Exchanged Page 20

  There was no need for him to ask what she meant. Callannon sadly pressed a finger to her forehead and chanted softly. When he pulled back, the droplets of magic ink fell to the ground and vanished. The gathered crowd gasped collectively, save Oberon and Ginette. Aubriel kept her chin high as Titania’s mouth dropped in horror. The queen’s face twisted in disgust, as if holding a bouquet of flowers only to realize it was crawling with insects.

  Titania’s mouth worked but made no sound. She inhaled then spat at Aubriel’s feet before storming off. A little jab of pain went through Aubriel as Oberon threw her and Callannon an apologetic look before running after his wife. Even though things had always been strained between them, even though Titania attempted to use her, Aubriel thought she had been getting through to the queen. All the progress she’d made was gone now.

  Ginette stepped forward in Titania’s place. “A mortal? You intentionally lied to us this whole time, Lord Thray?”

  Callannon bristled at the statement. “We only made her look fey so she wouldn’t be endangered.”

  “Then why bring her here at all? Miss Aubriel claims you found her in her own realm, so why did you bring her here—as you must have—if you were so concerned for her safety?”

  “I love her,” Callannon said.

  The remark was simple, and he punctuated it by pulling Bree close against him, but the admission sent a wave of shock through all listening. Salda sputtered on the ground, looking much too surprised to be smug.

  “You knew she was mortal,” Jekob accused, his face darkening with rage. “You brought her into our presence, let us think we could trust her as we shared secrets of our realm. This betrayal will cost you, Lord Thray. There will be no more negotiations for the treaty with the Deepwood.”

  Tears burned at the back of Aubriel’s eyes. She opened her mouth to explain, to tell King Jekob she would never speak of any such conversations with anyone, but a lump in her throat kept her silent. They always knew losing the treaty might be the price they paid for telling everyone the truth, but that didn’t keep the pain of reality at bay. I’m so sorry, Callannon.

  “Don’t be so rash, my husband.” Ginette’s voice remained calm and even.

  Jekob snapped his head to Ginette, looking like he had never seen her before. “Ginette, she is mortal.”

  “So I can see,” Ginette said with an undertone of impatience. She took a breath and gave her husband a sympathetic look. “We shall discuss matters of the treaty in time. For now, I’m curious if there are any laws in the Summer Kingdom forbidding the exchange of a fey and a mortal.”

  Aubriel could hardly believe Ginette was standing up for her, if in her own way. The staff muttered to one another, considering.

  “She lied to everyone,” Salda finally managed from the ground where she still sat.

  Ginette nodded, considering this. “Yes, but we are in the Summer Kingdom, not the Deepwood. Unless I’m mistaken, King Oberon and Queen Titania are the ones who should deal whatever punishment they see fit.” Her tone didn’t leave room for argument. “I assume that if there were some kind of law forbidding Callannon and Aubriel to be together, you would have told us by now, Captain.”

  Salda didn’t reply but simply stared up at the queen with a grimace.

  “Alright then,” Ginette said with a clap, raising her voice slightly while keeping its commanding edge and giving the assembled staff a sweeping look. “I believe you all have tasks to attend to.” She smirked as they scattered from her arched look.

  “We need to discuss the repercussions of Miss Aubriel’s secret,” Jekob said, his mouth set in a grim line. “There will be repercussions.”

  “Let us discuss such matters in private.” Jekob began to object, but Ginette raised a hand to silence him. “Lord Thray will not leave his king, and Miss Aubriel will not leave her exchanged. They will still be here once we are done.”

  Jekob glared at Aubriel, the look filled with disgust and hatred, before reluctantly nodding to Ginette. “Fine.” Ginette led Jekob to the lake house, leaving Aubriel, Callannon, and Salda on the beach. Acorn trotted across the now-clear area to rub affectionately against Aubriel’s leg and bristle at Salda.

  The captain struggled against her bindings. “You heard the queen, we are to discuss this matter. Now let me go.”

