“Remove the necklace, and replace it with mine,” The Horde King demanded in a tense tone.
My mother stepped up hesitantly and removed the thin necklace with the ruby on it that had kept me from just sifting away. She then replaced it with one he manifested and handed to her. It was thin platinum, bearing a small silver disc with what must be an insignia for the Horde etched into the face. I barely glimpsed it, before it rested against my throat. When she had finished placing it on me, she stepped back but lifted her hand to cup my cheek reassuringly.
“We have much to discuss, Alazander. Your guards can watch my daughter while we go over the agreements. Entertainment and a feast will be provided for those guests who wish to indulge,” my father said with a note of deference in his voice as he sidled up to stand beside my mother. I could see he was keeping his eyes down, so the Horde King wouldn’t see how much this entire situation was angering him.
“You think I should keep up my end of the agreement after you so boldly broke the one we had?” Alazander growled angrily. My father’s eyes snapped up to meet the Horde Kings. “That I wish to remain for feasting and entertainment after I was forced to wait more than twenty years for what you should have willingly brought me then?”
“I’m willing to give up a few more things to secure peace, if that is your wish. The war, however, needs to cease. The good of Faery must be considered, and each Caste must be willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
“Show me what you propose,” Alazander demanded as he indicated with his hand for my father to lead.
“Let me start the entertainment, and we can discuss it over the feast that has been prepared for tonight. There will also be Humans for those of your breed that can feed without killing.”
Feast? I blinked, surely they wouldn’t…my father snapped his fingers, and side doors opened and a large group of Humans, who looked very well-kept, walked out and stood in a line. The men and women kept their eyes downcast and their posture stiff. A buzz of nervous excitement seemed to surround them.
“What the hell?” I asked before I could think better of it.
“They are guests in our kingdom that my brother brought back here. They requested to come to Faery. They are happy, and never mistreated here, Synthia. I’d like to keep it that way,” he said as he narrowed his eyes on the Horde King.
As far as I knew, the Blood Fae didn’t go into the human world very often. Or, that was what I’d been told. But then, the Horde King had been missing, and well he’d just popped up in time to claim me. Fae fucking games.
“Your daughter will be seated beside me, my guards will stay both beside and behind us while we indulge in your celebration,” the Horde King said, pulling on the silver chain that was secured to my wrists. I went willingly to him until I was inches from his chest.
This seemed to satisfy him, and I followed him a few short steps to where a long table with a rich crimson coverlet materialized before us. Ornate, high-backed oak chairs surrounded the table, and he indicated that I should be seated in a chair that was pulled out with magic, next to the largest and most ornate chair that seemed to dominate and preside over the rest of the seating arrangement. I took my seat as he expected, and it wasn’t until the Horde King noticed my father waiting, that he narrowed his eyes on me and spoke to his guards.
“To me,” he said barely above a whisper, and a contingent of his guards decked in black armor sifted to him, “five of you protect what is mine. The others come with me.”
I watched as he and the rest of his men walked with my father to another table that had also not been there as I’d been presented to the Horde. My father unrolled a giant scroll across it, and he and the Horde King began discussing the terms. I wondered with a queasy feeling if it had been one of those parchments made from the skin of traitors, or if it was made through less painful means. I scooted up against the main table, which seemed to please my new guards. The table continued to “set” itself as large gold chargers and gold cutlery appeared before us. Well, that was a good sign that at least there would be more than Humans for dinner.
I hid my hands under the table, and quickly gave a nudge at the bodice, popping the toothpick dagger out of place and lifted the skirt of the dress, to discreetly slide the dagger out. I held it in my hands briefly, before dropping it to the floor, and kicking it away from myself, and down the length of the table. There was no way in hell I was getting busted with that thing by Alazander. He’d just suck the air from my lungs, and I’d be unable to use it on him, and be utterly fucked in the process.
“Synthia,” Madisyn breathed with a look of horror in her eyes. She’d been the only one to notice what I’d just done.
“Not like that,” I shook my head, knowing the guards were listening to the exchange.