19. Aldrin #3
“You are not the only one who has made that mistake.” Cyprien materializes at my shoulder. “I was far too consumed by my grief after I lost my wife to stop that disastrous election and see Titania’s true intentions.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Gods, her propaganda was so convincing I too came to believe I was incompetent, that another could rule better than I. Especially when it was the will of the people.”
A fond smile grows on Rainier’s face as he glances back at Sasha. “I was lucky that Sasha likes to collect strays and lost people. She has been a mentor for a few of us.”
Both Cyprien and I turn to her. Her conversation with Keira breaks off as she stiffens under our joint gazes, and the soft expression she holds for my mate slips away.
“Thank you, Sasha,” I begin, “for?—”
“It is in the best interests of the Winter Court if I have allies and sympathizers here to help rescue my people, who your crown targets,” she snaps. “Do not think for one moment that I, as a foreign ambassador, am getting involved in your bid for the throne.”
I can’t help smirking at her sass. She is as harmless as the puka sleeping around her shoulders. “Foreign ambassador today, is it? Not a helpless victim of my supposed cruelty?” I raise my eyebrows.
Aldrin! Keira chides within my mind. I still cannot believe you have been holding her as your prisoner for decades. Don’t you dare make light of it!
I roll my eyes, and her scowl deepens. She doesn’t want to leave my supposed imprisonment of her.
I will prove it to you. Besides, she had every luxury when I was in power.
Have you seen the butterflies in her chambers?
We need a royal hostage from Winter to ensure they don’t invade again.
There is a reason why Titania has had so much success with that particular lie.
I turn back to Sasha. “It’s not too late to swap you for another Winter royal. Perhaps that brother of yours that you detest.”
Sasha scoffs. “I’m not going anywhere. My brother wouldn’t lift a finger to help our people. He would join Titania’s inner circle, then bring her toxicity back home.”
I shoot Keira a significant look, raising an eyebrow. There is always one reason or another for her to stay. I think she secretly likes it here. Well, she did before Titania’s rule.
“Other arrangements can be made.” Cyprien takes a step forward, his voice the gentlest I have ever heard it.
“You can remain in the city, hidden in a safe place, and your work can continue. I’m sure the technicalities with Winter Court royal hostages can be worked out later, when Aldrin sits on the throne again.
You don’t have to put yourself at Titania’s mercy. ”
Sasha’s back turns ramrod straight and every inch of her becomes icy cold as she looks at Cyprien. “I have work to do. I don’t have the luxury of standing around chatting all night. Rainier.” She whirls around to the man. “We will be late to meet Jasper and his soldiers.”
She storms toward the exit of the chamber, not bothering to check if Rainier follows her. He is already on her heels, mouthing an apology to us.
“Why does she seem to hate only me?” Cyprien grumbles, his eyes following Sasha’s every step until she disappears through the ward.
“She doesn’t particularly like me either,” I say.
“Well, she loves me.” Drake waltzes over and drapes his arms over both mine and Cyprien’s shoulders.
Cyprien immediately shrugs him off. “And why does she like you?” he snaps.
“It’s my winning personality. Everyone loves me.”
Klara groans, approaching us.“Of course you would say that.” She laughs. “You don’t leave them much choice. People get hounded by your constant ridiculously good mood.” She says it as though it were an insult.
“I go out of my way to make people smile. Maybe you should try telling a joke one day, Cyprien.” Drake slaps his back.
Their chatter fades to background noise as I gravitate toward Keira.
I take her hands in mine, rubbing my thumbs across the back of them.
“I want to toss you over my shoulder and drag you back to the safe house. I don’t want you to set foot in this palace until Titania is dead, much less leave you here by yourself. ”
The very idea of walking away tonight, while Keira returns to that woman’s clutches, has my stomach twisting in painful knots.
Every instinct roars at me to charge into the palace and carve a bloody path through my enemies, so none of them can hurt or humiliate her ever again.
But the blood spilled tonight would be mine and my people’s.
Even with the Assassins of Belladonna at my disposal, we would face significant losses against the guards in this palace.
They greatly outnumber us and we would have to fight a bottleneck to slowly get our warriors in.
Even if we were to succeed in this way, I am sure the people would rise against us in a civil war.
It baffles me how much love Titania still commands from them. It is like a cult.
Keira places a hand on my cheek. “You cannot take me away from my captivity and hide me somewhere safe. The bargain won’t allow it, and even if it did, you won’t stop me fighting for our throne. It is just as much my right.”
“I won’t,” I admit begrudgingly. “Come.” I tug at her hand, voice dropping seductively low. “There is something I need to show you. I promise, I will make it worth your while.”
I don’t give her the chance to agree or protest. I steal her from the room with every imaginable wicked thought whirling through my mind about just how I am going to punish her for daring to sacrifice herself for me.
She is going to be begging and incoherent by the time I am done with her, drenched in her own arousal.