  Callannon took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before responding. “I have a few more questions.”

  Salda protested, but Aubriel interrupted. “Humor us, Captain. I think it’s the least you could do after chasing me down and planning to tie me up like a runaway animal.”

  Salda managed to look a little ashamed. “Ask your questions so we may move onto more important matters.”

  “Did you know about Venta?” Callannon asked, his voice hard. The question was nearly a statement. Aubriel placed a hand on his arm for what comfort it offered. He placed his hand over hers.

  “I had my suspicions.”

  “How long?”

  Salda shifted uncomfortably. “King Oberon and Queen Titania asked me to look into Venta shortly after you became exchanged.”

  “Yes, to ensure she was truly noble and not an imposter.” Callannon quivered under Aubriel’s touch, and she strengthened her hold. “I’m aware. I’m also aware of how spectacularly clean Venta’s past and lineage were reported to be considering her true nature.”

  “It was clean,” Salda insisted. “The king and queen were convinced, but I wasn’t. I kept digging, had her watched, but I was never able to confirm she wasn’t who she said she was.”

  “When were you more sure than not?”

  “About four years before the attack,” she replied coolly.

  Callannon bristled. “Four years?”

  “You forget who you were!” Salda growled. “Overprotective, charmed beyond all reason, absolutely devoted. You’ve always been too humble about your arcane abilities, Thray. I couldn’t get anywhere near her because you wouldn’t allow it.

  “Do you recall the first time you banished me from your manor? I was suspicious of Venta and there to investigate a tip I'd heard regarding her, but you turned me away at the door as soon as I mentioned her. I was forced to sneak in. You and your magics caught me after only a few minutes, though I didn't know it until you assaulted me and forcefully removed me from the manor. I never even saw Venta while I was there.”

  “I do remember,” he responded hesitantly. “I left that skirmish with quite the cut. You didn't come to court for a week thereafter. Oberon said you couldn't show yourself after invading my home.”

  “I didn't come to court because I was recovering from burns and wounds that you inflicted! I tried to find out who she was, Thray, and I kept trying, but every time you got in the way. Don't blame me for what happened.”

  “It wasn’t Callannon’s fault.” Aubriel held her ground as they turned their heated gazes on her. This wasn’t her fight, but the situation was going nowhere. “From everything I’ve heard, Venta came into the Summer Court and charmed Callannon right under everyone’s noses. If there is something that everyone agrees on, it’s that they don’t like what Venta did and perhaps that it scares them just how far she got.”

  Their silence was filled with the lapping of waves against the shore. Callannon’s shoulders slumped as he sighed. “You’re right, Aubriel, but I still think things could have been handled better by those involved.” He glared piercingly at the captain.

  Salda slowly stood, careful of her bindings. “Maybe they could have been handled better, but that time is long behind us. I’m agreeing now to defer to the king and queen concerning the matter with your current exchanged.”

  “Miss Aubriel,” Callannon cut in.

  Aubriel did nothing to hide her smile at the restraint Salda was forced to display. “Yes, Miss Aubriel. Now, if we’re done, I’d like to be unbound.”

  “One last question,” Callannon said, holding up a finger. “Captain Salda, why do you hate me?”

  Salda balked. “Excuse me?” />
  “It’s not exactly a secret. You’ve been at my throat, attempting to undermine me at every turn from the beginning. I know full well you were in complete support of me losing my position as advisor. What did I do? What am I doing that makes you keep hating me?”

  “You’re the reason I can’t join the Sorcerers’ Enclave,” Salda seethed.

  Callannon stepped back in surprise. “W—what?”

  “The position at the Enclave. You turned it down, and they’re not offering it to anyone else. They’re still waiting for you to take it.”

  “But I turned that down ages ago. And you’re obviously the better spell caster.”

  Salda’s anger faltered. “Don’t expect me to believe you didn’t know. I applied for the position dozens of times, and when I asked what I could possibly do to gain their consideration, they told me I would have to wait for someone else to step down because the current position was being held for Lord Thray. End of discussion. You claim I’m the better caster, but it doesn’t matter so long as you keep them on your hook. Did you really have no inkling why the position has remained empty since you turned it down?”

