Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely 5)

ll spread his hands wide. “Sometimes it’s a useful tool. Look at us. We can take your worry for your queen, her worry for my pet, and we can find a way to work on my problem.”

“This isn’t like you. Listen to yourself, Niall.”

“Sometimes a king has to do unpleasant things, kingling. Surely you understand that.”

Kingling?

Keenan stepped forward. “You were my friend. For centuries you were family to me. Tell me what’s going on.”

Niall’s lips curled in a wry smile. “I seem to be missing some stability.”

“I am sorry you are hurting. I hadn’t ever thought that . . . you would be so . . .” Keenan wasn’t sure of a polite word. Callous? Cruel? Broken?

Niall sat silently for several moments. Finally, he stood and stepped around Keenan. “Go tell your queen my plan. I’ll not injure my pet, and she can have her visits, but he belongs to my court now. Her ability to see him is at my discretion, and my discretion requires her court’s support in a task. I want Bananach stopped.”

A task? Fighting War was not “a task.” It was a conflict that would echo through the mortal realm.

“We want her stopped too, but this is not the way. We can talk about this, approach it rationally. You, me, Donia . . . The Summer Court isn’t as strong as Winter, but I have allies.” Keenan pleaded. “We all want the same thing here. None of us has declared war. She needs a declaration to start the kind of violence she seeks. There are rules that will prevent her from going any further if we all stand together.”

The look Niall leveled at him was uncannily like his predecessor. “I sincerely doubt that.”

“You’re grieving, but you can’t think—”

“Kingling,” Niall interrupted. “Do you truly think questioning me is wise? Surely, you haven’t forgotten the things the Dark Court can do. Have you forgotten what the Dark King has done to you? The curse that bound you for centuries? Shall I see if I can do it again?”

The friendship that Keenan felt for Niall was all that kept him from letting go of the rage that simmered at the allusion to the past. In as composed a voice as he could manage, Keenan asked, “And if Aislinn doesn’t like your terms?”

Niall narrowed his gaze. “My court is too strong for her to attack. You know that.”

Reluctantly, Keenan nodded. “I do.”

“And there is another court, one whose favor I’m quite sure I can gain.” Niall let the shadows in the room spring to life, and the dark figures began dancing and contorting in ways that no solid body could. “My court has long offered many things to the Winter Court. If you knew, kingling, it might disgust you. I had difficulty experiencing desire for the last Winter Queen, but a regent will do what he must

for the good of his court . . . and truth be told, I’d find myself far more eager to offer whatever the new queen desires.”

Keenan’s carefully controlled emotions threatened to surface; his skin brightened despite his best efforts, but he forced himself to speak evenly. “Think about what you’re doing here. We are not enemies. If you hurt Donia—”

“As you have?”

“You’re caging your friend, threatening insane things . . . think for a moment.” Keenan shook his head. “You weathered centuries of trouble with me. I can be here to help you without you resorting to cruelty against Seth or threats to my court. Please stop to think.”

“I will do as I’ve done for centuries, little king. I will protect my court and those I love.” Niall advanced on Keenan. “Once Bananach is dead, we can negotiate. Until then . . .” He shrugged.

Keenan gripped Niall’s arm. “I will help you because you are my friend. You might not have forgiven me yet, but you do know how to forgive—or you wouldn’t be so crazed over his death. I will talk to my queen and to Donia.”

The Dark King frowned.

“This”—Keenan pointed at Seth and then at Niall’s battered body—“is not you, Niall.”

“Really?” the Dark King needled. “Who is it then? Who exactly do you think I am if I’m not Niall?”

For a moment, Keenan paused, trying to make sense of the challenging tone in Niall’s voice. Has he gone completely mad? Cautiously, Keenan said, “I’m not sure what’s going on in your head right now, but you need to step back and figure it out. If you think that you have to be vile to replace Irial, you’re wrong.”

The Dark King snorted, but did not answer.

“Think about what you’re becoming,” Keenan urged.

But Niall only motioned for him to depart.