29. CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 29

DANIELLA

“Awife?” Mythorne repeated, though not with surprise. Instead, he seemed to roll the word over in his mouth as if to taste it and learn whether he found it savory or not.

A chill assaulted me as he inclined his head and his eyes roved over my body.

Next to him, Cardian appeared ill at the news. His fists clenched, and his lower lip trembled, denouncing his anger. Why such a reaction? What did he care who Mylendra married?

“You’ve come to offer your king scraps?” he said.

Kalyll’s head snapped in his brother’s direction, his gaze alighted on Cardian for the first time. “How dare you call my daughter scraps? Come down here and say that again.”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” Cardian barked. “I am the Seelie King.”

Kalyll threw his head back and laughed. “Here, you are nothing. It is Kellam Mythorne who rules. Go back to romanticized life in your flowery tower.”

Mythorne observed everything with a slight grin stretching his thin lips. Without abandoning his amused expression, he said, “But you seemed to have a different opinion mere days ago, Qierlan. You were quite willing to bestow your… non-scraps to that place you now disparage.”

And wasn’t that the crux of the matter? Earl Qierlan couldn’t be trusted. He would side with whoever gave him the greatest advantage. But Kalyll didn’t let this little inconvenient truth hinder his award-winning performance. Instead, he smoothly transitioned into the next scene of our little act, which we had planned carefully, knowing this particular subject would come up sooner or later.

Thumping a fist against his chest like a good Catholic, Kalyll said, “That is, of course, entirely my fault, as my clever daughter pointed out from the beginning. If only I had listened.” He inclined his head in my direction, letting me know it was my time to shine, and by shining I meant using Mylendra’s female guiles.

Okay, Dark Dani, ready?

Sashaying, I paced back and forth in front of the dais, one hand on my waist and the other one elegantly trailing behind me.

“From the start, Kalyll Adanorin was not to my liking. I always thought he was weak, and as it turned out, I was right.”

I glanced in Cardian’s direction for just a second, then let the breadth of my attention settle on Mythorne. My intention was to convey that I understood it was he and not the youngest Adanorin brother who had brought about Kalyll’s dethronement.

“She is headstrong, so be advised.” Kalyll chuckled.

“You lie,” Cardian spat. “You were taken with him. Both of you.”

I allowed my gaze to lazily go back to Cardian as I twisted my mouth in distaste. “With all due respect, Seelie King,” I sounded respectful not at all, “I do know my way around politics, and I also know how to follow orders, even if I don’t like them.” I followed this with a cheeky wink toward my supposed father.

“A female who knows her place is the best kind of female,” the Unseelie King said.

As we’d guessed, Mythorne wanted a dutiful wife. It was a balance to show a bit of attitude, and at the same time, paint the picture of a female who would not go against his wishes. I nearly rolled my eyes. Some males could be so predictable.

“You should not trust this,” Cardian started, but Mythorne put a hand up to stop him. Cardian’s lips sealed as if by magic.

Witchlights. If he really thought he was a King, why allow anyone to treat him this way? Immediately, I chided myself. Why ask myself such a stupid question when I already knew the answer? With Kalyll free, Cardian didn’t feel like a king at all. He was scared that his older brother would soon return to tear him from the throne and shatter his ambitions to bits.

Mythorne rose from his throne and descended the dais. My hands started itching, eager to wrap around his neck, but he hadn’t come close enough.

“Kalyll Adanorin isn’t weak,” he said, taking me aback.

His statement was true enough, I could feel my mate’s latent strength radiating from him even now, but I didn’t expect this male to admit it.

“Kalyll Adanorin killed my son,” he continued. “Moreover, he survived a not-so-welcoming stay under our care.” He stretched his arms upward and swept them to the sides as if introducing his humble abode to us. “So you are mistaken, my lady.”

I drummed my fingers against my waist. “Perhaps not weak,” I admitted. “But weaker.” I lazily swept my eyes from the tips of his boots to the top of his head.

“That is yet to be seen,” he responded.

“Never took you for a humble male,” I said. “I must admit I am surprised.”

