Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely 5)

Chapter 29

After the king-no-more had left, Aislinn remained in her park, surrounded by her faeries, and wondered at the intensity she felt. If she’d thought being coregent was overwhelming, having the other half of Summer fill her was soul-melting.

I can’t imagine if all of this had hit me at once. How did Donia do it? How did Niall?

At the thought of the other recent regents, she straightened. They had done it; they’d taken control of their courts, led them, guarded them. Undoubtedly, they’d had struggles she hadn’t known of, but they’d done it.

And so will I.

She squared her shoulders and looked at her court. First things first. You’ve been doing this with half the strength and handling it while he was away. You can do this. The Summer Queen smiled at her faeries.

Tavish came to stand beside her throne. Several of the Summer Girls stepped forward. Some of the rowan took position as guards; others moved throughout the crowd. Three glaistigs who were attached to the court under temporary vows of fealty divided into other positions—one to either side of the throne where she sat and the third to the far edge of the park. Aobheall had stepped outside her fountain and stood between the Summer Girls and rowan people.

Her court waited for her to lead them.

“I’m guessing all of the Summer Girls”—she let her gaze drift over them—“are free to leave the . . . my court, but I would like you all to stay.”

Most of them nodded or smiled; a few looked unsure.

“You do not have to decide today,” Aislinn added. Then she sought two of the girls who had been instrumental in helping her understand what it took to lead the court. “Siobhan? Eliza?”

“My Queen,” they said in tandem.

“I’d like you to join Tavish as my court counselors,” she said.

Eliza gasped quietly, but Siobhan grinned.

“Summer Girls are foolish, spinning things, my Queen,” Siobhan said lightly. Her eyes widened in a faux attempt at naïveté.

Aislinn laughed. “If you wanted me to believe that was all you were, you shouldn’t have advised me when Seth was missing. You can all remain exactly as you were before. I expect that you will still rejoice and frolic. All of my court will do so. . . . First, though, we will consult with the Winter and Dark Courts, and we will figure out how to contain Bananach.”

The Summer Queen turned her attention to Tavish. “You will be sole commander of guards in addition to advising me with”—she glanced at Siobhan, who nodded, and Eliza, who shook her head—“my new advisor, Siobhan.”

After a brief proud look, Tavish bowed his head. “It is my honor.”

Three matters resolved. She had her guard, her new advisor, and had extended welcome to the Summer Girls. Now, she needed to deal with a situation that had grown unacceptable.

“You”—Aislinn turned her gaze to Quinn—“need to answer some questions.”

Quinn had stood silently while she selected his replacement. He hadn’t approached when she began tending business, nor had he functioned as a guard. Instead, he had stayed at the edge of the group of assembled faeries. “My queen?”

“You’ve questioned me.” She advanced toward him, noticing that bands of flowers rippled out from wherever she stepped and making a mental note to figure out how to turn that off.

Quinn watched her approach without backing away.

Point for that. She paused. Or not. Is it courage or disdain?

“You do not treat me with the respect one accords his queen,” she said softly.

Quinn locked his gaze with hers. “I serve my court.”

“The question is if you serve my court,” she countered.

When he didn’t reply, she pressed, “Do you serve the Summer Court?”

As Quinn stared at her, Aislinn felt the heat of the Summer Court burning in her skin. She put her hand on his shoulder. At her touch, his shirt burned away, and his skin sizzled.

Turn it down, she cautioned herself. Her expression showed nothing, but a brush of guilt slid across her chest. I didn’t mean to. . . . She steeled herself. These are faeries, and