Crown of Moonlight (Court of Midnight and Deception #2) - K.M. Shea Page 0,23
thing to see just how low some of the most illustrious Courts have fallen.”
Coming just behind Queen Rime in power, King Fell was arrogant and loved to yank the rest of the Courts around as long as Queen Rime chose not to exercise her power—as illustrated by his thinly veiled insult.
I smiled, but before I could respond, King Solis spoke. “King Fell of the Autumn Court, Queen Leila.”
I offered King Fell a brittle smile. “Good evening.”
King Fell actually snorted at me before another fae monarch appeared just behind his shoulder.
“What’s this, Fell? Greeting the neophyte, I see.” This fae had an elaborate tunic that was such a vivid and bright blue that it made my eyes almost hurt, despite places where the fabric was shot through with a few shades of yellow and orange.
His long blond-brown hair was tangled in a complicated braid, and his crown was wrapped with tendrils of a plant I didn’t know which draped down over his temples.
That’s King Birch of the Summer Court—I recognize him from the pictures. He’s third in power behind Fell. But where’s his consort?
“She’s not much to look at,” King Fell said.
I openly rolled my eyes. “Puh-leaze,” I said. “You’ll have to do better than that if you want to insult me.”
“And why would we want to do such a thing?” King Fell smirked.
I shrugged. “Probably because your head is so far up—”
King Solis cut in with his warm laughter. “Ahh Queen Leila—you have such a remarkable sense of humor.”
“Thanks. But that wasn’t an attempt to be funny.” I was tempted to say more, but Skye—standing directly behind me—managed to discreetly kick my ankle in a warning.
“Humor—that must be a human trait.”
Apparently Queen Rime’s visit opened the floodgates, because the new conversation intruder was none other than the beautiful Queen Verdant of the Spring Court.
She was easily recognizable with her long, curly blond hair that cascaded loosely around her shoulders, her bare feet, and the flower crown she wore that was ornamented with a small set of antlers.
She came behind King Solis in power and just ahead of me—which, yeah, I didn’t understand, considering Solis’s and my Courts were supposed to be fatefully linked to preserve the power balance, but whatever. The fae were all about being unfair anyway.
“Humor is a human trait,” I confirmed. “The fae got the short end of that stick. But at least people will still listen to fae because of their great beauty, even if they’re dead bores.”
It took Queen Verdant a few moments to work through that and see it was an insult. Thankfully, by the time it dawned on her, the conversation had moved on.
“Ahh yes. Such sharp wit you believe you have.” King Fell clasped his hands behind his back—a move I thought would be uncomfortable given that he wore a gold chestplate, and it looked like he was jabbing himself in the process.
“Since you are new to your title—and to the refined elegance of fae society, being that you are human—I’ll look past your brashness for now,” King Fell continued. “But in the future, endeavor to do better. You cannot possibly face the true consequences of your so-called clever words, because you could never afford to pay them.”
I’m pretty sure that was a threat. I don’t like threats, and I don’t care what the other Courts think of me. But between the Night Court’s massive debt, the crumbling castle, and the shrinking realm, he’s right that I can’t afford to tick them off.
That was somewhat maddening—that Pretty McSnooty Pants was right about something, I mean.
“My respect for the Night Court has dropped even farther,” King Birch announced—as if I’d care. “I didn’t think it was possible after Nyte so badly botched things with the vampires, but I guess you could never expect better from a half human.”
“Oh, you could from some half humans,” I said. “Unfortunately, my other half is fae. I guess that means it’s a lost cause.”
“She sounds like a mutt, howling to the wind.” Queen Verdant sighed and pressed her fingers to her mouth.
“Indeed,” King Birch said.
Skye scuffed her feet behind me, and then I heard the tap of her shoes as she stepped away.
Skye’s backing away. Why is Skye backing away?
I felt a moment of panic, particularly when all the monarchs settled on a point just behind me.
“Ahh. Lord Rigel,” King Fell said. “I never imagined meeting you here.”
Surprised, I glanced over at Rigel as he stepped past Skye’s spot and stood shoulder to shoulder with me.