I sighed. “So how on earth does Onyx expect King Peter to enter a treaty with her after all of this?”
Peony exhaled slowly. “I don’t know, but that’s probably why she sent her warriors in the middle of the Harvest Ball. The king would’ve never heard out the warriors if he was asked privately. But with his whole court watching, he must at least pretend that he wants peace.”
I played with my teardrop earring and watched the Summer Court, which had gone back to gossiping while drinking more of the mind-altering drinks and eating chocolate pralines. Despite the weapons, most weren’t exactly warriors, at least among the upper class. Fighting was for the lowly. These fae wanted fancy parties. I could see how King Peter needed to give them a reason to go from cold war to active war. I just hoped he wouldn’t find one.
Finally, the Summer warriors returned with the Winter Court fae in tow, which I discovered with relief didn’t look worse for wear. King Peter entered last, still flanked by Caleb and Nathan, whose faces gave nothing away. As they emerged back in the courtyard, everyone fell silent.
“I have graciously decided to give Princess Onyx a formal audience at the Summer Palace.” The Summer fae glanced at each other, mouths agape. “I want only the best for my people, and thus, I’ll hear what the Winter Court has to say despite their outrageous crimes,” King Peter continued, and the hope that had built within me drained out.
Onyx would have to work very hard to get him to agree to a treaty. Worse, this could be a trap.
“Please continue the festivities. Princess Onyx will arrive at sunset tomorrow.” With that, King Peter left as the Summer fae applauded, though it was clear from their long faces that they had mixed emotions about an enemy princess coming to their lands.
The Summer warriors released the two Winter messengers. As soon as they did, a bluish light erupted behind Sela and the male fae. Summer guards raised spears as if expecting something to come through it. A few people screamed. Still others in suits surged forward, hungry for information. The media. I had to hold back a snort.
The light widened, turning to an oval window. The screams turned to gasps, though the guards remained in a ring around the portal.
Snowy mountains stretched out on the other side, along with buildings made of packed ice. An aurora of greenish light danced over a vast palace made of ice spikes that sat atop a mountain with tall pine trees. Under the starlight, snow sparkled, reflecting the green and red light cast by the celestial curtains. I stared in awe at the haunting beauty of the Winter lands as cold air rushed from the portal opening.
The media snapped photos frantically while the Summer fae whispered, their jaws dropping. But as soon as the portal grew to its full size, Onyx’s warriors backed into it and snapped it shut with a burst of blue light. I blinked, an afterimage dancing on my eyelids.
Caleb and Nathan joined Peony and I, their faces still expressionless. Loud chatter spread through the courtyard.
“How did you convince him not to kill the messengers?” Peony asked before I could.
“He had no other choice with such a public peace offering,” Caleb said slowly.
So we had been right about that. Otherwise, King Peter would have beheaded the messengers or hung them with those vines.
Nathan’s lips pressed into a firm line. Once again, he was all business, and now his silver eyes showed no trace of softness. Not after encountering Winter fae. “We’ll have to be very careful. It might be a trap.”
Was he kidding? “Onyx is coming here with what, a handful of warriors, and you’re seriously worried when you have your whole army? She should be the one concerned.” I stopped myself, realizing that my tone had just revealed how close we had once been.
Nathan gave me a grim look. “Onyx has no reason for distrust. King Peter gave his word that he wouldn’t harm her or her guards on her visit. Her guards promised the same. Pureblood fae contracts are binding and cannot be broken. They even had a second letter with them in lieu of an in-person oath.”
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” I willed Nathan to be more optimistic, but my positive thoughts slammed against his mental shield. “It’s a start.” The words came out weak.
Nathan crossed his arms. “The Winter Princess might not plan to attack us now, but it doesn’t mean she won’t in the future. This is not the first or even tenth peace treaty in our kingdom’s history, so I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Fae contracts may be binding, yet the rules of war are always changing.”
