“Two of them, in fact,” I answered finally. “My mother is mortal, as well.”
Gasps and whispers floated through the room.
“You’re… mortal?” Remis said, frowning.
“No, she isn’t,” Luther cut in before I could respond. “Andrei Bellator is her adopted father.”
My head whipped to him in surprise. Even the people in Mortal City didn’t know that, and I certainly had never told him.
“And your birth father?” Garath asked.
I gritted my teeth. “He died before I was born. I do not know his identity.”
More shocked noises and twittering voices. I kept my face stony and offered no reaction.
“Forgive our surprise, Your Majesty,” Remis said. “Children of mortals and Descended are…”
“Forbidden,” I said flatly. “I’m aware.”
“We’ll have to… that is, many will demand…” Remis shifted in his seat. “The other Houses will expect there to be an inquiry into your parentage.”
“It’s unlikely to be fruitful. My father has no knowledge of my sire, and my mother is…” I hesitated. “…no longer with us.”
The whispers had turned to outright cacophony. Remis looked nauseous. Garath and his wife were sneering like I’d grown horns. Luther’s friend Taran was grinning.
Luther rose and straightened his doublet, then cleared his throat. The talking silenced instantly, the entire family looking to the Prince with hushed respect.
“I admit that our new Queen’s upbringing is unusual,” he began.
“You mean appalling,” Garath muttered.
“However,” he went on, “this creates a unique opportunity. An Unhoused Descended has never successfully taken the throne. Ruling a realm is difficult even with the support of a large House. Doing it alone would be…” He turned to me, his chin lowering. “Dangerous.”
My eyes narrowed. Was that a threat?
“But if you were to claim House Corbois,” he continued smoothly, “we could be powerful allies.”
Remis sat up straight as he caught on to his son’s scheme. “Indeed, Your Majesty, we would be honored to welcome you as one of our own. House Corbois has held the Crown for centuries—no House is better suited to help you meet the demands of the role. We can offer you a wealth of resources, as well as our protection in the Challenging.”
“Protection?” I asked.
“No member of House Corbois would dare to Challenge you… if you were one of us.” Despite Remis’s smile, there was an edge in his tone. Another threat, just like his son.
Garath stiffened. “The other Houses won’t allow her to claim House Corbois without a blood relative. If they discover she’s selecting a House at whim, there will be chaos. Worse yet when they discover she’s a half-breed.”
My irritation flared at the derogatory slur.
“We’re all half-breeds, Father,” Taran said with a hint of mischief. “We all descend from Lumnos and her mortal consort. Unless, of course, you’re suggesting the Blessed Mother engaged in incest with her Kindred brothers.”
“But that would be heresy,” someone added cheerfully—Eleanor, the woman I remembered from earlier. “And no Corbois would ever blaspheme our patron goddess, right Uncle?”
Garath glared at them both, and Eleanor and Taran shared a wicked grin.
“Besides,” Taran said, shrugging, “we’ve got hundreds of dead cousins. Surely there’s one we can pin as her father.”
That answer seemed to appease the group, and a silence fell over the room as their faces turned to me.
I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting—I’d been operating on adrenaline and near-constant confusion ever since the dying King had grabbed my hand and started shouting prophetic gibberish.
I had no interest in allying myself with this wretched family, who had ruled over so much of the very oppression I wanted to undo. And I definitely had no interest in allying with Prince Luther.
But if I declined the offer and Luther Challenged me on behalf of his House… despite all my bravado, I’d be dead in a heartbeat.
And I knew nothing of the other Descended Houses. Perhaps they were just as bad—or worse.
I looked over at Luther, his expression dark and unreadable. Had he proposed this plan to repay the debt he claimed he owed me, or to set me up for failure so he could claim a Crown he wanted for himself?
He sat back down beside me—close enough that his thigh pressed against mine, alighting a flutter of eyebrows throughout the room.
“This is a significant decision,” he said. “Perhaps Your Majesty would like some time to consider it.”
Time. Yes, I needed time.
“Yes,” I answered quickly. “I… I’ll think on it.”
Remis nodded, then rose and looked out at his family. “Until then, none of us shall speak of our Queen except to those in this room. Is that understood, House Corbois?”
A murmur of agreement drifted from the crowd.
“Let me be clear, family. If you wish to have any hope of keeping your home, your titles, and your royal status, you will say nothing of this to anyone. Am I understood?”
Another, louder, ripple of acknowledgement followed.
His words made me realize with a start that this was no longer the royal family. Princess Lilian, Prince Luther… without a blood relative on the throne, they would merely be citizens of Lumnos like any other.
No wonder Luther had proposed this deal—he stood to lose everything, including his precious title. It was almost enough to make me reject the offer on the spot.
But my plans were bigger than one man. House Corbois would meet its demise soon enough.
Along with every other House in Lumnos.
Chapter
Five
As the night wore on, most of the family excused themselves, bored with me already, while others loitered and chatted quietly, no doubt gossiping over their new Queen’s scandalous heritage.
I walked over to Lily, who had been taking great pains to avoid me all night. “Princess Lilian,” I said firmly. “May I speak with you alone?”
She finally looked up at me, her eyes round with fear. “Um… of course, Your Majesty.”
I felt the burn of Luther’s stare as I brushed past him and led Lily to an empty corner of the room.
She shook her head and began to stammer. “I’m so sorry. Please… please don’t be m-mad.”
I sighed. “Lily.”
“I know I said I wouldn’t tell him, but Luther, he—he can understand—he can help you. He swore he would help you. He told me—”
“Lily.”
“Oh Blessed Kindred.” Her voice broke. “I betrayed you. You’re my Queen, and I betrayed you at the very first test of loyalty.”
“Lily.”
She buried her face in her hands and burst into tears, body quaking with each sob. Across the room, Luther shifted toward us, then paused.
“Look at me,” I commanded. She obeyed, her dark sapphire eyes red and weepy. I placed my hands on her arms and gave a gentle squeeze. “I’m not angry with you.”
She sniffled. “You’re not?”