As the king shot a sharp glance over his shoulder at me, I shuttered my emotions. I couldn’t stand the thought of him seeing my sadness and knowing it was because of him. Or for him to think he’d won.
Steeling my spine, I turned my back on my home and gazed up at the gleaming city in the distance—the place I would make my stand against the fae.
Even if it was the thing that killed me.
Soon, the king was done with the cake, and he leapt on top of his steed to the half-hearted cheers of the village. Could he hear the defeat in their voices? Did he see the fear? Did he even care? Likely not. Why care what was in the hearts of men as long as they fell in line?
The history books spoke of human kings in the lands beyond Aesir who had been just like Oberon, those who had used fear and terror to rule. The kind ones, those loved by their people, were few and far between. But mortal men withered away. They could be replaced. And with a new mortal reign came hope.
Fae did not die of old age. We might never be free of King Oberon. Not unless someone killed him.
Unfortunately, that was not a particularly easy thing to do.
The soldiers blew their horns, and the procession moved east, up the winding path toward the city. My gut twisted with every step. Albyria glittered before us in shades of orange and red, flaming chasm gemstones etched into the top of stone walls. In the very center, the castle rose up like two skinny fingers that scraped against low-hanging clouds. It was as horrifying as it was magnificent. So many riches, so much ravishing light. All for those inside the city walls, and no one else.
“Isn’t it breathtaking?” the king asked with a smug smile from where he rode beside me.
I didn’t answer. He’d told me not to, but I had a feeling he expected at least a nod. And I would do whatever it took to annoy him.
He glanced at me. “You may speak.”
Pressing my lips together, I said nothing.
“You may speak.Isn’t it beautiful?” he growled out, repeating himself. I got a little thrill out of that.
“No.”
It was beautiful. But I also hated the sight of it.
“I will make you regret that.” Power hummed in his voice, skittering across my skin like trails of fire.
I fought the urge to wince.
“You asked me a question. I answered truthfully.”
“There was nothing truthful in your words,” he bit back. “No one can gaze upon Albyria and not find her beautiful. I will not be lied to, least of all by someone like you.”
“The only thing I see when I look at your castle is gaudy wealth. You’re showing off. Probably to overcome an inferiority complex or something pathetic like that. You want everyone to think you have it all, that you’re the best, that you are the great King Oberon. And because of that, your city just looks ugly to me.”
Oberon did not reply. He stared ahead, a muscle in his jaw ticking, a dangerous glint in his eye. I’d probably pay for that, but I didn’t care. Fuck him. Fuck all of them.
We passed through the city gates, the path between us morphing from dirt into gold. On either side of the street, lines of fae were waiting, craning their heads to get an eyeful of their future human queen. A few cheers burst up amongst them, but their celebration seemed muted.
King Oberon beamed as we passed beneath crimson banners whipping in the wind. He smiled easily at his subjects, a contrast to how he’d treated the humans down in Teine. I ground my teeth together to hold in my commentary.
“You see, my people love me,” he said as we passed through the wide square and through another set of looming gates that led into the heart of the city where the castle stood. “They understand that I have given them everything they need.”
My lips remained firmly pressed together.
“Good. Silent. Just as I ordered.”
My teeth bit the insides of my cheeks. Blood bloomed on my tongue.
I focused on the steady clatter of hooves on stone, the heavy breathing of the horse, the wisps of clouds scuttling across the sun-drenched sky. Anything but him. And his words. And his stupid smug smile.
We passed through another square before coming to a stop in front of a curving set of stone stairs that led to the arched castle door. Painted a hideous red, it clashed with all the orange and gold everywhere else. Two armed soldiers stood on either side of it, their spears pointed up at the sky. They both flicked curious gazes toward me, and then quickly resumed their blank stares.
King Oberon dismounted first as the rest of the party filed into the courtyard behind us. He motioned to a nearby soldier, a female fae with silver features and broad shoulders. Her steel armor clinked as she strode over to us.