THE KING of Averotho was not a kind man.

How could he be, when he had been groomed to become the sort of king who would tear down the world to make his father's inventions become a reality? How could he be, when his own father had used and traded dark magic until it killed, killed, killed?

No, Kaeberon was not kind. He hadn't been alive for centuries because he had a soft heart. He had survived centuries because he cut down anyone and everyone who stood against him and everything Averotho stood for.

The Queen of Anlithamy would be no different, he was sure. When he stared at himself in the mirror in his bedchamber, he saw the face of a ruthless man. He saw the face of someone who would conquer Anlithamy.

There was a knock at his door, and then it was being pushed open. Only one person would choose to come in uninvited, and so Kaeberon did not turn to greet the visitor. "Erowillric. Are our guests ready?"

King Kaeberon had groomed his own child, much like his father had done with him. He had trained Erowillric in all things political, physical, and magical. Including how to handle the technology that would soon rule all of the fae realm.

His son was his shadow, his miniature. He had no doubts in his mind where Erowillric's loyalty lay.

And yet, his son had been strange as of late. Not quite the ruthless prince he was raising.

"They are waiting, father."

"And? You did bring them to the study last night, did you not? Soften the hearts of our little enemies, did you?"

Erowillric had many tells. The clenching of his jaw was one of them. "I did. I shared our plans, like you wished. I wouldn't really agree that her heart is softened, but she knows."

The king placed his heavy crown on his head. "Spit it out, Erowillric. I can tell you want to say something."

"I think you're moving too fast. Andorra is young, but she could be an ally. Give her a few decades, and she'll know more about what she's doing. Forcing her hand is only going to make her less agreeable."

The King stood. He had a political advisor, and his son was not one. He truthfully did not care to listen to what his son had to suggest when it came to ruling. Not until Erowillric was older, more experienced, more cutthroat. When Kaeberon looked at his son, he saw someone who could do great things, but he also saw a child.

Young. Rash. Irresponsible. "You like her. That doesn't change what has to be decided today. The moment she sees herself as an equal is the moment we allow Anlithamy to think they could win in a war against us. No, keeping her meek and pliable is important. Showing her a taste of fear is important. I will not be changing my mind, Erowillric."

Ero said nothing else. How could he, when his father was like this? He was used to how his father moved and acted. Still, he tried again. "There's no need to move. If you give me more time, she'll come around to it. Anlithamy thinks we're cutting people open for their powers-"

The king shrugged. "And we once did do that. But she'll soon see that bowing down to us is for the best interest of everyone. Let Anlithamy think a simple life is best. They are fools for not advancing with our technology."

Ero bit back his retort. He bowed to his father instead, forcing himself not to think about last night. Forcing himself not to think about the way Andorra's face looked when he'd chosen not to answer her question. Do you want to be my friend because of me, or because of Oberon?

He forced himself to not think of the Queen's guard at all.

He followed his father to the Grand Room. When they opened the door, Andorra and her guard were already sitting in there at the large table, waiting patiently. Ero let his eyes slide over Andorra for a moment, taking in her anger, and then looked over at Oberon. The guard tilted his chin up in a challenge.

The King sat in his usual chair at the head of the table. He looked at both the Queen of Anlithamy and her guard. His smile was cruel, but he wasn't there to pretend he was anyone other than the King of Averotho. Pleasantries were for Anlithamy and their weak kingdom.

Andorra didn't like the way he grinned. Hot anger flowed through her veins as she took him in. She wouldn't last a moment in a fight with him, that was obvious. He was a large man, and he had these futuristic arm bands that stretched from his elbow down to his hands. She wanted to know what they were, but she held her tongue.

"Greetings. I've been told my son spilled our plans last night." The king shared a look with his son, and Andorra clocked it as disappointed. "With that out of the bag, we can discuss what I think is best for our realm. It is no secret that Anlithamy has refused to accept our tech, but I want to extend an olive branch. You are a new ruler. Perhaps smarter than your parents."

