Crown of Shadows (Court of Midnight and Deception Book 1)

by K. M. Shea

  “And you saw her around the base of the giraffe statue, but you didn’t actively see her cutting the bolts on the plates in its feet, or doing anything to it?”

  “Yes, Queen Leila—though I did see her give the bespelled golf ball to the lord who accidentally hit the statue,” Lord Myron said. “One can only imagine that if she announced her plan to us, her comrades, it was she who followed through with it.”

  Ugh. Fae—one can imagine, one would think, blah, blah, blah. They love leaving the important bits out…They love to leave the important bits out? Hmm…

  I glanced speculatively at Chrysanthe. “I didn’t do it,” she whispered.

  She’s neatly pinned—she can’t say she didn’t want to harm me or try to harm me because she’s been open in her dislike. Myron, though, can claim he didn’t, even though the scheming jerk has been with this the whole time. Did he betray her just because the tide is turning in my Court and his family thinks it’s time to try currying favor with me?

  I studied Lord Myron, who gave me that same sneery smile he’d shown the day I arrived, and an idea slowly spawned in my head.

  I think it’s time to teach the Night Court that a half-blood sits on their throne. I have refrained from using some of my greatest advantages. But it’s time to change that.

  “I am relieved you chose to speak up, Lord Myron.” I gave him my best smile. “I know you are trustworthy, and I believe you are such a good friend to me,” I lied. “It’s obvious you are blameless and share no fault—though Lady Chrysanthe was your friend. We can’t control the actions of our friends, after all.”

  “I am honored you agree, Queen Leila.” Lord Myron smirked again.

  Yep, as I thought. He has no idea I can lie. I glanced out at the Court and saw all of them were taking my lies—hook, line, and sinker. None of them know. They think I really believe what I’m saying!

  A smile twitched on my lips—this could be fun.

  “It scares me to hear that Lady Chrysanthe planned to send a creature forged of magic after me in the derby.” I theatrically shivered, then glanced at Myron.

  He was relaxed, and his smile was stronger still.

  Just a little more, and then I can hit him with a bluff.

  “I’ll have to reward you with jewels, land, money, whatever you want as a thank you for revealing this.” I dismissively waved a hand, even though this lie produced a real chill in me.

  As if I would ever willingly give anyone in this Court money when we are broke!

  “I have just one more question for you.” I turned back to him with an innocent smile.

  “What is it, Queen Leila?”

  I glanced at Chase and gave him a slight nod. He didn’t appear to move, but—like magic—I saw a few extra guards step out of the crowd.

  “The creature in the race that attacked me wasn’t made by fae magic,” I said. “But by something ancient that I’ve never felt before—which means Chrysanthe didn’t set it on me. But you did, Lord Myron, didn’t you?”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Leila

  He fishmouthed, and I almost hooted.

  I was right! Hoo-boy, talk about a gamble that paid off!

  “I have never intended to kill you!” Lord Myron pleaded.

  “Answer the question, Lord Myron. Did you set the creature to target me?”

  “Who could imagine—”

  “Answer the question,” I said.

  Steve and Kevin stepped out of my shadow, their lips curled back as they stalked up to him. Muffin had circled around behind him, and she growled deep in her chest, making him jump.

  “I-I-I—” Lord Myron’s gaze wavered from me to the Court.

  “You never intended to kill me because your target never was me,” I said. “It was Lady Chrysanthe herself. You were setting her up.”

  Chrysanthe jerked to attention, her eyes wide. “No, he couldn’t—you said together we could change the Court! You hated Queen Leila, too!”

  “Oh, he hates me,” I assured her. “He just hates you more.”

  Chrysanthe stared at him, her pretty features molded in shock.

  I watched her for a moment, then turned my attention back to Myron, who was staring at the ground. “Start explaining yourself, Myron.”

  Murmurs swept through my Court as they gawked at the unfolding drama.

  Myron took a step backwards and shook his head.

  “Now,” I ordered in an unforgiving voice of iron.

