Crown of Shadows (Court of Midnight and Deception #1) - K. M. Shea Page 0,98

the skirts of my mermaid gown flowing around me. “How is the Court reacting, Skye?”

Skye set her tablet down and folded her hands in front of her. “There is anger to be sure, but acceptance as well.”

“That’s about what I expected,” I agreed. “Everyone was sure when I got married they’d know exactly how to control and move me.” I smirked. “Joke’s on them!”

“Lord Linus seemed…upset,” Chase said.

I waved it off. “Lord Linus frequently acts like a child. He’s probably just mad that Rigel isn’t the kind of person he can beg for money from.”

“Perhaps, but he left shortly after you announced the engagement and hasn’t been seen since,” Chase said.

I wonder what new level of debt he’s getting himself sunk in. Ugh. “It’s fine,” I breezily said. “He’ll drag himself back eventually.”

“The Court is mad and still can’t make a move, Rigel got himself a fiancée, and I’m free,” Lord Dion summarized. “All in all, I think this is the best possible outcome! And something tells me socials are going to be a lot livelier in the future!”

“Some of the lords and ladies who had previously signed up to enter the annual derby are threatening to drop out.” Skye picked up her tablet again and peered down at it. “Which may become a problem. A minimum of six entries from a Court are required in order for the Court to enter.”

“And we can’t skip it?” I asked.

“Not if you want to keep the tiny scrap of respect the Night Court still has to its name,” Indigo snorted.

“The results of the race—” Skye started.

“Wait, wait—let me guess!” I declared. “They greatly affect the always fluctuating balance of power between the Courts?”

“Yes.”

“Thought so.” I plucked my prism from my clutch and rolled it between my fingers—a habit that had become weirdly soothing. “Only fae would see power plays in a stupid thing like a race.”

Lord Dion popped out of his chair. “Now seems like a convenient time to tell you that I’d love to be the royal lawyer, should the need ever occur.” He handed me a business card, which was fancy with gold embossed font.

I studied it for a second before passing it off to Skye. “Are you seriously implying you think we’re going to get a divorce before we even get married?”

“No, not at all!” Lord Dion flapped a hand at me. “Rather, you are planning to marry a fae lord with a rather unique career that may one day lead him to cross paths with the law and—how to say it with refinement—get pressed with a murder charge.”

“And you would try to get him off?”

“Of course! My motto is ‘I may not be able to lie, but that doesn’t mean I have to tell the whole truth!”

“Yes, you do—it’s in the oaths!”

“Ah-ah-ah—witnesses take that oath! That’s my second motto, ‘follow the law to the letter, not the meaning’!”

I squinted at Lord Dion. “Wow. I am really glad I didn’t end up choosing you.”

“You and me both,” he assured me. “Because this is going to be hilarious—and relaxing—for me!” He meandered up to Lord Rigel and slapped him on the shoulder. “I still can’t believe it. Rigel, married! And becoming the consort, no less!” he laughed. “So much for skipping Court functions!”

Chase was writing up notes. “We will have to make adjustments for additional security for Lord Rigel.”

“I will arrange for the suite connected to Queen Leila’s to be cleaned out,” Skye said. “But I expect Indigo will take point on having it redecorated?”

“Yep,” Indigo said.

“Wait—what?” I stopped fiddling with my prism.

“As queen and consort you two obviously require connecting rooms,” Skye said.

Oh. I didn’t know about that.

I wasn’t afraid that Lord Rigel was going to try anything inappropriate, or bust in on me swimming in my giant tub. No, the bigger danger was that he could now super easily murder me in my sleep!

I’m going to have to do something about that.

“He’ll need a wardrobe,” Lord Dion added. “He’s only got black and gray clothes. He needs some variety!”

“Noted.” Indigo dug her smartphone out and tapped away on it.

The Paragon let out a long, agonized sigh like an overdramatic actress. “When will the wedding be?”

“It’s scheduled for a week after the Midsummer Derby.” Skye said. “The first week of August. I imagine we should be able to achieve all of this.”

“A moment, Queen Leila?” Lord Rigel asked in a low voice.

I jumped—he’d somehow moved across the room without me noticing and was now standing close enough I could