Chapter 26
“Darlings!” Lorelei caroled less than five minutes later.
It had taken a frantic scramble behind the scenes, but she was ready for her public performance just in time, sitting with her skirts spread about her on a plush, rose-velvet love seat by the fire in her favorite parlor while Ilse sewed placidly on a sofa across the room and thick, plum-colored curtains held out the winter cold.
Standing just behind Lorelei with one strong hand resting atop the love seat’s gilded frame, Gerard had buttoned his uniform jacket over his irreparably ripped shirt and looked as calm and composed as if nothing extraordinary had happened to him at all.
As Katrin opened the parlor door for the intruders who’d smashed through her magical walls, Lorelei clapped with a perfect approximation of delight …
and prayed that the illusion that kept her hair seemingly in place—and the grass stains off her gown—wouldn’t drop before she could rid herself of her two closest and most valued political allies.
“How wonderfully unexpected to see you both!” she exclaimed.
“Why, I’m so happy, I can’t even recall inviting you. ”
“Ha!” The Witch Queen of Kitvaria stalked into the room, her long black hair pulled free from its usual plait to hang thick and wild about her shoulders, tangled with sticks and leaves from her own magical journey.
Saskia’s crimson gown swished with every impatient step as she glowered at Lorelei in the low light. “We invited ourselves.”
“… Because you left us no choice,” finished the third Queen of Villainy. Raising a single, elegant eyebrow, the Ice Queen of Nornne looked from Lorelei to Gerard and back. “Really, Lorelei.” Sighing, Ailana slowly shook her head. “Do you have no impulse control whatsoever?”
Just like a disapproving older sister! Biting back a groan, Lorelei batted her eyelashes and sent rainbow sparkles floating through the air.
“Oh dear. Was the journey here terribly difficult without any of my lovely portals to carry you? Don’t worry, I completely forgive you both for being so grumpy.
Perhaps once we’ve all enjoyed some cake—”
“Lorelei!” Magic crackled like a building storm in the air as Saskia threw out her arms. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused everyone with your nonsense?”
Ugh. Behind her, Lorelei sensed Gerard stiffen. No doubt he was already lashing himself with worry over whatever was happening in the Empire without him now—and feeling damnable guilt over having actually dared to enjoy himself, for once in his life, with her.
Couldn’t they have had a few more minutes of happiness before the world came crashing in to taint everything?
Leaping to her feet, she stood before him like a shield. “Perhaps the three of us should retire to speak separately and…”
Gerard spoke at the same time, his voice a low rumble. “Ahem. Your Majesties, you may be interested to learn that Queen Lorelei has been working to all of your benefits over the past few days.”
Wait. Eyebrows shooting upwards, Lorelei twisted around. Was that what had made him stiffen up? Irritation that they were chastising her?
Gerard kept his watchful gaze on the queens across the room, but he reached across the love seat to extend one hand—and as Lorelei took it in hers, Ilse stopped sewing to let out a muffled squeal. “I knew it!” she stage-whispered to Katrin across the room.
Standing sentinel in a corner by the door, Katrin didn’t respond in spoken words … but her lips stretched into a knowing smirk.
Neither of the other two queens responded with the same cheering enthusiasm.
“Oh, gods.” Saskia groaned and clapped one palm to her forehead. “Lorelei, has it even occurred to you that the high general of our greatest enemy is not a sensible toy for you to play with and discard?”
“Gerard is no toy.” Lorelei’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as her fingers tightened protectively around his. “And—”
“Of course no one could ever seriously imagine him as anything so frivolous.” As Ailana turned to Gerard, her usual diplomatic mask slipped back into place along with a rueful, sympathetic smile.
“General de Moireul, I believe I speak for all of us when I say that you have our deepest respect and regret for any inconvenience or indignities that may have been inflicted upon you this week. Your sense of honor is so well-known and admired, I know you would never dream of pursuing any personal revenge through your exalted position. Still, regardless of what may have passed between you and our friend and ally…”
“I’m not discarding him,” Lorelei snapped. “I’m keeping him.”
Ailana blinked rapidly, several times in a row. “I beg your pardon?”
Ha. Apparently even the queen of ice and spies didn’t know everything after all! Lifting her chin to meet the other woman’s gaze full-on, Lorelei said, “You may be the first to congratulate us, if you like. Gerard is going to be my consort.”