  “I was only aiming at her, Queen Leila!” Myron blurted out. “It was never in my mind to kill you.” His eyes widened, and he slapped his hands over his mouth to quiet himself.

  “No,” I agreed. “You believed enough of my staff would catch each attempt before you masterminded them. But I don’t take kindly to being used as bait, and I despise anyone who seeks to harm another just for political reasons. And that’s what this was, wasn’t it?”

  I could see the muscles in Myron’s neck pop as he clenched his jaw. Against his will, he opened his mouth. “Her family needed to be brought down!” he said. I could see by the panic in his eyes that he hadn’t meant to say that—didn’t want to say that.

  Vaguely, it reminded me of the time I stopped the fae guard from slicing through the pasture fence back at my parents’ place. Is this…am I doing this to him? I can feel magic, but I’m not pulling anything through my prism.

  Unrelenting, Myron continued, “Before you were found, they floated around—so certain she’d be picked. As if she was the brightest of the Court—hah!” He glared at Chrysanthe, who shook her head in denial.

  “You, you told me I would change the Court,” Lady Chrysanthe said.

  “For the worse!” Myron scoffed. “Your family is nothing but a puffed-up bunch of nobodies who don’t know their place or acknowledge how little power they actually have. And you really thought you had what it takes to be queen? You haven’t even the guts to plan an assassination, much less a freak accident. You were never going to move—just complain how you and your festering family have been wronged and denied an honor none of you deserve!”

  I was momentarily distracted from my worry about my magic to observe the fight. Woooow, this Court is messed up.

  Chrysanthe’s eyes were glazed with tears. “You set me up. You handed the golf ball to me before I put it on the spot.” She paused, standing straighter with each passing second as she recalled the events. “You told me we should see the pitiful spread of food that had been prepared the night of Queen Leila’s first social function. You were the one who took one of my chrysanthemum hair flowers!”

  “You only just now noticed?” Myron spat. “The human noticed before you!”

  Myron looked too furious at Chrysanthe to be under the influence of my magic anymore—I was going to have to ask Skye about that—so I decided now was a great time to end things.

  “I’m glad the two of you have reached an understanding,” I said. “But I don’t like drama—it is an unnecessary use of energy, and it’s boring. I’m finished here. Myron is guilty of plotting against a fellow member of the Night Court and will be punished accordingly. Chrysanthe is innocent,” I said.

  “What?” Myron whirled around to face me, his perfect dark hair slick with sweat. “Y-you said you thought I was trustworthy, blameless, and a friend to you,” he stammered. “You were going to reward me!”

  I shrugged. “I lied.”

  A smothering silence swept through the Court, and they stared at me in horror.

  I grinned broadly and climbed the stairs to stand on my platform again. “Although you all love to imply that I’m inferior because of my human blood, and obsess over the idea that I can’t be a good ruler because of it, you’ve completely forgotten: because of my human blood I share none of your limitations.”

  The night mares stirred from the shadows behind the columns, stepping into the magic-made light, as Kevin and Steve howled at the sky. The other five stable-dwelling shades slunk onto the platform, and Whiskers jumped do
wn from the top of the columns where he’d been hiding with the remaining two glooms.

  Ringed by my animals, I pressed my prism into the skin of my palm and felt wispy fae magic slip from it.

  Later, Indigo told me my eyes glowed, and a silvery light ringed my temples like a crown as the night mares, shades, and glooms peeled back their lips and snarled in eerie silence.

  “Remember that the next time you are tempted to scheme against me. Recall it the next time you think to hurt another Night Court member. Noble, fae, or creature—I won’t tolerate any of it. And I’ll come for you with all the power and will I have.”

  I flicked my eyes to Chase. “Take him away and have him questioned.”

  Chase bowed as his men converged on Lord Myron. “And Lady Chrysanthe?”

  “Release her.”

  Chase took off Chrysanthe’s metal cuff—a precautionary measure that sealed her ability to use magic. “You’re free to go.”

