A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

Delaney clucked her tongue and shook her head. “He would’ve been continually pressured to reproduce, but without a heat or even love, it would’ve been for naught. He would’ve been miserable.”

“Less miserable than with the king,” Arleth said softly.

“Can we please talk about something else?” I said as my rage throbbed in my temple. I felt my dragon trying to appease Nyfain’s dragon, who was getting worried something was happening to us.

“Sorry,” Arleth said. “Anyway, this is a squabble about a man. If Eris acts out, it will be irrational—”

“In regards to court politics,” Delaney told me.

“Right, yes.” Arleth nodded. “Additionally, she has middling status, and your status is equal to that of a king. No woman in this kingdom is so powerful. They probably doubt your position. At this point in time, at any rate. So you must make an example of Eris. She should not speak out of turn to a queen, number one, and if she speaks out of turn to you, then you must handle it…however you do.”

“Colorfully,” Delaney said.

“When someone disrespects the king or his title,” Arleth said, “he reacts brutally. Harshly. Traditionally, his queen would not. She’d have the offender punished much more subtly. You’re like a king, though, remember? You need to act the part. Get the message across.”

“Okay…” I tilted my head, staring at a waxy green leaf on the bush. “I’m hearing two different things, here. You’re telling me to deal with it how I normally might…and also telling me to handle it brutally, like a king would.”

Delaney and Arleth shared a look, smiles pulling at their lips.

“Is there a joke I am missing?” I asked.

“Yes. You,” Delaney said.

I scrunched up my brow.

“Handle it like you normally would, Finley,” Arleth said. “Whatever happens, just handle it. What we’re saying is that you shouldn’t try to be someone you’re not in the healing tents or in the gardens. Be you.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well, that’s awesome. That’s a little treat I wasn’t expecting. Not that it’ll really matter. The idea of Eris triggers me more than the actual person. I doubt anything will come of her disgruntlement.”

We returned to Calia, and I apologized for the delay.

“Very interesting bush just there,” I told her. “We naturally had to examine it from every angle.”

“Yes,” she said. “Here we go.”

She took a right at the fork in the lane, turning onto another beautifully cultivated path wide enough for two. As we continued walking, the tall bushes to either side reduced down and the path opened up into a huge garden.

“Oh…wow.”

They’d said tents, but I hadn’t imagined these tented monstrosities—four in all, each as large as a small building. The flaps were partially open, revealing that two of them were greenhouses, open to the elements, and the other two held several workstations.

A sprawling garden existed around them, straight and orderly rows of plants and herbs and a couple of tiny trees bearing strange-looking fruit. Each area was marked with little signs saying what it was.

Workers bent within the various rows, pruning or collecting or planting or maintaining. White sunhats protected their skin from the warm rays and aprons were draped across their fronts.

“It’s really something, isn’t it?” Arleth said, pushing up close. She had a fond smile. “You will love working here. It is unlike anything you’ve likely ever experienced.” She turned to Calia. “May I?”

“Of course.” Calia motioned her on. “I’m sure you know one or two people from the times you’ve visited in the past.”

Arleth and Delaney walked ahead, separating at the start of the garden and starting to wind their way through it.

I turned toward the guard and held up a finger. “You can only follow me if you mind the plants. Do not crush or even brush any of them. They are delicate. I will toss your ass out if I see that you are disrespecting them in any way, got it? These plants can make the difference between life and death. They deserve respect.”

“Yes, alpha,” Weston said, lowering his gaze to my feet. He was being official, not using my name. He didn’t use royal titles for Nyfain and me either, instead treating us like we were pack. Many dragon royals would probably hate that, but neither of us cared in the least.

“Tamara,” I said, turning, “I assume you know the drill.”

“Yes, milady. I’m well versed in the protocol of the operations of other kingdoms.”

“Operations, right,” I murmured as Calia led us toward one of the work tent monstrosities. I’d almost forgotten that they used the goods from this production for the monetary benefit of the castle and kingdom.

“I’ve organized the whole day for you to work as you please,” Calia said. “It was a special favor to me from the king. If you prove your worth, I can almost guarantee you’ll be invited back. Arleth and her ladies-in-waiting were always welcome here, I’ve been told.”