Chapter Twelve
Adelaide
“ I t’s settled then,” I say with finality, eyes scanning the crowd. I have strong-armed them into agreeing to the “election.” I am using that word loosely.
But no one dares to argue. I think the general Fae population might still be a bit afraid of me. Oh well. There are worse things, I suppose.
Princess Mirin, her glassy wings fanning slowly, calls out loudly, “So say we all.”
And the other members, even the sour-faced lieutenant of the Dark Court, repeat it. More importantly, the crowd repeats it.
I grin. En, who was waiting for the agreement of the group of leaders, opens the chamber door and Rory strides in. He’s wearing an impeccably tailored slim-cut fuschia suit and he seems lighter, buoyant, grinning. Weyland—also wearing a custom tailored suit, though in black—slips in behind him and stops to stand next to En near the door, hands clasped behind his back. Rory bounds up to join me at the front of the room.
He clears his throat with a small smirk as he uses a bit of magic to project his voice. “Ladies and gentlefae. I’m so glad to be elected as the governor of FEC2. I am sure I will lead in a more fair and less disastrous way than the royals did.” His eyes dance to me, teasing.
I hear pencils scribbling in the back. Several other cities from various FECs have sent their communications people here, avid to distribute the news. All eyes are on us, apparently. We’re hoping that our FEC will become the flagship of how to not only integrate into human society, but how to earn our freedoms from their government.
“My first act will be to ban indentured servitude.” The crowd titters but he plows onwards, purposefully oblivious. “The accumulated wealth from the three courts has been pooled and will be used to pay each indentured servant a lump sum that will serve to get them set up for their new lives. They will each be offered their current position as a paid job, though they are welcome to decline. Secondly, any royal that has committed violent crimes within the past decade will be eligible for prosecution from the town councils. To lodge any complaints for such, please see your court’s lieutenant general immediately.” He pauses with the flair for the dramatic that only he can properly possess. “My final act today will be to appoint Fae ambassadors to the human world.” More noise from the crowd but Rory holds up his hand melodramatically. Oh yeah. I knew he’d be the perfect politician.
“I am appointing Orla O’Boyle and Filib of the Eilchsons.” A pause here, then, “And Priestess Adelaide ferch Elspeth.”
What the actual ever-loving fuck? This is not what we discussed. I’m going to kill him.
“They shall be required to take up residence both here and in a human city. They shall work with human leaders to relax regulations on Fae across the US and shall be model citizens, showing the humans how civilized we can be.” He grins here in a very uncivilized manner, and the crowd chuckles.
I’m glaring at him. The utter ass. I don’t want to become an ambassador. I want to disappear with my mates. Cold shock settles in. But both Bryn and Ossy step up behind me and put their hands on my shoulders, reminding me that I won’t ever have to face anything alone ever again.