  Chrysanthe flicked her gaze from Chase, to Myron. Her eyes were unfocused—she still seemed shocked by the turn of events. “You said I deserved to be on the throne more than Queen Leila.”

  “Anyone deserves to be on the throne more than Queen Leila, you imbecile!” Myron snarled as a soldier snapped a metal cuff on him.

  “Ahhh, yes.” I smiled as I sat back down on my stone chair, doing my best not to show my reluctance—because, yeah, stone chairs are not very comfortable to sit on for long periods of time, and my butt still hadn’t recovered. “I have one last reminder should anyone else from my darling, adorable Court get ideas. Rigel?”

  When the assassin looked at me, I waved him up. I really hope he doesn’t kill me for parading him like this, but I’m gambling my entire life on ending these Court games. I need every advantage I can get.

  Rigel climbed onto the platform and took up a spot next to me when a gloom moved to make room for him.

  I smiled at him, and wondered if I was daring enough to take his hand. When I glanced up, his eyes were glazed with that dead look, sealing it.

  Nope, definitely not brave enough!

  I settled for turning my smile on my Court and flashing my teeth at them. “Rigel and I marry tomorrow. Which means if I happen to die…the Wraith becomes your next king.”

  The tension and horror were so thick, I could almost squish it between my fingers.

  The Court gaped at me with horror, their eyes flicking from me to Rigel as they lost their stuffy expressions and manners in their terror.

  I had to hold in a laugh—hadn’t this occurred to them?! I’d figured it out the night Rigel accepted me that this was one of the advantages I was going to push hard.

  I mean, who would they rather have as their ruler? A half human queen who does a few crazy things, or a straight up assassin king who knows their every seedy dealing and is infamous for his spotless record?

  “This is what you meant when you said you intended to use my name,” Rigel said—somehow managing to sound normal even though his voice was barely louder than a whisper.

  I risked glancing up at him and was relieved to see his expression didn’t appear bothered.

  I mean, he never really wore any expression, but I thought I could detect a faint tilt to one of his eyebrows, and his eyes didn’t look glassy.

  “Yep,” I agreed.

  “It’s not at all what I thought you meant.”

  “But it is the best use of it!” I grinned to myself, increasingly giddier the longer my Court stared at me with horror.

  Rigel didn’t reply immediately. I assumed this meant he wasn’t going to say anything else, and it took me by surprise when he answered after a few more minutes. “It is,” he agreed.

  We stood together at the throne even after a few of my Court members, apparently lacking any brilliant ideas, started clapping as Lord Myron was taken away by Chase’s men.

  It’s over. I didn’t let myself relax, but I did smile. I gave them the first smack down and warning. The next time they start playing games with each other, I’ll come down even harder on them. And those who don’t play games will be rewarded.

  It had bothered me that through sheer will, just by being queen I could make them do whatever I wanted—as I suspect I just had with Lord Myron.

  But I’d just be extra cautious not to do that. I shouldn’t have to, since the magic already did its best to assure they couldn’t straight up murder me, and it just didn’t feel right.

  I smirked, unable to hold back my delight. And then I’ll train you—every last one of you, I promised myself as my eyes scanned my Court. You’ll stop playing this stupid game of power out of sheer self-preservation, and I’ll destroy this awful tradition once and for all!

  When I stood at the front of the massive ceremony room, out to lunch even though it was the middle of my wedding ceremony, I was stewing and in a foul mood.

  Not because I was getting married when I didn’t want to. Okay—not only because this stupid monarchy had backwards, ancient rules that seriously needed to be overturned, but because Skye and Indigo had banned Chase from giving me an update on Myron and his motives when I was getting ready.

  Weddings take forever! And this is a fae wedding. Of course it is going to take 2,364 hours to say all the useless prattle and everyone and their neighbor will come give me their carefully worded, insincere congratulations and unhappy wishes.

  To make it worse, I was getting officially crowned during the wedding ceremony. For real, an official pronounced us married, and then I had to turn around and thump my rear down in a chair so they could pop a crown on me and say more long-winded speeches that were uselessly vague so they could contain half truths and keep a bargain/contract from being struck.