Andorra stared him right in the eyes. "Are you nearby?" she asked Pyatt. She wished in that moment that Maia was still prowling inside of her, because she could have used some of that anger right then. Some of that power.

"I'm here." Came Pyatt's response.

"I did not know my parents, so I will let that insult go. It sounds to me like you need our powers more than I need your alliance. Sell me on why I should give you some of my power, and then we can talk. But as I see it, you need what I have, and I don't really want what Averotho is offering."

She was proud her voice didn't waver. She held the King's eyes, refusing to look away first. It was a little like staring down a wild animal that could attack at any given moment, but Andorra found that she liked the lick of fear that ran down her spine. It made it easier to be angry.

Angry at Ero for only befriending her because of Oberon.

Angry at the King for forcing her hand.

Angry at the fact that there was very little she could do if the King came to Anlithamy, looking for war.

She didn't want to admit how much the Ero one hurt. But, she reminded herself, he was just another Kyle. Someone who wanted to befriend her to benefit themselves. It made her want to snarl at Ero, made her want to let Pyatt burn him to a crisp.

"Ah, a business woman." The King stood from where he was seated. He drew himself up, then wandered around the table. Andorra watched his movements like a hawk, but she didn't let herself stiffen or flinch. No, Oberon was doing that enough for the both of them with the way he tensed his body, ready for a fight.

"Smart, to ask for what we can do for you. But as I see it, Queen Andorra, your people are already at odds with you being Queen. Spring Court is not as happy, correct? And I've heard that you took over the throne in uncustomary ways that have chafed. I admit, that is brave of a child to do, but you are not aware of just how small you are. I could crush you like a bug." The king continued walking around the table, his steps slow and measured. "Everyone wants power. Allying with us, gaining our tech, that would make you powerful. You could end the whispers behind your back if you had just a taste of what Averotho's technology could do for you."

He stepped behind her, and she forced herself not to tense up as he paused there. She could feel him, could feel his power, and it had the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. He was so close he could reach out and kill her.

She made eye contact with Ero and held his stare. She raised a single eyebrow, silently asking, Is this what you meant by Averotho not being my enemy?

"Let me tell you what I want. I want a chance to use the unique powers that the fae of Anlithamy have. We of course have our own powers in Averotho, but I am so very interested in what it would feel like to have the power of fire at my fingertips, or the ability to freeze my enemies. So very interested in seeing what we could become together if you let me become your ally."

She was not doing that, but her brain buzzed with what she could do to fight back instead. If she said no, he would bring war to Anlithamy. A war that would kill, kill, kill. And she knew King Kaeberon was right; his army would demolish hers. Even Puck had said as much.

But saying yes, saying yes felt like she was damning them. Felt like she was allowing King Kaeberon to have his cake and eat it, too. Because what would stop Kaeberon from bringing war to them regardless? He could easily take their powers and then use them against Anlithamy.

"What would it look like, for us to access your tech? Are you suggesting you would hand it over to us willingly?"

The King moved away from her back. He slowly stood behind his chair, hands on the back of it, oh so casually. But Andorra knew it wasn't casual. Nothing about this was casual.

"Ah. Of course we would share tech. We want the fae realm to thrive. And to survive."

That word survive snagged at her. She had been naive enough once to believe Anlithamy was the only continent for fae, and she had been wrong. How many other continents were there? Was there another enemy on the horizon?

She desperately wanted to ask, but she didn't. She wasn't about to show that hand of ignorance to Kaeberon.

"How? And when? Tell me the timeline in explicit detail."

The King looked over at his son. There was a lot unsaid in that look that had Andorra on edge. She knew what it was like to be left out, to be spoken about behind her back, to be made fun of. But she was done with letting that happen to her.

She stood as well, hands slapping down on the table. "If you refuse to see me as an equal, then we have nothing to discuss. You are a king, and I am a queen. I'm young, but make no mistake. I am on equal footing as you are."

