“I’ll gather my men and bring her in for questioning.”
“The Paragon is here, too,” Skye said. “It might be worthwhile to have him look over the flower.”
Chase bowed slightly. “A worthy plan.”
“Leila!”
Indigo plucked the potion bottle from my fingers as I stupidly turned around. “What—”
Lord Linus stopped just short of crashing into me. He set his hands on my shoulders and forcibly turned me in a circle, checking me over. “Did you give her a healing potion?”
“Yes—though her back is no longer bleeding.”
“She still needs to get looked over,” Lord Linus said.
“I agree.”
There was an ear-splitting hee-haw, and the night mares turned as a group and trumpeted in happiness to Bagel and Fax.
Lord Rigel was leading Fax, but King Solis had apparently taken temporary custody of Bagel as the donkey happily trotted at his side.
“You’re alive—and you won!” King Solis grinned at me. “Congratulations are in order!”
“Thank you!” I beamed at the Day King, then hesitated as Lord Rigel drew closer.
He ignored the night mares that twined around Fax like pleased cats, and looked me over from head to toe. “You survived.”
“What, disappointed?” I asked.
Lord Rigel was silent for several long, awkward moments.
Oh, nice. He really was disappointed!
“It was…illuminating,” he said.
I frowned. “Illuminating? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“No matter, you can flirt with your fiancé later. Drink this.” Indigo pushed the nasty potion back in my fingers. “And get ready.”
“For what?” I asked.
“Justice,” Skye said. “Because that flower should be all Chase needs to prove Lady Chrysanthe is responsible for all the recent attacks on you.”
“Lady Chrysanthe is guilty of conspiring against Queen Leila.” Skye gestured to Lady Chrysanthe—who was being led toward us by Chase and a squadron of guards.
We were in the gardens of the Night Realm—apparently fae justice needed to be meted out in the fae realm. It made sense, sort of?
I was seated in a large chair that had a massive, circular back that was sculpted to resemble the full moon.
A structure that was faintly reminiscent of Greek architecture with its classical columns and open ceiling surrounded the platform I was seated on.
Flags bearing the Night Court crest—a crescent moon with a spattering of stars—were hung between the pillars, and silver bowls bearing silvery globes of light illuminated the area.
When I glanced up, I could see the beautiful cosmic twists of blue and purple, and thousands of glittering stars we didn’t have on earth.
Both Skye and Lord Rigel stood at the base of the platform, and past them spread my Court.
Though it was mostly the same party goers that had attended my engagement ceremony, there was a vastly different feel to it.
Apparently my triumph at the race had caught them all off guard, as did Chase’s arrest of Lady Chrysanthe.
A few of the lower noble houses had started wearing clothing with the Night Court crest—which Indigo told me was a compliment and a sign they believed in me. I didn’t believe her until she said a pixie had made a pin of my personal seal—yeah, the ruffled looking pigeon-raccoon-griffin thing—and apparently it had sold out among the common fae in the two days since the derby.
As if sensing my thoughts, a live pigeon-raccoon-griffin landed on the top of one of the pillars. It bobbed its head and stretched out its neck before regurgitating on a flag.
Yeah, it’s fine.
I planted my elbows on the arms of my chair and pressed my fingertips together as Lady Chrysanthe—surrounded by guards—blearily stopped a few feet away from Rigel and Skye.
“We have witnesses that have placed Lady Chrysanthe at the scene of two attempts against Queen Leila’s life, as well as witnesses—and evidence—that she designed the creature that attacked Queen Leila during the race,” Chase said.
“These charges are false!” Lady Demetria shouted. “My granddaughter loves this Court and only wishes to aid it!”
The crowd murmured, and from my higher position I heard some of the whispers.
“—she always was jealous of the queen.”
“Fancied herself the next ruler, I am certain.”
“She should have done better hiding her acts.”
“Shameful.”
“Disgraceful.”
I studied Lady Chrysanthe as Kevin and Steve—who sat near my feet—growled at her.
Her beautiful blond hair was limp, her eyes were red, and she listlessly stared at the stairs of my platform, though she shivered when Muffin—skulking somewhere behind my throne—hissed.
Huh. I would have expected she’d go down screaming and spitting.
“Moreover, she threatened Queen Leila’s companion in public,” Chase said. “As such, she has been brought before Queen Leila for judgment.”
“Lady Chrysanthe,” Skye said. “Do you have anything to say in regards to these charges?”
Lady