A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

“Now, now,” Queen Ayre said, patting the arm of her throne. “You know that Calia never stays caught for long. She is in and out—no one can keep her.” She laughed.

Finley tensed, confusion and unease coming through the bond, and the faerie sisters also seemed discomfited.

Years ago, there had been rumors about the queen’s memory starting to slip. No one had been allowed to talk about it. I wondered if that had progressed.

The king’s brow furrowed. He glanced at the queen in annoyance but didn’t comment.

“I’ve organized a dinner on your behalf, of course,” the king went on, looking at Calia. “We’ll have all your favorites.” His smile just barely reached his eyes. Although the man kept a beautiful kingdom, he had a ruthless streak. All good kings did. He wasn’t in the habit of gaily carrying on like much of his kingdom, even though he clearly had a soft spot for Calia.

His steely blue gaze came to me. If he noticed the difference in me, he gave no sign.

“Prince Nyfain—excuse me. King Nyfain now, I hear.” He paused for a beat, and I waited for him to continue. “You have had your coronation after a little hiccup. Is that all settled now?”

So Calia had passed on the information that my father wasn’t the mad king. I should’ve guessed as much. And now the king was using it to hammer home his royal dominance between the two of us. He had the prestige, the larger and richer kingdom, and an ancestral right granted him by a bloodline that went back centuries. He hadn’t needed to fight for anything.

I barely stopped myself from grinning.

Before I could answer, verbally waving the slight away, a surge of anger rocked through the bond. Finley pulled her arms from around me, and a slap of will had me letting her go.

When she got to her feet, her body was a little in front of mine. Protecting me, I realized. Ready to go to war if he should further demoralize her mate.

My dragon surged up, fire and power swirling around us, liking when our mate showed her grit.

“It is settled, yes,” I answered, bending an arm around her and hooking it on her hip. Unable to help myself, I curled my other arm around her, resting my touch on her stomach. “I will be presenting in front of the council when it is next in session. Along with my queen. May I introduce Queen Finley of Wyvern. She is my true mate and was instrumental in breaking the curse the demons had on my kingdom. I’m sure you’ve heard of it by now.”

He was already looking at her, his face blank, his eyes calculating.

“Finley is the one I told you about, your majesty,” Calia said. “She is the reason we were able to make it out of the dungeons.” She smiled back at us. “She just recently found out she’s expecting.”

“Oh my goodness!” Queen Ayre clapped, her eyes lighting up. “Oh, congratulations, my dear. That is wonderful! No wonder the big, brooding dragon was carrying you—”

“My dear,” the king said between his teeth, clearly trying to subdue her.

“They are so protective, are they not?” she said. “I’ve always heard they were. And look, he stands with his hand on your belly. Yes, so protective! So romantic, isn’t it, Starvos? Remember when we first heard—”

“Ayre, my dear,” the king barked, and magic curled into the air, stinging. “This isn’t the time.”

Ayre jolted, gripping against the arms of the throne. Her jaw tightened and her eyebrows dipped. He was magically silencing her. He was calling his queen to heel. If Finley had had any doubt about the power structure in this kingdom, it had just been settled.

“I have heard a lot about you, Queen Finley.” Starvos bent his head. “Calia is taken with you. You rendered this kingdom an incredible service in those dungeons. It’s something I would like to speak to you more about.”

“Of course, sire. I’m at your disposal,” Finley said, and then bent down into a flawless curtsy. “Thank you for hosting us. What I’ve seen of your kingdom so far is absolutely stunning.”

He studied her for another moment. “I must say, my dear, King Nyfain has found himself a queen just as splendid.”

“Please, call me Finley,” she interrupted delicately, inclining her head. “And I thank you.”

“Finley, then.”

I could just see her serene, demure smile.

Starvos’s eyes fluttered just a little. He was clearly taken in. Entranced by her display of that natural beauty he clearly coveted. She was essentially a human equivalent of his grounds, always in bloom. Always pleasing to look at.

Goddess help me, the woman could be taught. She was executing my mother’s teachings beautifully. Wild but well mannered. Protective, territorial, but domesticated. She was perfection.

Pride warred with the overwhelming urge to swoop her up into my arms again. I refrained, just barely.