Page 16 of A Trial of War
I arched my brow. “How does he know this?”
“He says it’s what he would do,” Captain Wyndfall said.
Something twisted inside my chest. “He says it’s what he would do,” I repeated quietly. “That’s not strategy. That’s conjecture.”
My father didn’t answer right away, allowing the faint crackle of the hearth at the far end of the room to fill the space.
I folded my arms. “We’re trusting a shifter who turned on his own pack. That alone should tell us everything we need to know.”
“Desperation makes for useful allies,” my father said evenly.
“Or dangerous ones,” I muttered under my breath.
I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing my expression to remain composed. I wanted to believe there was an advantage here, that fate had finally dealt us a card worth playing.
But I was smarter than that.
“Very well,” I said with a heavy sigh. “Let’s see what else our traitor has to say.”
My father’s smile was menacing. “Good. We’ll utilize his betrayal for our benefit.”
“Precisely, King Taran.”
My blood froze as the false High Fae queen appeared.
“Minaeve.”
“Princess Réalta.” Minaeve tilted her head. “I’m glad you’re here. Has your father informed you of our plan?”
“Not exactly,” I said. “I just learned of the attack on Solace and the capture of the former alpha.”
“Oh, that.” She chuckled to herself, moving to sit at the head of the war council table. “Yes. I’ve met with the shifter and granted him a pardon. He has valuable knowledge about his people. Already, he has divulged their pack dynamics and what types of shifters they have in their ranks.”
“You have the authority to grant him a pardon?” I asked, biting back the anger swirling in my chest.
“Yes, girl. You shall understand your place soon.”
I gasped in outrage.
Captain Wyndfall drew his sword, the clang of steel echoing off the walls. “You will not speak to the princess like this.”
Minaeve laughed, shutting her eyes and tilting her head, allowing her long hair to fall behind her back.
Wyndfall stepped forward as Minaeve’s turquoise gaze snapped open, and shadows sprang forth from her hand.
“Captain!” I yelled as he crashed to the ground with a sickening, lifeless thud, eyes turning black. “Stop! Stop this! Father?”
“Your father will not help you,” Minaeve said.
I knelt at Captain Wyndfall’s side, holding my breath as I searched for any sign of life to cling to. Ever so slightly, the captain’s chest rose and fell, and I breathed a sigh of relief knowing he was still alive.
“What did you do to him?”
Minaeve simply sat forward, allowing the shadows to dance along her fingers. “Calm yourself, young princess, and listen.”
“Father?” I pleaded. “Father, please—”
“No, Réalta. You will listen to Minaeve without argument and give her the respect she has earned. I stand in agreement with her.”
