, Indigo had slipped me a pair of flats that were way more comfortable than my heels, but I was getting a little tired of the tight fit of my dress as I elbowed the stable door open.