Chapter 14
A knock on my bedroom door roused me the next morning, shooting terror down my spine. With my magic, I’d be part of the peace negotiation meeting between Onyx and King Peter, and I dreaded discovering what the king would expect of me.
After dressing in a simple lilac dress and crossing the apartment, I found not Amanda or Pierre at the door, but Nathan himself. My heart leapt into my throat at his serious expression.
“May I come in?”
Unable to decline, I simply stood aside. Nathan did not look at me as he entered. He took a seat on the wicker chair next to the bookshelf and indicated for me to sit opposite him. Even in my apartment, he wanted to be in charge. All the progress we’d made had gone backwards since last night.
“This is my apartment,” I reminded him, throat dry.
“I am sorry.” He stood, but I motioned for him to sit back down and leaned against the wall, waiting for him to speak.
“Blythe worked with you on your ability to influence, didn’t she?”
“Yes.” I forced the work out. So my suspicions were correct.
Nathan nodded. “Good. I was thinking about how we’re going to deal with the Winter Court. King Peter would value your services, as Onyx and the Winter Court likely do not know of your abilities.”
Even though I had feared something like this, I still couldn’t agree without putting up a fight first. “Why would he need me? Didn’t you say that King Peter can use telepathy with all of his Summer Court subjects?” The thought of being forced to manipulate Onyx turned my stomach. How could I do such a thing after she stood up for me at the Wild Hunt?
“The king can communicate his commands via his mind to us, but he cannot receive communication back from us. We don’t have any mind readers at the court, but the Kallans have always hired the Everstons for support in negotiations.”
“I see,” I said. So the mighty king was not as powerful as I had believed.
“We discussed Onyx’s half-fae status last night.” Nathan let his words hang, and I wondered if one of the Kallan siblings or a vampire had given that information to King Peter. “It complicates everything as it allows her to lie.”
I nodded, hoping against better judgement that he wouldn’t ask me to influence Onyx to betray herself or her new court. “The king could demand that her warriors back up anything she says. They cannot lie as purebloods.”
Nathan rubbed his forehead and blinked. “They cannot lie intentionally, but fae can speak lies if we believe them to be true. That’s part of the trickery we have used so well over the ages. Or we can simply omit the truth or mean something with our words that the listener does not hear. That’s why tonight, Virgie, you must convince Onyx to lay bare the truth. I am sorry you are being pressured like this so early in your career.”
Our gazes met. Nathan’s eyes softened for a moment, but then he stood, concluding this meeting. I pushed off the wall and straightened, hiding my fear. Nathan might be sympathetic to me, but he would not be toward Onyx. Already, I could feel the pressure of his thoughts trying to invade my head.
Nathan crossed the apartment. “Try to rest up and meet me at the carriage thirty minutes before sunset.”
“I will.” I swallowed hard, wondering how I would get out of betraying my former friend.
No one bothered me that day. We didn’t have classes as it was our day off. Peony and Kristen were probably sleeping somewhere, getting much-needed rest, while I spent the day wandering around the Vasara Training Center
, trying to come to terms with my new role as the king’s mental arm-twister.
Nerissa was gone from the office, too, leaving me no one to talk to. Onyx wouldn’t deceive King Peter, right? Maybe there would be no need to make her speak the truth, and I could just pretend. She was reasonable. She’d want peace. Even when she went on the offensive as she had with Preston, she’d acted in self-defense.
What if King Peter wanted to force a confession from her? He couldn’t, not by himself, and I’d never do that. Nathan could communicate telepathically, not read minds, fortunately for me and Onyx. But what if the king found someone who had mind reading abilities? I shuddered at the thought. My skill to influence people was terrifying enough.
The day seemed to drag and move too quickly at the same time. At last, after dressing in another whitish-purple gown that complimented my wings, I went to find Nathan at the open gate. His stood next to the carriage, his expression unreadable.
“What, exactly, will I need to do?” I asked as Nathan held open the carriage door, and I stepped inside.