“But … but you can’t! He can’t.” Ailana spun around to stare at all the other silent observers in the room. “Are you all hearing this madness?”
“I heard it.” Frowning, Saskia crossed her arms … but unlike Ailana, the witch queen looked more thoughtful than disturbed. “I thought something odd was happening between you two at the battlefield last week. I suppose this explains it after all.”
“Doesn’t it?” Lorelei beamed at her with perfect satisfaction.
Saskia, of all people, knew how it felt to fall hopelessly in love with an official enemy; she wouldn’t be foolish enough to hold Gerard’s past allegiance against him in the coming years.
“I knew he couldn’t hold out against me forever. I am irresistible, you know.”
Gerard let out a quiet, ironic huff of breath … but squeezed her fingers in wry agreement.
When he spoke, his words were aimed at Ailana, and his tone was perfectly calm.
“Your Majesty, may I ask which particular aspect of the situation most concerns you? As you can see, I have no intention or desire for revenge. Lorelei’s intervention was not only of personal benefit but professionally timely.
Her warning about the Emperor’s ambition to adopt Purification as a directive was a gift I won’t ignore—and I will promise you, as I’ve promised her already, that I will never lead any troops under that banner.
We haven’t yet had time to discuss all the details of our future plans… ”
He slid Lorelei a glance, and she shivered at the delicious reminder of what they had spent their time doing since their return. Gods, if only the others had let them have another hour! The things she wanted to do to this man…!
“But my own current plan,” he continued calmly, “is to enact a slow and carefully managed retirement from my role. I have a clear responsibility to remain Imperial high general long enough to persuade the Emperor and his private cabinet against the conscienceless course of action which he is currently considering. Afterwards, though, I should be able to tender my formal resignation and, soon afterwards, shift to Balravia for good.”
“Wait, I haven’t agreed to that plan.” Lorelei’s brows drew down into a scowl. “It would mean spending months apart. If not years!”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows, a tiny, private smile tugging at the firm line of his lips.
“For most people, it might. But I have heard rumors that one particularly scandalous queen is capable of creating extraordinarily powerful fae portals—and can use them to enter my own quarters at will, even in the very heart of the Empire. Surely, such a remarkable woman could find a way for us to spend a good deal of time together, regardless of my official residence or any outward appearances.”
Even so …
“I truly appreciate that thoughtful approach, General. However…” Ailana sighed. “What you two may not yet know is that we’ve run out of time for any quiet, peaceful strategies. If you don’t return to the Empire within the next hour, we may all be doomed.”
“He will not—!” Lorelei began hotly, turning back to her.
Gerard said, “What do you mean? What has happened?”
“You’ve been found out, Lorelei,” said Saskia. “The Emperor knows his Golden Beacon is missing, and fae magic was sensed at the scene.”
“What?” Lorelei’s stomach sank. “How? It’s only been two days in mortal time! Gerard wasn’t even due to arrive in the capital yet. I made certain, with the note I left…”
“Unfortunately,” said Ailana, “the Emperor doesn’t share your lover’s patience.
Apparently, Otto wasn’t willing to wait long enough for General de Moireul to travel back across the continent with the troops in a slow procession, as planned.
Instead, he sent a messenger by rail to demand General de Moireul’s immediate presence and report—and while the general’s soldiers did their best to shield his privacy, once a Gilded Wizard was drawn into the mix and sensed fae magic, all was lost.”
Oh, Sylvana. The world fell away from Lorelei like a chasm opening up before her feet, simmering joy transforming into abject horror. I have failed You after all.
She didn’t need anyone to tell her what the consequences would be.
Emperor Otto II had been desperate for months to find a suitable public excuse to adopt Purification. He would leap at this opportunity to blame the fae—and, by association, all other nonhuman creatures—for the abduction and loss of the public’s beloved Golden Beacon.
It was every Purifier’s dream come true: a foolproof way to pull the human continent together in united enmity. And if—when—that fae abductress was revealed to be Lorelei herself, Otto would whip up his populace behind the patriotic need to invade and annex Balravia in righteous vengeance.
“The messenger returned to Fiora just tonight,” Ailana said quietly. “The Emperor has summoned his private council into session now.”