Page 63 of The Unseelie Wish

Bayodan paused. “May I speak my mind without recompence, King Valroy?”

Valroy shrugged again. “As you wish.” Even when Bayodan was speaking frankly, it was always with an air of respect. Besides, the reason the Lord was still in Valroy’s service, despite his past betrayals, was because his advice was useful. On the whole, at least.

“Is it the portion of you that was birthed by the Morrigan and the fallen archangel that desires such destruction—or the truth of your soul? Is it the void within you that seeks death, or that which drove your greater self to join us?”

An interesting thought. “Does it matter?”

“Perhaps, yes. That your drive to destroy is a product not of you, the Unseelie King, but from you—creature of the endless nothing.” Bayodan walked up beside him, also looking out over the trees and forests of their world. “I would hate to see so many put to the axe due to an instinct that is foreign to us.”

“You say that because I am not a true fae, in every sense of the word, that my bloodlust is unnatural. Therefore, I should seek to subdue it.” Valroy tilted his head as he considered the argument.

Yes, he was of the void. An ancient and unknowable thing that had chosen to leave the great emptiness to experience life. It was not without merit to think his desire for slaughter was from his innate need to see that nothingness mirrored in the world around him. “I do not remember much from that time. Sensations, only. I was a multitude that was also only one.” He shut his eyes, straining to think back to the time before. “Much in the way that a tree stands on its own, but whose roots create the forest—and the forest together is one.”

“Mayhap that is what inspired you to join the fae, as we are as the forest of which you speak.” Bayodan rested his one hand on the rock wall.

“It is quite likely, though I cannot say.” Valroy squared his shoulders. “But what I can speak to with certainty is that I am not one to set aside my convictions. The treaty will fall, and the human girl is the key to its destruction. Therefore, I will wield her wish.”

Bayodan did not know of the girl’s power over the music of life. Valroy would keep such a thing secret. He had the confidence of the Queen, and if Abigail learned of the witch’s gifts, she would certainly intervene. More than she already had.

“If I am not mistaken, however, you had a hand in placing Abigail upon the throne in such a way that she could stand against your…convictions.”

“Careful, Bayodan.” Valroy eyed the other fae. “You tread on dangerous ground.”

Was it true? In a fashion, yes. Abigail would always stand in opposition to him. The same but different—together, but apart. Their love was unflinching, their devotion to each other unassailable.

But to speak aloud the deep truth—that Valroy had accepted such a foil to exist to prevent himself from destroying two worlds?

That was blasphemy.

Blasphemy and disrespect. Both of which he would not suffer from a Lord. Whether or not it was spoken from a friend.

“I believe my point has been made.” Bayodan took a moment to think. “If I might provide an alternate solution to your current quest?”

“I will ignore it. But speak it if it brings you peace.”

Bayodan chuckled quietly. “Bargain with your Queen. Use this wish the mortal holds as standing. Allow us to meddle in human affairs as we once did—let us return to Earth. It is not much to ask.”

“Yet allow it to keep its restrictions upon war.” Valroy huffed. “Hardly a bargain. The Seelie were always meant to be our subordinates.”

“Including their Queen?”

Valroy sneered, flashing his teeth. “She looks quite lovely on a leash.”

“I am certain you are quite correct.” Bayodan’s lips curled in a smile. “But I would argue that anything you are not willing to do to the Queen, you should not do to her people. If you would not put her to the axe or force her to kiss the ground upon which you walk, she will not suffer such treatment of her people. And with all due respect, we have suffered this strife before.”

It was Valroy’s turn to feel his jaw tick in annoyance. He hated when Bayodan spoke sense. It was irritating. He wanted to relish the idea of destroying the Seelie and seeking the subjugation of the mortals. But the goat-like Lord was not wrong.

This was a dance they had done many times since Abigail took the golden crown.

“To ask me to work against my nature is to ask the moon not to pull upon the tide. I am who I am, Bayodan.” He turned from the wall to head back to his throne. “As she is who she is meant to be. It is up to Abigail to foil my efforts. I have faith in her ability to do so.”

Bayodan nodded once, taking the obvious cue that the debate had finished. “I appreciate the audience, my King.”

“You—” Valroy paused.

Something was wrong.

Something was very wrong.