Once he sat down opposite me, he handed me a parchment scroll, rolled-up and tied with a golden ribbon. “We will escort the princess and her three guards to the throne room. King Peter expects you to encourage the princess to be open to what he has to say.”
Nathan had done this to keep some stress off of me. To allow me to get ready for what I had to do. Even though I was grateful, I didn’t feel calm. Not in the least.
“All right.” I was happy to encourage Onyx, but only with the use of my words.
Nathan nodded, then looked straight ahead, hiding his emotions as our carriage took flight and the trees below shrank. The flight to the palace was over quickly, and we landed in the courtyard. King Peter was not waiting for us.
Nathan opened the carriage door. “This is your chance to prove to everyone that you are loyal to the court. I believe in you.”
I almost expected him to pat me on the knee. Instead, Nathan offered me a hand as I got out of the carriage, and upon seeing the usual media storm gathered on the cobblestone plaza, I clasped his fingers tightly while waving with my other hand. At least no one assaulted me with questions about telling off the Brat Prince. Hopefully, the calming drink had made him forget our exchange. But what if it hadn’t? What if King Peter was testing me after I had stood up to his son?
I scanned the crowd for the child prince, but couldn’t find him anywhere. Even though the media wasn’t bombarding me with questions, heavy tension hung in the air. Only the nobles had showed up to this event, and there was no trace of any celebration as they stood on their balconies. The regular people of the Summer Court were absent tonight. They weren’t important enough to be here to listen to a decision that would affect them all. I pressed my lips together, not liking this one bit.
Nathan linked his elbow with mine. “We need to go to the front entrance.”
The front entrance was, according to him, where the portal would open. It turned out to be a balcony set high above the valley below, next to the roaring waterfall. Nathan stood with his hands behind his back as several guards waited. I wouldn’t be alone with Onyx. Not even for one second. This was a test. King Peter wanted to ensure that the newest Everston would bend to his will. For my sake and that of the other earthbound fae, I had to make him believe that.
Nathan and I watched the mist rise from the waterfall, forming dancing rainbows that faded with the setting sun. At last, the now-familiar blue glow cut in front of the scene and widened.
Guards readied their spears, and Nathan moved to the doorway of the great balcony but didn’t leave. As I watched, his hand flicked to his sword, and he shot me a worried glance. Even though he was doing much better at holding his tongue, he still wanted to be my protector. I gave him a firm nod, letting him know that I could stand on my own.
Anyhow, it wasn’t Onyx I was worried about.
The portal opened to show the same palace from last night, only the sun was setting on the Winter side, too, and the ice palace and the mountain buildings looked dark against the pink sky. Three Winter fae, including Sela and the male from last night, stepped through, followed by a face I hadn’t seen in months.
“Princess Onyx Vinter.” I dropped into a curtsy. Even though Onyx had helped me back in Nocturnal Academy, she did scare me sometimes, especially given how unpredictable and bullheaded she was. Unlike me, Onyx wasn’t one to make the rules work for her. She challenged the rule makers and forged her own path.
Onyx’s eyes narrowed. Her purple hair blew in the breeze, and her muscles flexed underneath the cobalt-and-black suit she was wearing that was similar to her warriors, but sported silver accents that made it fancier. A sheathed sword hung from her belt, and a cape the color of a deep glacier blew behind her. She stood like a warrior, and I guessed she had received plenty of physical training. Onyx didn’t just have her ice magic to rely on now. The heavy crown that sat on her head and appeared to be made out of ice crystals was another reminder of all the power she possessed now.
“Virgie? I was told I would meet the Ambassador.” Her voice rang out with confidence, not an ounce of fear even though she was in enemy territory with only two guards.
I smiled as Nathan tensed next to me, reminding me that I could not let on that Onyx and I were friends. I had to stay professional until Onyx was safely out of the palace.
