Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“I love your outfit,” Elgiana remarked. She was wearing another gown that was literally half a shade off of Royal Purple yet again.
This time I was sure it was meant as an insult but I wasn’t sure what to do about it. Was I supposed to have her arrested for wearing my color? That seemed kind of extreme but then again, I was itching to do something to her. When I thought of how she’d infected Krynn with the Needing and then tormented him with it, I wanted to reach across the table and slap her perfect face!
“I’m rather surprised you wore it, though,” she said, while I was still trying to come up with a solution.
“And why is that?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. If she was going to give me some kind of backhanded compliment or say the gown didn’t look good on me, I wasn’t going to let it bother me a bit. I knew damn good and well that I looked spectacular in this gown—it went with my curves and my new eyes and hair perfectly.
“Well, I just thought you might be dressed in a Quenching gown, that’s all.” Lady Elgiana shrugged. “It would be more fitting for the show you’re about to put on.”
“Show? What show?” I demanded, frowning.
“Why, your Public Quenching, my dear.” Mordren gave me an evil smile. “The one you’re going to perform for the entire Court as soon as the Banquet of Investment is finished.”
“I’m not doing any such thing!” I exclaimed. So far every time I had taken blood from someone, it had been either a violent or an extremely intimate and sexual experience. I had no intention of doing it in front of a crowd of people I didn’t know.
“Oh? Then I suppose you wish to extend my Regency. A wise choice, considering that you’re really too young and inexperienced to wear the Midnight Crown,” Mordren said casually.
“I never said that.” I was holding on to my temper with both hands at this point. “I’m happy to take the Throne of the Midnight Court tomorrow on the Autumn Equinox and claim my rightful place as Queen. Your services, Lord Mordren, will not be needed anymore—I can assure you of that.”
His eyes narrowed but he kept a smirk on his face.
“But my dear Princess, I’m afraid you must choose one or the other. Either you give us a Public Quenching tonight or you agree to another hundred years of Regency.”
“How do you figure that, Mordren?” Sel growled from behind me.
Mordren’s eyes opened wide.
“Why, it’s the law! If an ascending Queen has refused to show that her Thirst is under control in the Quenching Parlor then she must either prove it to the Court with a Public Quenching or she must agree to extend the term of the Lord Regent by one hundred years until she can be deemed old enough and trusted enough to take the throne. I’m sure your little friend, the Royal Records Keeper, can tell you that.” He nodded at Krynn, who stood behind me by Sel.
“That law hasn’t been used in over two thousand years!” Krynn said angrily. “And it was only placed on the books for one very specific case—when Princess Petalla drained two Nobles at a ball before her coronation. And it wasn’t her fault—her Thirst had come on her early and at an unexpected time.”
“Nevertheless, the law is still on the books, which makes it legal and binding.” Mordren’s smirk grew. “And I am invoking it now, since you ran from the Quenching Parlor before you satiated your Thirst last night, Princess.”
“She’s quenched her Thirst—I can attest to that myself,” Sel growled. “There’s no need to put her through a public spectacle.”
“Unfortunately, though I wish I could take your word as Captain of the Palace Guard, I fear your veracity is compromised,” Mordren said coldly. “It’s clear you are under some kind of spell that makes you favor the Princess over all else. You and the Royal Records Keeper too,” he added, nodding at Krynn.
“Under a spell?” I demanded. “What are you talking about?”
“I do believe Lord Mordren is saying that you’ve bewitched them, my dear,” Lady Elgiana purred.
“We don’t need to be bewitched or bespelled to be loyal to the rightful Queen of the Midnight Court,” Krynn said, placing a hand on my bare shoulder. I could feel his outrage at what Mordren was implying. “All those who are loyal to the line of Lolth and who wish to have one of her true descendants on the Throne should feel the same. It’s well known the Dark Fae cannot prosper without a true Queen.”
“We’re not under any fucking spell,” Sel growled. He put a hand on my other shoulder and I felt his rage, simmering just below the surface. He had never liked Mordren and now he would have been happy to break the Lord Regent’s neck.