"We are not equals. I have ruled Averotho for longer than your parents were alive. I have ruled Averotho for so many centuries, most other fae alive at the same times as me have been murdered and killed. I have been ruling for so long, I have made many friends in many places. You are nothing but a speck of dust on my jacket in comparison."

Anger zipped up Andorra's spine. Fire licked at her fingertips. He was right, of course he was right, but she wasn't letting him walk all over her. All thoughts of being cordial were out the window at the way he spoke to her.

"You know, I guess I don't understand you. It would have been so advantageous to take such a young, child-Queen under your wing. It would have been so advantageous to treat me with respect, raise me as an equal until centuries down the line, I am nothing more than a puppet for you to control because of my misguided trust. I guess I'm interested in knowing why you wouldn't play the long game."

"I don't need to play any games, Andorra. I will get what I want, when I want. And I want your powers now." Andorra watched in curious horror as the arm hands he wore began to light up. Something soft and smoky emitted from his fingertips. Large wings bloomed from his back, and she knew. Andorra knew she was about to die.

Ero stood up. "Father, enough. We talked about this. She is our ally-"

"No, you talked about that. Not once did I agree that the Queen of our enemy continent was our ally. I've made it very clear what I want, Andorra. You can give it to me, or you can fight."

Oberon was standing beside her now. His hand was on her shoulder, heavy and pressing. "Andorra, remember why you're here."

She tried to remember. Right, she was here to convince the King that he didn't need to fight Anlithamy. She was here to see what he wanted. She was here to report her findings back to Nohx and Puck.

Nohx. She would return home to him. She had promised as much.

And maybe love made you stupid, or maybe love made you wise, because she sat down with the heavy realization that dying here in Averotho would benefit no one. Refusing the King and going to war, even if it was to sate her pride, would not benefit Anlithamy.

And she was their Queen. All of them, not just herself, or her friends. She ruled over all of them, and anything she did in Averotho would affect them.

She raised her chin. "What is the timeline? I give you what you want, and you share your tech. I want to know more about that."

The King looked a little too feral as he smiled down at her, the edges of his lips pulled back to show his pointed teeth. A predator, through and through. "And here I was, hoping for a fight. I forget how boring the royals of Anlithamy are."

Her heart was beating so fast, she was afraid she would faint. "I can be more boring, in fact. I will not agree to anything unless we sign a contract." Andorra stood on shaky legs, but she tried to hide it. "Ask your son about my pet. Because if you want to be a thorn in our side, then I don't mind giving you a front row seat to meeting him." She pushed in her chair and prowled to the door. She opened it, then turned to look at the king over her shoulder.

"I want the written contract delivered to me in twenty four hours. Anything longer than that, and I'll tell my pet where to find you. He loves the taste of fae." She let a cruel smile cover her face. Then, she looked right at Ero, and gave him a mental middle finger. "That goes for you as well, Erowillric. Twenty four hours passes fast. Tick tock."

She let the door slam behind her and Oberon. She didn't even look at him; she stormed right out of the castle completely. She would not be staying there, waiting for the king to strike her down. But she needed fresh air, needed space, needed confirmation she hadn't just made the dumbest decision by being angry with Kaeberon.

When they were out of the front doors and into the wide open space, Oberon spun her around with a hand on her shoulder. His face was drawn tight, but there was a hint of an Obe smile on his lips.

"That was quite a fuck you back there." His tone was a tad too sharp to be complimentary. "What do you think, that he'll comply or completely fuck us over?"

She let her shoulders drop, but she was well aware of the guards listening in. She jerked her head to them and moved forward, down the long path of waiting guards. They all watched her with steely eyes and tightened grips on their weapons. Andorra hardly paid them any attention.

By the time they were away, and back on the main street with other fae, she let out a long sigh. "I think I ruined our chances of a civil discussion. I think when we get home, we need to prepare for war. Because I don't think Kaeberon will be granting my wish on a contract."

"Let's go find a bar or something. We can drink our woes away."

Andorra bumped Oberon's shoulder. "I have a better idea. C'mon."