“I am the Ambassador,” I said coldly. “I will take you to the throne room.” I gave her a tiny shake of my head, letting her know that now was not the time to ask questions, then motioned for her to follow.
We walked into the archway and back into the palace. Nathan and six Summer guards flanked us. We had an entire escort. Small talk, I figured, would be appropriate. I was dying to hear about what Onyx had experienced, so I slowed my pace, even though the media was waiting in the main courtyard.
“I understand you have taken over the Winter Court.” It was a good, neutral way to start the conversation. I hoped Onyx realized that we needed to stay within the box.
“Yes. In my father’s absence, I have found myself in command,” Onyx said. “Thorsten has been a great help, as he is also now in a position of power.”
“Thorsten?” I asked. Of course she hadn’t brought him. King Peter would not appreciate a vampire coming to court and would see it as an alliance between the Winter Court and the vampires, and therefore a threat. Thorsten had probably been furious with Onyx only bringing two guards, not that she needed a protector.
“Everything has been such a big change for both of us.” Onyx blushed the tiniest bit. “Without each other, we would not have kept our sanity.”
Nathan quickened his pace so that he was now walking on my other side, and I wondered what he was thinking about this conversation. Did he know that Onyx and I had been more than classmates at Nocturnal Academy? I shot him a glance, trying to read him, but as usual, his face was an impenetrable mask.
We entered the main courtyard, to the media storm. Lights flashed and questions flew, but I stared straight ahead as Amanda counseled me to do in these important situations. If I couldn’t talk freely, she said, it was best if the media drew their own conclusions without having a direct quote from me, which they could twist and turn for their purposes.
I didn’t dare speak again until we entered the next corridor, another grand one with waterfalls that led to the throne room. Onyx admired the scenery and the fireflies, though tension lived in her gait.
“You are here to make peace, right?” I asked, remembering my task and my test.
Beside me, Nathan’s gaze drilled into me. He was watching me all right.
“I am hoping for peace. We do not need to fight.” Onyx faced me directly. Despite her new warrior walk, fear flitted through her eyes. She knew that King Peter would not be a warm audience. “How is your new court? And how is Peony?”
“Peony is doing well. Better than before.” How could I communicate that I wasn’t going to throw Onyx to King Peter’s wrath?
“I love my new court, and I’ve met some amazing people. We need to keep the peace for everyone’s sake.” I stared at Onyx as if I were trying to manipulate her, but did not apply the mental pressure.
Nathan nodded. I had said the right thing.
Finally, we reached a set of double doors, which were between twin, towering trees and probably led to King Peter’s throne room. Nathan nodded at me again, and I knocked.
King Peter’s voice boomed, “Enter.”
Chapter 15
Two guards pulled open the massive throne room doors without so much as a grunt to reveal a wide, cobblestone walkway that led past two rows of enormous trees. The ceiling was open to the night sky. Lanterns hung everywhere, and insects buzzed. King Peter sat on a massive throne on the other side of the open space. The throne was flanked by two trees which appeared to have bent over and extended their arms for him, forming a grand chair with twisted branches. To his right was a smaller throne where Percival sat, puffing out his chest, ready to observe whatever his father had planned. If Percival had put in a bad word about me, he didn’t show it. In front of guests, the young prince smiled like an angel.
“Step forward,” King Peter Kallan ordered, grasping the wooden arms of his throne. As he dug his fingers in, a few spiked vines sprang from between his fingers. The short vines curled as if waiting to lash out.
Next to me, Onyx tensed, but continued walking.
“We want peace,” I whispered, needing her to remember that.
She nodded, and I released a breath. However, King Peter’s rage became even more apparent as we neared, stepping over several dirt beds that hadn’t grown trees yet. The prickling sensation of his magic washed over me. I had to try to calm him. Nathan’s mental shield had dropped before, which meant that the king’s could too. As we stopped just twenty feet from his throne, still flanked by about a dozen guards, Onyx bowed at the waist. “Thank you for your audience tonight.”
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