27. Eva

27

EVA

E va blinked back tears of hope and joy. She didn't care if the Queen or her court saw her cry, but she didn't want to miss a moment of the unbelievable story unfolding before her because of blurry vision.

Harriet had come to save her.

Eva knew that Bruno and Margo would fight for her, but she hadn't expected Harriet's brusque loyalty, or Tobias's faithful support. She didn't know Frank and Anita at all, except by reputation, but they were already listing the people who would come and advocate for each of them if anyone lost. "I couldn't get Frank's family here on such short notice, but with three days between each challenge, they can get standby flights from Florida and still be here before it's too late. Have you tried one of the sour apple cupcakes? Those green ones! They're one of my most popular flavors! They were Harriet's idea, really."

"I don't need that kind of credit," Harriet assured her.

The gargoyle leaned in to the Queen and if Eva had not been standing so close to her chair, she would not have heard his words .

"How much do you want these women for yourself? Enough to risk being a laughingstock as this string of misfits fight for their friends and possibly even sometimes win? How many champions do you ultimately have to throw at them?"

His gravelly voice went unexpectedly winsome. "A wise ruler would recognize an opportunity to regain respect. It would be an act of unsurpassed generosity to let them all go. Your court could use a reminder of mercy ." He walked backwards a few steps before the Queen could answer.

Eva could feel the Queen's struggle, but the gargoyle was not wrong.

The faery monarch had greatly misjudged her court's appetite for cruelty, and she must know that she was losing her grip on them. They wanted to see love win over revenge and they were charmed by this show of rag-tag loyalty and friendship. Anita was already pressing cupcakes on everyone. An elegantly-dressed, stag-horned man was eating his third, and there was icing on his nose.

"Eva?" The Queen looked at the gold chain in her hands and gave it a little tug.

Eva left Margo's side, gesturing her to wait where she was, and went to her customary place at the Queen's side.

"Yes." The Queen's voice was so quiet that the word seemed like a floating flower petal out of the corner of an eye that wasn't there when you turned to look.

"Yes, what?" Eva was confused.

"You asked me if I loved you. Yes, I loved you. I couldn't stand the idea of losing you. It was more than just pride, though I know you think that's all it was. I was…I was afraid you'd leave me and I manifested my own fears by forcing you." The Queen—Katerina—drew herself up proudly. "And now, you will be the one who put me back on my own path." She snapped her fingers and the cuff at Ev a's ankle vanished with a musical tinkle with a matching chime from Margo's. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"It's worth more than you might think," Eva said, and she dared to tip forward enough to kiss the Queen on her forehead. "Thank you."

She hopped from the throne and took Margo's hand in hers to dive into the milling crowd to find Bruno. They nearly ran into the bubbly little baker that had come to Faery with Frank Wilson as she came tripping forward to the dais.

"Your MAJESTY!" Anita gave a curtsy so low she almost fell over forward. "If you would honor me by accepting a cupcake!" She held it up in front of her, her head bowed.

The Queen rose to her feet and came forward to Anita, plucking the frosted treat from her hand. "I accept this offering," she said formally. And then, to everyone's amazement, she sat down on the dais to peel off the paper. "It is very green ."

Anita plopped down beside her. "It's my own formula, top secret! Lots of citric acid, which is actually really healthy. It prevents kidney stones! I never had problems with kidney stones myself. Do fairies have kidneys? Oh, I'm sorry that's probably too personal." She showed off her verdant fingers. "The green dye is a bit of a hassle to work with, but I don't mind!"

A dryad crept forward and shyly compared finger hues with Anita, and the rest of the court gathered around as the Queen took a careful bite of her cupcake, flashing her sharp teeth as she did.

It was one of Anita's sour apple cupcakes, and Eva had to laugh at the Queen's expression of surprise and disgust.

She still chewed and swallowed, and then licked the frosting from her lips as everyone watched her anxiously .

"It is…interesting," she said diplomatically, and then she took another bite.

Bruno made it to the front of the crowd then and he grinned when saw that their shackles were gone.

"I release you," the Queen said, before he could ask. "You are all free to go. You have done enough damage here already."

Eva was scooped up into Bruno's arms and crushed against Margo.