  “I had no idea,” Callannon said, twining his fingers through Aubriel’s and letting their hands rest naturally between them. “I would never voluntarily leave King Oberon’s service, and I certainly don’t need a position waiting for me in case I ever lose the one I have now. Besides, prestigious as it might be, the daily life at the Sorcerers’ Enclave holds no interest for me.”

  “Those are noble words, Lord Thray, but they don’t change anything.”

  “Then allow me to put my words into practice.” Callannon chanted and summoned parchment and a pen to his hand, just as he had done to write Aubriel’s message to Viget. “I will draft a letter now, explaining that while I regretfully cannot take a place among the Sorcerers, I think you would make a better fit than I ever could have.”

  Aubriel released Callannon’s hand so that he could arrange the parchment to write. Salda had been right about one thing: Callannon was overly humble. That was what Aubriel loved about him. He had every reason to withhold the sorcerer position from Salda as punishment for keeping secrets about Venta and nearly expelling him from his place in court, but he didn’t. There were no conditions or requirements for his generosity, just the act itself.

  Neither fey commented when Aubriel circled behind Salda and unbound her wrists. While she was glad that Callannon seemed to be dealing with Salda, the larger situation still left a bitter taste in her mouth. It was bad enough that news of her mortality came out as it did, but there were still two royals left to convince that a treaty was still possible, not to mention the entirety of the Summer Court once the discussions finished. Racing through the forest with Elston, finding a way to open the stone door in the copse for him, and dealing with his treachery had been child’s play compared to what she now faced.

  Salda wordlessly took the leather binding Aubriel pushed into her hands as Callannon rolled up the parchment, sealed it, and spoke the words to make it disappear. “It’s done. You can contact the Sorcerers in the morning if you still doubt me.”

  “I will.” Her resolve faltered. “This...this won’t buy me off, you know.”

  “Fiona,” Callannon sighed. Aubriel paused, surprised to hear Salda’s first name.

  “You can choose to accept this gift or not,” he continued. “You can choose to continue on with your life or to cross blades with me at every turn. I should have let go of what happened with Venta a long time ago.” His hand found Aubriel’s. “You may have had some involvement with my previous exchanged, but you’ll have nothing to do with myself and Aubriel. Whether as advisor or something else, I plan to be by her side as long as she’ll have me.”

  Warmth flooded Bree at Callannon’s declaration. They always knew her mortality might bring them trouble in his realm, yet he remained by her side as things fell apart. She squeezed his hand lovingly. There was no longer fear when Salda stared her down.

  “The queen will wish to see you,” the captain said.

  With that, she turned and walked away.

  ~*~

  “She’s refusing to see anyone,” Oberon said, his concerned face peeking out from behind the door to his room.

  “Especially not that lying mortal!” Titania called from inside the room.

  Oberon winced. “As I said.”

  “The queen not liking a topic has never stopped her from facing it before,” Callannon said, his voice louder than normal.

  “This is personal,” Titania shot back.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her this angry at someone who wasn’t me,” Oberon whispered. “I think she was really coming to trust you, or at least respect you, Aubriel.”

  The “Miss” title was suddenly nowhere to be found, but Bree decided that might have more to do with the queen’s current state than the now-common knowledge of Aubriel’s mortality. “Queen Titania can still trust me. I’m the same person I was earlier today; I simply look different.”

  “Queen Ginette and King Jekob care a great deal about those looks,” Titania called.

  “Enough,” Aubriel pushed the door open. “I’m not going to have a conversation through a wall or a messenger.”

  Oberon startled back at her proclamation, and Callannon placed a hand on the door to keep it ajar. Aubriel marched forward to the beautiful queen, who was brushing her long, golden locks in front of a vanity. After everything this woman had put Callannon through, she would not get to sit idly by. Aubriel stood behind Titania, reflected in her full, elven mortality. “Tell me what is different.”

