44. Chapter Forty-Four
“Myrthana was well before your time, Fae Queen,” Azalea said without looking at Evangeline. I smirked at her title—she’d never be worthy of Azalea’s formal respect. It’d always be fae queen, as if it were an insult. “All of our times.”
“I do not need a history lesson on the legends we tell our children to keep them from crossing the barrier. I need actionable information.”
Azalea scoffed and balled her fist beneath her chin, shaking her head slowly. I averted my focus back to the queen and her son, Evander. We were situated in their war room, a map on the table with four markers that could be burial places—two in the Winter Court, one in the Summer, and one in Autumn.
“If something like that existed under Jeniathan’s nose for centuries without him digging into it, I’d be surprised,” Evander muttered as he curled his lip in disgust. “He destroys any piece of history he can.”
Sapphire tittered beneath her breath but cleared her throat to mask it. A ghost of a smile crossed my mouth. I leaned forward, tenting my fingers together on the table. “I don’t mean to hurry things along, Evangeline, but I don’t think you understand the gravity of this situation. If we do not grasp at the thin little straws we currently have, Aurelie will spend another day in danger. That is not something I am willing to let happen.” I paused and picked at the cuticle of my pointer finger. “If you let us into the archives, we may find where we need to go.”
“That will not be happening, Eero. There are three of you—split up, search those markers individually. It only leaves one, and if Evander is so certain it’s not the Autumn Court, you can go to that one last if you must.”
I narrowed my eyes into slits. “Just as there are two of you. I’ve thrown far more people into a dungeon for crossing me.”
Evangeline’s gaze darkened, and she spoke low. “I think you forget who you are speaking to, Eero. Only one of us is crowned.”
“I think it is you that has forgotten who you are speaking with,” I countered, standing and letting my palms flatten to support my weight as I leaned over the table. “It is you who has forgotten I was the only person standing in the way of your court’s downfall during the war. You. Owe. Me. What is it you are hiding in those archives?”
Evangeline did not stand; she merely curled her fingers into her palm and smiled at me. “Is that so? I owe you a favor?”
“And I intend to use every drop of it until you and I are even.”
Evander and Evangeline took one look at each other, their lips cocking into twin smirks. “You’re right, Eero,” she said softly. “I do owe you a favor. Listen closely, because I will not say this again.” She stood, rounding the table so she could approach me. “I will spare you for threatening the queen and crown prince of the Spring Court. I will keep that filthy prisoner in the basement until Aurelie is found, until she can pass judgment on his poor soul. And I will give you swords, food, anything to supply your rebellion. But my aid stops there, as I’ve told you time and time again. If you continue to test me for saving my court two centuries ago, I will string you up by the balls and make sure you die a coward. Is that understood?”
I bared my teeth and leaned in closer to her. “You underestimate the bridges I am willing to burn to get her back, Evangeline. Do not make me an enemy.”
“No enemies here, but our bridge is made of brittle wood. Tread carefully, Eero. It is I who holds the matches.”
I breathed through my nose and held her stare a moment longer. She merely grinned soullessly, mercilessly. She cared not about Aurelie’s survival, and I didn’t expect her to, but the Spring Court’s libraries had burned, and with them went that precious knowledge. Those archives were our last hope at narrowing down where this tomb was.
And Evangeline held the key.
“You choose your secrets over our alliance?” I asked, much quieter than before. Much calmer. The anger had faded into numb hatred. Evangeline had selfishly taken for our entire lives—and I was certain the only reason she gave so much now was because of the threat that loomed over both our crowns if war bled too close to her castle. The archives were inconsequential in the grand scheme of things—especially when comparing donating scarce supplies.
She was hiding something.
Something she didn’t want me to see.
“I think you have overstayed your welcome, Eero,” she sighed before she turned away from me. “Go call on your rebellion and destroy every other Court in this realm. I really don’t care. But you will no longer plague my domain with your violence—it would be wise to linger in colder climates where strife has already run amuck.”
Then, she snapped.
And we were forced from the castle like rats to the street.