Swallowing, I answered Dee’s question. “Finley doesn’t seem to care whether I like her. Or whether you do. She was quick to forgive, it seemed like. I’ve never met anyone like her.”
“How do you know she was quick to forgive?”
“She advertises her every thought on her face and body. We have to work on that. She should only show her rage, and that should seem to come out of nowhere. That will have the greatest impact on the other royals.”
I’d been keeping a close eye on the movements of the other kingdoms and their courts, hoping to hear news of my son. I had informants everywhere, people I paid a small amount to write me news. They weren’t people Nyfain could really make use of, mostly servants or groundspeople, but they’d relayed plenty of news and gossip. Now, I could help Finley learn intimate details about their courts before she even met them.
“We’ve always known she doesn’t care what people think of her,” Dee said.
“Yes, but I’m the mother of her mate. The former queen. I would’ve thought…”
Dee laughed. “You should’ve known better.” She paused for a moment. “You shouldn’t have spoken about his real father in front of servants.”
“I know. You said that last night.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d remember. It might’ve gravely undermined him.”
“Well, he has my support now, and no one is powerful enough to challenge him. Not at present.”
“Unless they band together…”
“Under whose leadership?”
Dee was quiet for a moment. “Make peace with Micah. He might not like that you’ve suddenly aligned yourself with Nyfain. He might worry Nyfain isn’t the dragon he seems. Explain yourself to him. Put yourself at his mercy if you have to.”
I huffed. I would never allow myself to be at the mercy of any man ever again.
“Manipulate him, I mean,” Dee said. “Make him think you’re at his mercy. Appeal to his ego.”
“I knew what you meant.”
“He is Nyfain’s greatest threat, I think. He is strong enough to lead a revolt, and everyone knows he wants Finley.”
I gave a small smirk. “Finley has the true mate mark. One mark and another can lay a claim over it, but two? She’ll be Nyfain’s forever. Besides, he wouldn’t be able to handle Finley. She’d turn him inside out. You should’ve heard what she said about poisoning the late king.”
“I did. You told me three times last night.”
I grimaced. I didn’t remember that.
“Anyway,” she said, “you know better than anyone that alpha males don’t always have sense. He might not want to back down. Finley’s a beautiful and fierce alpha. Any male of standing would kill to have her, for her offspring if nothing else. You need to douse those coals so that they don’t ignite.”
There was truth in what she said. I wanted to clear the way for my son as much as possible, and Micah would be an easy obstacle to push to the side.
“I heard you’re here to stay,” my cousin Gunduin said with a smile as he stopped in the open door and leaned against the frame.
“You’re late to the gossip,” Dee said, not looking up.
“No, I just spent my morning helping Hannon fix a villager’s wall before it collapsed.” He pushed off and wandered in a little farther, looking over everything. “Listen…” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “I was thinking about going back…”
Dee and I slowed in our work, both of us looking at him for a long beat.
“I need to get my things,” he continued. “And try to convince more people from the villages to come back here with me. A couple of us are going.”
My heart quickened as excitement rolled through me. I shared a quick look with Dee.
“You meant to give us a scare,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.
He laughed again. “Yes, I did. I’m glad you two are staying. It makes my decision simple. There is nothing for me back home. Here we’ll get to actually be part of a kingdom. A kingdom where we’re appreciated. I really like Hannon, too. I think you should join him on the advisory circle he’s forming, Arleth. He’s aiming to make it a fair representation of all who live here, and I think your knowledge of the kingdom could greatly help.”
I shook my head. “He is welcome to speak with me, but I will not take an authoritative position in this kingdom. I had my chance to affect change, and I failed.”
“But—”
I held up my hand. “No. My word will carry more weight, I know it will, and that is not fair or helpful. I will aid Finley in her role, advise my son if he needs it, and help with the management of goods and gold. That is it.”
“That is plenty,” Dee told me, picking up the larger dried everlass leaves.
“Well…should you change your mind…” Gunduin let it linger.