“Right. As I told you, I had no clue that was coming. I really have no desire to get married, but there’s no countering Saílle’s decree. I live in her city, I’m one of her citizens, and if I know what’s good for me, I’ll just go along with it and do my best to suck it up. But this means my entire life’s going to change.”
I stared at my glass. “You know it’s because of me, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know it’s because you and Herne are engaged. But that’s the way it works in our world. I like living in TirNaNog, and I don’t fancy being on the Queen’s shit-list, so I will make the best of it and just hope that my bride-to-be is even-tempered and not some harpy.”
“She’s a princess. She can’t afford to be a harpy. Especially not when she’s coming into a strange kingdom. Your marriage cements the bond between TirNaNog and Unkai’s band, and inadvertently, paves the way for a stronger connection between Annwn and the TirNaNog here on Earth. I am not sure what Queen Pharial will think of it, though. I thought that Unkai’s band answered to her.”
Just because Saílle’s TirNaNog was named for the original, didn’t mean that Queen Pharial approved of everything the younger Fae Queen did.
“I’m not sure either, but I have no doubt we’re going to find out. I have a message for you from Saílle. You are to escort my bride here tomorrow. She’ll stay in a cloistered suite in the palace until the wedding. It’s going to be in a week or so. I’m not sure of the exact date yet. I haven’t been informed.”
I blinked. “You have no say in it?”
“Do you have a say in your wedding to Herne? Oh, speaking of Herne, Queen Saílle specifically asked for him to accompany you over to Annwn to bring my intended back.”
I frowned. “I know Unkai is the leader of the Orhanakai clan, but Saílle said that Neallanthra is royalty? Is he her father?”
Sharne shrugged. “I think he’s her brother-in-law. How much do you know about your Autumn’s Bane heritage?”
I shrugged. “Just that they’re part of the Dark Fae, and that Unkai is the leader of one of the clans—the clan my father came from.”
“Yes. My father—and Farthing’s—was a member of the Orhanakai band back in Annwn before coming over to Earth. My mother was also of that band. Within the Autumn’s Bane—or Autumn Stalkers, as most people know them—there are five major clans. The Orhanakai are at the top—the nobility of sorts, if you can call it that. But there are four other clans, and the next in importance is the Lekanhika clan. Unkai’s wife came from them, and she brought her sister with her when she joined the Orhanakai. They were both princesses, so to speak, of the Lekanhika. I did a little sleuthing. Neallanthra was never expected to wed, so she joined her sister as a lady-in-waiting. I’m using terms I doubt that the Orhanakai use, but it gives you an idea of the relationships.”
“I get it,” I said, nodding. “So, Neallanthra was foisted off on her sister since she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—find a husband?”
“Right. The best I can surmise is that Saílle heard about Herne proposing to you and had this plan set and ready to execute should you accept.”
“When she saw my ring, she knew it was set and…”
“Right, and since she already had the plans in place, she made quick work of trying to lure you into her Court before Névé could.”
I tried to follow the pieces. “But why Neallanthra? Why not someone from her own court?”
“My guess? She wanted me to have the appearance of nobility without sacrificing any of the women from her own court. Remember, you’re…” He paused, frowning as he stared at the ground.
“I’m a tralaeth, even if I am to be a goddess. She had to find someone who wouldn’t care, but would still give you some status as nobility. And Unkai’s people—our people—they weren’t really concerned about my half-blood heritage when we met them. Saílle must have her spies everywhere to know about this.” I glanced around, wondering if she had somehow bugged the house. I wouldn’t put it past her.
“She does. Trust me, those two? Saílle and Névé? Never underestimate what they’re capable of. They have a network of informants that boggles the mind, which is why I didn’t want to talk about this on the phone. Every inch of their cities has