  For real, there should be a fae debate team. They’d win just because they would bore everyone to death!

  Indigo discreetly coughed.

  “Yes,” I said automatically once I realized the stuffy fae marrying us was looking expectantly at me.

  Are we through with the vows? Or did he just pronounce us married?

  It seemed like it was the vows. He nodded, then shifted his attention to Rigel standing at my side.

  “As Queen Leila’s consort, do you swear your heart, body, and mind to her?”

  I smirked at my reluctant fiancé, wondering how he was going to get out of this.

  Indigo had been unable to stuff Rigel into a tux. Even though I wore a gorgeous wedding dress with a train I was definitely going to step on before the day was over, Rigel just wore one of his fancy black buckled shirts. He even had a sword strapped to his side, and I was pretty sure at least one dagger was hidden in each of his bracers.

  Rigel glanced down at me. “It seems unfair to have this vow when you can break yours with no consequences.”

  “I have faith in you.” I switched my flowers to my other hand and patted his muscled forearm. “I know you’ll find a loophole!”

  For a heartbeat, I thought I saw humor in his usually glassy expression.

  It made his eyes more like a summer night sky than an endless void, and it cranked his icy good looks from brooding hero to the hottest supernatural I’d ever seen.

  Holy cow! What was that?

  I was still marveling over the change even though he went back to staring at the fae with his dead eyes. I wasn’t fooled, though, I’d just learned I’d accidentally bagged myself a real looker as a husband!

  Now if he’ll just refrain from killing me, I think we can coexist.

  “I will give to her as due her station,” Rigel finally said.

  Ahhh, there it is. Phrasing it so if I ever displease him as a monarch he can still off me. Plus, he didn’t swear it—which is as bad as a contract. Nice work!

  I twisted slightly to look back at Indigo who was standing a few steps behind me to see if she’d seen the change in Rigel too. She just scowled at me, crinkled her cute nose, and raised her eyebrows.

  Skye stood next to her, holding her bouquet of flowers at about chest height. I could smel
l the peppermint sprigs she’d tucked into her flowers from here, and when she sighed, the scent mingled with the candied ginger she’d been chewing on.

  Apparently she couldn’t gnaw antacids during weddings. It wasn’t “proper”. She’d resorted to trying other methods of calming her stomach—sniffing peppermint and chewing ginger beforehand. Based on the way her eye was twitching, I doubted they were working.

  Past her, filling the massive…ballroom—for lack of a better word—was my Court. Or, rather, all the nobles, and even more common fae.

  Dad and Mom were sitting in the front row, and with them—to my great fury—was Lord Linus, lounging next to Dad and looking way more pal-y and at home with him than he had any right to be.

  The Paragon sat next to my mom, dabbing his eyes with a tissue as if this was a deeply moving event, and on his other side was Lord Dion, grinning like a fiend at his best friend.

  The Day King was present—he was the only fae monarch who had accepted my invite—he was all smiles, and oblivious to the fae ladies sighing longingly behind him.

  I thought I saw Lady Chrysanthe for a moment, but she looked different; I wasn’t certain if I’d really seen her or if my eyes were just playing tricks on me.

  And at the far back of the ballroom—standing with Dusk, Dawn, Azure, and Eventide all playing attendance for them—were my six night mares, four glooms, and seven shades.

  When Kevin noticed I was looking, he happily wagged his tail at me.

  “Queen Leila?” the fae performing the ceremony asked.

  “Yes?” I turned around and smiled angelically.

  “All fae traditions have been observed and followed,” the fae said. “Thus, it brings a close to this most blessed of occasions. I pronounce Queen Leila and Lord Rigel mar—”

  The enormous window behind the fae official burst, showering us with glass.

  Two spiders, both the size of small ponies, crawled in through the broken window.

  They parted their enormous fangs as their hairy legs—which had an unnatural number of joints—clicked when they scuttled closer. Their bloated bodies were covered in a hard shell, and each spider had eight eyes that glowed in the light of the ballroom.