And admitted I knew about her heritage before we met.
Two very important details I did not want to share with the Council.
“That’s it? That’s the entirety of the recording?” King Malik demanded.
“Oh, there’s more,” I drawled. “But it’s mostly just grunts and moans. Without the visuals, it lacks the finesse of the moment.”
Kols narrowed his gaze at me, his golden orbs flashing with disdain.
Yeah, I could have given him a heads-up about my intentions. But I didn’t want him to develop a false sense of leadership over me. I played by my own rules, no one else’s. It would be best for us all if he learned that lesson now.
“So she believes herself to be an abomination.” Tadmir’s white hair flickered with blue flames, the only outward indication of his current mood. “That’s enough for me. Kill the girl. It’ll free up Shadow for the mating bond, and he can carry out the agreement between our families.”
I
remained quiet, not trusting myself to reply to that out loud.
Kols wasn’t so restrained, his tone underlined in authority as he replied, “Aflora didn’t call herself an abomination. She’s just being a martyr because she cares about her people. If anything, that only marks her as a worthy queen to the Earth Fae throne.”
The blue flickers grew around Tadmir’s head. “There must be a reason she wants to be exterminated.” His beady black eyes turned to me. “Where’s the beginning of the recording?”
“Nonexistent,” I lied. “We began the discussion in the hallway, out of range. I guided her into my room mid-conversation to catch at least part of her words for the use of the Council.” Complete and utter bullshit, which only Kols seemed to know. Fortunately, he kept his royal mouth shut.
“What led to her proclamation?” Chern, ever the wise fae, played right into my hands the way I’d hoped he would.
Sangré Bloods could be so predictable sometimes in their penchant for logic. Today, that worked in my favor beautifully.
“She was upset about my little tiff with Kols.” I met and held the prince’s burning gold eyes. “She didn’t appreciate the flare of power our duel created and was lecturing me about the loss of life in the LethaForest.”
Releasing Kols’s gaze, I took in the room of blank stares.
Idiots.
“She’s an Earth Fae,” I reminded them all. “She values all life, including the destroyed burning thwomps.”
I lifted a shoulder, done with my mouthful of untruths.
Though, I did mention the dead trees to her during that conversation.
And technically, her extermination reply followed right after.
So it wasn’t all a lie, just a bit jumbled.
Kols’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t correct me. The duel had been his brilliant cover story for what really happened between the four of us last night. I’d only enhanced his explanation and also provided the Council with a different rabbit to chase, just in case they came back to question the destruction in the LethaForest.
“And that led to her calling for her own death?” Chern prompted, his gray eyes intelligent.
“Yes, because I told her sometimes things die, and she launched into a debate on her own powers and fate. Then she said if she can’t be controlled, she should be exterminated. I believe she meant it hypothetically, but I thought it wise to share the recording with my father. It was this Council, after all, that demanded I report back any findings no matter how small. I’m merely complying with the edict.”
There. Flowery bullshit for the table. Isn’t it beautiful? I thought, fighting a smile.
King Malik didn’t appear all that impressed.
Neither did Tadmir.
I mean, honestly. Did they really expect me to waltz in here and request the death of my mate? I suppressed a snort. That would never happen.
“That was the request of the Council,” my father agreed, his tone flat. “And the recording itself is incriminating.”