Crown of Shadows (Court of Midnight and Deception #1) - K. M. Shea Page 0,83

on my seal to show them just how little I actually care what they think, and I’m going to rip this current system apart.”

Indigo adjusted her cat eye glasses. “That’s what bringing your donkey here was—the first shots fired in this new campaign of yours.”

In my surprise that she’d caught on already, I stopped petting Muffin. The cat shoved her head under my hand, restarting my brain. “Yes.”

“And what do you hope to accomplish by this?” Skye asked. She didn’t seem upset—surprised, yes, and maybe curious. But she hadn’t gotten her antacids tin out, yet, which was a good sign. “And do you mean to do the same with the other Courts?”

“The Night Court thinks they can yank me around—I just want to show them that they can’t. I don’t know about the other Courts, yet. I’ve only met King Solis, and something tells me he’s not the norm.”

“No, he’s far dreamier and kind hearted than the rest of the Courts.” Indigo sighed in appreciation.

Skye tapped her stylus on her tablet, then nodded. “Very well.”

I blinked, surprised. “You’re just going to accept it?”

Skye shrugged. “I am your steward—I do what you tell me. It’s in the job description. Besides, you have proven your desire to do what is right by your struggle with your studies and your desperation to improve your magic. Truthfully, I don’t understand what you mean to do, but I am confident enough that—based on your past actions—you don’t seek to get everyone killed.”

“No,” I agreed. “Just ruffle some feathers.”

“Yes,” Skye hesitantly agreed. “Which is something the Night Court, perhaps, needs right now.” She cleared her throat, then looked down at her stylus. “I will see to it that several sample sketches are drawn up for your seal.”

“Thank you, Skye. Was there something else you wanted to ask me?”

“Yes, about your marriage—have you given it any thought?”

I groaned and let my head fall and thump my desk. “Not much since you last mentioned it.” I peeled my forehead off the table and made myself look at her. “Is there anyone besides Lord Dion who is at all remotely trustworthy?”

“Trustworthy is not a word I would often use to describe any fae, Queen Leila,” Skye said.

“You can say that again,” Indigo muttered.

“I have taken the liberty of making two lists of the top candidates depending on your choice. A list of fae from less powerful families—which means they won’t be able to pressure you into anything, but are likely to use your position to aid their climb to power and will be unable to help you should you need it—and a list of candidates from more powerful families—which means they will certainly aid you should you need it, but they will also pressure you to rule in a way that benefits them.”

“Ohhh, I bet family dinners are going to be fun,” I said. “Which list is Lord Dion on?”

Skye slightly pursed her lips. “Neither, actually. I believe that’s why the Paragon chose him. He’s more neutral—while his family is neither powerful nor weak, he is personally well liked by the Courts, considered quite competent, and has strong ties to the Paragon thanks to his work outside the fae community.”

Ah. That’s why the Paragon chose him. He’s the least ruthless match up, but then the Paragon could pressure me if he liked.

The Paragon didn’t strike me as the type to do so—he was pretty famous for trying to avoid work, actually. But marrying someone who was most loyal to the Paragon didn’t sit quite right with me, either.

It’s not like there are any other options. No one in this awful community is a true neutral. They wouldn’t survive.

It occurred to me, then, that there was perhaps one deadly neutral lord in my Court.

“Just for curiosity’s sake—and I know he’s not on the lists, but if he were…which list would Lord Rigel be on?”

Skye shifted her tablet and thoughtfully tilted her head. “Again, neither list.”

“Really?”

“He’s the only one in his house,” Indigo said. “His parents and older brother died under ‘mysterious’ circumstances. Mind you, less than a month after their funeral was when he launched his career as an assassin.”

“Because everyone fears Lord Rigel—and because he is the only member of his line—he has been able to remain outside typical Court politics,” Skye said.

“Yeah, because no one wants to get on the Wraith’s bad side,” Indigo grumbled.

Skye cleared her throat and tucked a curl of her chin-length hair behind her ear. “I’ll email the lists to you, if that is