Chapter 7 #2
With a shudder, Imani withdrew her shadows before either man could inspect the ward’s cracks too closely. Her darkness slid back through the roots, climbed the manor’s wall, and disappeared beneath her feet just as Ellisar and the captain separated below.
Only then did she let herself breathe, her chest heaving at what she’d overheard. If Ellisar ever discovered she could reach through the protections around his private conversations, proving she was the queen might become the least dangerous chat they’d ever have.
Imani sank to the floor, knees drawn up to her chest, her nightgown fanning out.
Ellisar wanted her, but only if she were queen.
She had no reason to be surprised. Even if she was a Norn, technically one of his people, she was more of a liability to them than anything.
For all she knew, he might toss her back into the wilderness or kill her before his court if he decided she threatened his people.
When she killed Malis all those months ago, she had broken the law, and everything she knew about Ellisar suggested he upheld it with an iron fist.
Unlike Kiran’s blatant madness, she couldn’t shake Ellisar’s subtle ruthlessness.
She needed to convince him of the truth somehow.
His motives remained murky to her. Did he want to kill the king?
Which king? It seemed he’d figured out Tanyl, but he needed her help to do it.
But Kiran? Had Ellisar fought him before and won?
When? How? The statement absolutely flabbergasted her.
Did he still want her help taking him down, and why?
The biggest question was why the Norn elves would move from their traditionally defensive position—one they had held for decades—to an aggressive one.
What did they want? Something one of the kings had been essential to Ellisar; she was sure of that.
Either that, or one of the kings planned to move against them, and they needed to be prepared.
Probably both.
Their situation grew more complicated by the minute.
A cool breeze blew in through the open window, ruffling the light cotton nightgown and reminding her it was the middle of the night.
She shivered and stood to close the window.
The courtyard was empty, but she couldn’t forget the cruel, malicious smile Ellisar had worn earlier—and how it reminded her of someone else.
Was she trading one monster for another?
Good thing she might be a monster in her own right.
* * *
The corseted dress, pulled tight and fitted, squeezed her breathless and emphasized her every curve, transforming her into a sleek, precise form. She had to take shallow, controlled breaths because the structure was firmly cinched around her ribs.
It was a beautiful piece, unmistakably so.
Dark sapphire velvet clung to her form, tapering cleanly into her narrow waist, the fabric rich enough to drink in the light and return it in a soft, subtle sheen.
Fitted sleeves hugged her arms without excess, while the plunging neckline drew the eye downward, framed by a jeweled necklace that caught and scattered light with every slight movement.
The entire design was elegant, commanding, and impossible to ignore.
As expected, her ladies’ maids worked efficiently yet still gazed in awe at the crown. This was the first time they had seen her dressed as a queen, and they clearly didn’t mind that she was quite smaller than they were. Most stayed back unless they needed to help dress her.
Their eyes remained filled with reverence as they worked, though they tried to conceal it with self-controlled calm.
Their movements were intentional and cautious, almost hesitant, as if they feared making too much contact or staying too long near her.
It wasn’t just respect; it was an instinct that urged them to step back unless necessary, their gaze shifting between her and the crown on her head, which seemed to command its own focus.
An awe washed over her, sinking into a darker layer of her mind, taking root and lingering.
It sparked a stirring inside—an emotion that unfurled gradually—revealing power not merely hidden but visible.
A subtle, unfamiliar thrill pulsed through her chest, and she welcomed it rather than resisting.
She allowed it to expand, and she found she enjoyed it.
Esa sashayed into the room, crossed her arms over her chest, and assessed the queen for any imperfections. Her dress carried none of Imani’s weight or structure, yet it drew attention all the same.
The tailor designed it for ease of movement, resulting in a flowing, pale silver-blue silhouette that shifted with each step and caught the light in gentle ripples.
The fabric hung loosely instead of clinging, gently cinched at the waist before cascading into layered skirts that floated like air around her legs.
Thin straps outlined her shoulders, leaving her arms exposed; subtle beading traced the neckline, shimmering faintly as she moved, offering a delicate contrast to the garment’s simplicity.
Her bright blue hair fell in soft waves down her back.
Where Imani’s presence commanded, Esa was lighter and more elusive, yet no less premeditated.
The pixie nodded. “This is good. You look regal and alluring.”
Imani suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, yet felt secretly pleased by the response.
She cleared her throat. “I heard the High Sentinel last night from my window. He was in the courtyard with his captain of the guard.”
Esa’s brows shot to her hairline. “And what, pray tell, were they conversing about?”
Imani shooed the maids out of the room and carefully sat down on the settee. “Me.”
Esa sat down next to her. “And?”
“I’m not really sure what to make of it all. I can’t tell what Ellisar wants from Kiran or Tanyl, or what he wants from me. It’s maddening. I know his top priority is to protect the Draswood and its people, and if he learns I’m a liability in that, he will kill me. Of that, I’m sure.”
Esa nodded. “That sounds like Ellisar.”
“How should I play this?”
Pursing her lips, Esa didn’t answer right away.
“I’m not sure, but you need to be—and I mean truly be—the most powerful being in the room.
Maybe even in any room Ellisar has ever been in.
He’ll think twice about killing you if there’s a way to get you to work together on the same side. He’s nothing but pragmatic.”
“You mean let my soul draw out, let my signature run free, and let him feel the power of the crown and of the Drasil all at once?”
“Yes, it’s the only way. And you already look gorgeous. Make him curious about you in more than one way. Then we’ll have a seat at the table and can start negotiations.”
Imani wiped her sweaty hands on the sumptuous velvet of her dress. She looked like a queen. The Drasil lay beside her, and she picked it up, trying to decide her next move. She needed to impress him in every way.
And suddenly, an idea struck her.
Esa narrowed her eyes at the expression on her friend’s face.
Imani grinned like a fiend.