Crown of Moonlight (Court of Midnight and Deception #2) - K.M. Shea Page 0,114

that much worse.

No, I needed to do something terrifying.

I needed to tell them what was really going on.

“The fae are being targeted. Someone wants us out of the picture,” I said. “You can ask the Paragon and Solis to confirm it, but basically, there’s a group out there that would love to see us kill one another in our quests for power. I want the representative position because it’s the best chance I have at stabilizing our position, and reaching out and making alliances with other supernaturals.”

My desire to be the new fae rep was the only reason why the Paragon had given me permission to tell everyone. If I failed to snag the spot, the Paragon had given me a back up plan that I had to follow, and I wasn’t too keen on it.

Rime frowned. “Wait—there’s a group?”

We all sat down—though I shook my head when Indigo asked if we wanted tea—and Solis and I, with some help from Rigel, explained everything the Paragon had told us about the shadowy organization.

Rime pressed her long, slender fingers together. “And you think they’re targeting us?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Why?” Verdant asked.

“What was your estimation of the Night Court before I took power?” I asked.

Verdant looked away.

“That’s why. Because the Night Court was a bleeding, wounded seal surrounded by sharks,” I said.

“And what has this to do with the position of representative?” Rime asked.

“I want the position, because it’s become apparent to me that we are our own worst enemy,” I said. “In all our infighting and backstabbing we don’t secure more power for ourselves, we condemn the fae to an earlier and earlier end.”

“And you think you can lead us?” Birch scoffed.

“Yeah,” I said. “Because I’m the only one who knows what it’s like to live without that kind of weight on them, and because I’ve managed to do it within my own Court.”

“I don’t like it,” Fell argued. “The hierarchy system has existed for years, and we’ve flourished under it! Nothing needs to be fixed.”

“Fell, it’s not, in fact, working,” I said. “My people have thwarted more assassination attempts against me than I care to remember. Rigel and I met because someone wants me dead. I love my Court enough that I’m willing to bust a few heads to save it.”

“And as for us?” Rime asked.

I shrugged. “Consider it your lucky day. I’m going to save you all whether you want it or not.”

“There is nothing I wish to be saved from,” Birch grumbled.

“Oh, not even the death of magic?” Verdant asked.

Birch looked away and avoided her gaze.

“I still think this is a plot. You wish to lull us all into a sense of laxness, and then you’ll snap up the power all for yourself,” Fell declared.

“Or that you exaggerate, and you are the only one in danger,” Birch said.

I glanced back at Indigo, but refrained from giving in to the temptation to ask for refreshments. I needed them to agree to this.

“I am in danger,” I agreed. “But the monster dumped in the Autumn Court should make it obvious that it isn’t just me they’re targeting.”

“I don’t know that we need other supernaturals,” Rime said.

“We do,” I bluntly disagreed. “I know it’s been our instinct to hunker down with our own kind as magic gets weaker and weaker, but I’ve seen what happens when supernaturals work together. I was part of it—if only a little. If we reach out to them, the wizards will help us, and then the vampires will, too, because they’re nosy and more than a little bossy.”

A faint smile twitched on Solis’s lips, but he was the only one.

“Don’t misunderstand, I don’t intend to beg,” I said. “They need us just as we need them. They need our potions, wards, barriers, and magic. And we need their friendship so when giant Godzilla monsters attack us, we don’t just dump them on the nearest neighbor, Fell.” I couldn’t help that one little verbal smack, but Fell wouldn’t look at me. Who knew if he was even listening?

“What, then, are you asking from us?” Rime asked. “This seems like more than merely making you the representative.”

“Merely?” Birch sputtered.

“I want your cooperation, and your promise that we’ll stop this stupid fighting,” I said.

Birch snorted.

“No more targeting what’s important to each other,” I said. “No more stag hunts, and the next person who tries to poison Flora is going to discover just how dark the Night can be,” I growled.

Birch gaped at me, his eyes wide, his expression frozen somewhere