Page 25 of Enchanted Queen

“Once he is up, maybe try having you and Miles send your magic at the same time? Not to combine, per se, but one of you think of the water clear, one of you picture the toxins gone, and see what happens.”

Amory sent word that morning that instead of only meeting a few of the queen’s top advisors, I would be meeting all eight of them. Which was fine, I would rather get it over with, but I was beginning to think I should have gone back to bed instead of attacking the vials. The exhaustion of being up early in the morning and then also having used this much magic on the vials had me feeling sluggish. I needed a decent meal and a nap.

Archer walked over. He handed me my crown and fixed my black vest around my white shirt, making sure everything was straight. “I think that vests are not as fashionable here, but better to look proper by Wylan’s code than Dra Skor’s for now. We are not so friendly yet that they need to forget where we come from.” He patted my jacket on the shoulders a few times.

I gave him a nod. “Thank you.”

He moved to John to do the same thing.

John looked over at me through his glasses instead of from over the top of them for once. “You have always been smooth, Keiran. You will be able to charm these advisors.”

I gave my head a shake. “I hope you’re right about that. Considering all that hangs in the balance.”

John smirked. “I am right. Not because of what hangs in the balance, the pressures we find ourselves stuck under, but because I know you. From a young age you were a most masterful delegate.” He pointed his finger at me. “Be smooth, but not too smooth.”

Taking one of the Dra Skor women to my bed sounded like a disaster. I trusted no one here.

Dex, ever the soldier, asked, “Do we know how many are in their shifted form and how many aren’t for this meeting?” He and two more of our guards would stay with us standing at the door.

“No,” I gave my head a shake. “We know Amory will be in her human form. The queen in her dragon form, and Malachi in his horse form. So at least two shifters.”

“Kind of mad I am going to miss it,” Emric said with a sigh. “But the vials are our focus now.”

I had been outthinking my father’s moves for the past five or more years, all the while trying to keep Krew and myself alive. Having to don a court mask and charm these advisors? It felt as normal as using my magic at this point. A slow smile spread across my face. “You leave the wining and dining to me.”

John walked over to one of our trunks and quickly found me a decent sized emerald on a necklace. He handed it to me. We had known for years that the queen of Dra Skor was a fan of gems. So we had brought a number of things with us which we were going to use to keep us in the queen’s good graces. John thought handing her one such gift in front of her advisors would show to them that we were trying to bridge the gap between our countries.

I tucked it into my jacket inside pocket and gave him a nod. “Let’s go avoid a war, shall we?”

* * *

Just before thedoors to the same library we always met in, I allowed my magic to burn beneath my veins only to give me a buzzing tingle to awaken all my senses. This was important. Every conversation with these advisors would matter.

And if even the queen didn’t trust all of them, John and I would have to sift through our own impressions of them to see who was trustworthy and who was not.

The doors slowly opened, and Amory quickly stood.

“Prince Keiran,” she smiled.

My eyes flicked to the table. It was the same one we had looked at the map of Dra Skor on just yesterday, yet it was bigger, so they must have added a portion to it. Four people were in motion, standing to greet a prince. Two rather vehemently were staying put in their chairs, and three were in their shifted form, so there wasn’t really room for either.

The queen was again half on the balcony with her huge form. I noted today she was wearing a type of black crown on her head. Malachi was also there standing in the corner, but not looking entirely excited about it. There was also a winged gray wolf which reminded me of Rafe.

I wondered how often they all met because they could really fill a room.

I put up a hand to the people at least attempting to show some respect for my title. “Please do not bother yourselves. I am thankful for this invitation.”

Amory gestured to two open seats for John and me.

“This is our head sage in Wylan, John Nottle,” I said as I gestured to John.

A few people and the wolf gave him a nod of greeting.

John headed to his seat, and before I did as well, I strode for the dragon.

More touching?she asked.

I smirked. Had that been sent to everyone? Likely not. “No. Just a small gift.” I took the necklace out of my jacket and laid it at her talons.