“Don’t be. I am anything but. That, however, does not mean I am stupid. Adanorin is at large and still poses a threat to my allies.” He pointed vaguely toward Cardian. “And to me. Not to say that I am intimidated by that. I welcome a good challenge, and I have not had one in a very long time. I would like nothing more than to meet him face to face.”

What a fucking liar! A good challenge, my ass. He had tortured Kalyll, keeping him behind a force field, while he stood safely on the other side. He was a coward.

Kalyll’s right hand tightened into a fist, no doubt entertaining the same thoughts I was, wishing to smash his hooked nose with one swift punch.

“Oh, Father,” I reached for Kalyll’s fisted hand and gave it a squeeze, “isn’t he just like I told you he would be?”

“Exactly so, my dear,” he replied.

Mythorne examined us very carefully, his expression so severe that I feared he was seeing right through our charade. I almost exhaled in relief when he smiled genuinely enough and spoke with the charm befitting a king. “I am delighted you have come, Earl Qierlan and Lady Mylendra. I appreciate the offer of a more meaningful alliance between the Unseelie Court and the Fall Court. I don’t take it lightly and feel I must seriously consider this opportunity. Obviously, dear Earl, the first order of business is for me to become acquainted with your lovely daughter. I must learn if we are compatible. More than her impressive beauty will guide my decision.”

“This is already more consideration than the former Unseelie King offered me,” I said, lifting an eyebrow toward Kalyll.

“Will you ever cease pointing out how wrong I was,” “the earl” chided playfully.

“Never, Father. Never.” I laughed and shook a finger at him.

Mythorne clapped his hands, and two servants scurried in from a side door. They bowed low, their faces etched with servility and defeat. It was clear they knew what would happen to them if they did not obey their master’s every command.

“We have guests,” he announced. “Ensure their comfort.” He turned to us. “For now, I have matters to attend to, but I will be delighted if you join me for dinner.” He left, which seemed to carry an implied order for Cardian because he hurried after him, going so fast he barely had time to give us a dirty look as he exited.

The servants guided us to a separate wing of the palace that seemed to house guest chambers.

“I hope you will approve of your accommodations, Earl Qierlan.” One of the servants threw a door open on the left side of the hall.

“Where is my daughter’s chamber?” He demanded, treating him with as much civility as Mythorne had, which was to say none.

“Just over here.” He ran ahead a few paces and pointed to another door on the opposite end of the hall.

Kalyll grunted. “You may leave now. Please ensure our servants know where to find us.”

When they had disappeared, Kalyll took my hand and guided me to his room. Once inside, he locked the door behind us, pressed a finger to his lips, and walked around the chamber, examining everything closely, looking behind every door and curtain.

When he was satisfied no one was in the room, he said, “I hate to admit you were right, daughter.”

“You should listen to me more often.”

“Don’t get a big head now.”

“What shall I wear to dinner to impress the king?”

And that was how our conversation went on until our “servants” arrived with our luggage.

Acting swiftly, Jeondar pulled a wand from one of the suitcases and proceeded to sweep the room, waving it about like an incense stick. It only took him a couple of minutes to discover a magical listening device, which turned out to be the only one in the room. Quickly, he laid a bespelled piece of cloth over it, which would turn all sounds, no matter how damning, into innocuous ones, like casual words, coughs, furniture taps, and the like.

Naesala was a true savior with all her handy spells, potions, and magical devices. We certainly couldn’t have gotten this far without her help.

“It’s safe to talk now,” Jeondar said.

“How did it go?” Arabis asked.

Kalyll explained quickly, told them we were to have dinner with Mythorne, and instructed them to get acquainted with the castle as only servants could. They were to figure out an escape route we could use if the need arose.

After all of that was settled, I went into my assigned room. It wouldn’t do for a daughter to spend her entire time in her father’s chamber. It would look suspicious, for sure.

On pins and needles, I waited for dinner to arrive—my chambermaid, Arabis, helping me get ready to appear as enticing and “touchable” as possible. The objective was to tempt Mythorne to come close and lay his hands on me. It would be far easier if he came to me, but if he didn’t take the bait, the bait would go to him.