  Titania slammed her brush upon the vanity. “The difference is, you’re of a race that disgusts the Deepwood and have cost us the treaty.”

  “What if I told you Queen Ginette was not disgusted by my true nature and that she was still agreeable to signing the treaty?”

  “Even if that was true, King Jekob would never agree now knowing what you are.”

  Aubriel put her hands on her hips. “You claimed to be against the slavery of mortals and for their humane treatment during the discussion at the picnic. Was it easy to make such claims when no mortals were near you? The Summer Kingdom supposedly sympathizes with those from my world, and yet you would rather cast me off now that I inconvenience you. Even though I’m mortal, was I not able to befriend the foreign queen? Was I not able to convince her of what you could not? To end slavery of mortals?”

  A few tense moments passed as Titania glared, then she sighed. “I suppose those deeds do speak for you. If you are so skilled in befriending those of us who are royalty,” her searing gaze flicked to Oberon for a brief moment, “then you should be more than capable of convincing King Jekob to sign the treaty.”

  Bursts of outrage erupted from both men at once.

  “You go too far,” Oberon growled.

  “Out of the question,” Callannon said.

  “Tell me of another option, Lord Thray.” Titania’s violet eyes turned somber. “Even before you dismissed the illusion, we had not managed to convince King Jekob to halt the enslavement of mortals. That was the final issue we had to settle before being pulled out to witness that goose chase. I make my suggestion not to be cruel, but because I believe Aubriel is the only one who can succeed where we have failed.”

  Aubriel was touched, if a bit concerned that the queen’s sentiment was not as heartfelt as it appeared. That neither Callannon nor Oberon corrected her showed the truth in Titania’s words. Everyone in the room looked at Bree with restrained hope, but the path in front of her felt insurmountable. “Even if I manage to do what you ask, what then? Will Callannon be able to stay advisor?”

  Oberon sighed. “That depends on how the court takes the news. Of course, securing the treaty will help, but we can’t make promises. None of us can.”

  “Let me ask another way. If I do this, will neither of you try to remove him yourselves?”

  “You already know my answer,” Ober
on said, clapping Callannon on the back.

  “Of course, my friend,” Callannon said with a small smile. It faded quickly. “But what about you, Titania. No tricks this time. Either say you’ll do it, or say you won’t, but don’t say one thing and mean another.”

  Titania huffed. “I can see I’m outnumbered. Besides, if we do manage to get the treaty signed, between that and the frost giants I think you will have proven yourself worthy of advisorship for the rest of your lifetime.”

  “That’s the closest to siding with you she’s going to come,” Oberon said, elbowing Callannon in the ribs. “Take it and leave.”

  “I’m not going alone,” Aubriel said. “I may agree to do this task, but this treaty belongs to all of us. We go together.”

  Chapter 13

  “Don’t make a rash decision the both of us will regret, Jekob.”

  “Rash? They lied to us and dangled a mortal right under our noses—knowing exactly how we feel about them—as if to flaunt their powers of illusion and deception. And to think I danced with that creature and offered her a place as your handmaiden.”

  Ginette paused. “You asked Lord Thray’s exchanged, the lady-to-be of Sagma House, to be my handmaiden? I can only assume that Lord Thray did not hear of this offer or else the treaty would have already been cast out.”

  Callannon felt rather than saw Jekob’s wince. He and the others had failed to find the Deepwood royals in their room and eventually followed the sounds of arguing to the meeting room where they had been interrupted during treaty discussions earlier. They lingered in the dim hallway unnoticed, and he was happy to wait until the situation worked itself out. The more Ginette fielded her husband’s anger, the better Aubriel’s chances would be.

  The idea of sending his beloved exchanged into a debate with King Jekob sent a cold, angry fire through his blood. That Titania did not appear angry at all as she waited quietly beside Oberon—unusually, leaning into him—did little to comfort him. Perhaps he wouldn’t have felt so angry if he knew her intentions to be genuine.