Crown of Moonlight (Court of Midnight and Deception #2) - K.M. Shea Page 0,116
want that to happen to any of our Courts again. The same way I was ready to pound you for Verdant’s stag—which you are still not off the hook for, by the way—I will go after any monster that tries to ruin your realm.”
Fell shook his head. “No, you won’t.”
“I will,” I said. “Write it off as my weak human blood, but I’ll do it.”
Fell narrowed his eyes as he studied me. “You are insane.”
“Yep!”
“And weak.”
“Oh, for sure. That’s why I had to call my hydra bro.”
Fell growled like a cat, then turned away from me and stomped off. “The Autumn Court approves of this nomination—with a great deal of misgivings.”
He threw himself down into his chair while I was still tottering back to my seat.
I couldn’t believe it—Fell, the twisted king of twerps—agreed to make me the representative. I almost couldn’t believe it!
My ears rang, and it felt like I was walking on clouds. I reached out and clasped Rigel’s hand, just to anchor myself.
“Then the nomination is unanimously approved by the Fae Ring,” Queen Rime said. “Come January, I will step down as the fae representative, and Queen Leila of the Night Court shall take my place. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Birch said, his forehead split with wrinkles.
“Agreed!” Verdant proclaimed.
Solis glanced at me and smiled like a proud father. “Agreed.”
Fell sank deeper in his chair. “Yeah, yeah, agreed.”
“Thanks everyone,” I said. “I look forward to working with you.”
It took all my control not to grin like a crazy person as I clung to Rigel’s hand.
We’d done it. We won.
The Courts would work with me. I’d have to make sure I stayed on top of them to keep them from petty fights, but the position of representative gave me some power.
I can handle this—with help.
I glanced at Skye and Indigo, and then grinned at Rigel.
He slightly inclined his head, acknowledging my glee.
The best thing is, I didn’t have to bust out the Paragon’s tea like I promised I would if they voted me down!
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rigel
I stood next to my bed and stared at Leila.
Since I’d slipped off the bed, she’d burrowed under the mound of blankets I’d prepared for her. Only her face peeked out the side of a blanket—the rest of her was covered.
She looked ridiculous—like a hamster.
And somehow this hamster managed to drag me into politics, ruin everything I’ve worked for, turn the Night Court on its head…and make herself important to me.
I was tempted to rouse her just to hear her voice—I still hadn’t been able to pinpoint what it was about her voice that was so enticing.
But I knew she’d become an important entity to me—something I hadn’t ever thought I’d have.
Sure, Dion had been my friend since we were kids. But my relationship with Leila went deeper.
Out of everyone in the world, she’d become the one person I trusted, and the one person I believed in.
It was something I couldn’t ever recall experiencing before.
And they were still after her.
A lock of Leila’s hair slipped over her face, and her nose twitched.
I crouched down and tugged the blankets back just far enough that I could push the black lock to join the rest of her silky hair.
I had spoken the whole truth when I’d said I thought the person who set the skull monster loose in the Autumn Court and the person who sent the shadowy creatures after Leila were different people.
I was positive the one who had hired me was the same person who sent the snakes and the shadow creatures from the market, and based on the evidence and what I’d seen, I was equally positive that person had not sent the monster to the Autumn Court.
However, both attacks undeniably used the same magic. Which means they’re using the same supplier, or the one who hired me is just a front.
I sat on the edge of the bed, making the mattress dip.
As if she had some special sensor for my presence, Leila crept across my pillow and grabbed onto my jacket—still sleeping soundly.
I’d wanted to tell her on at least twelve different occasions who had hired me to kill her when I first saw her. I’d tried finding ways around the geas that made me hold my silence—but writing didn’t work, neither did texting her, or even drawing pictures. I couldn’t even think the name, and my body froze up whenever I tried to give her a clue.
Which, I was starting to realize, was a greater danger than I thought.