A Court of Fae and Wolves

MAEVE

Shouting makes the once-quiet throne room feel suffocating.

Loud, cruel, voices fill the room as the Council tries to quiet the Court. Order fails to be restored, everyone too focused on outraging and reminding us all that a woman cannot rule alone.

That woman being me.

My people ignore the truth that I am royal by blood, the rightful queen who has been trained as such since I could walk. I have bled alongside them in many wars, fought the same enemies, buried friends, and worn the same heavy armor they have. And they still say I am not fit to rule alone. That a man needs to be by my side.

Now as I sit here, solid as marble on what should remain my throne, I can’t help but glower at them all, digging my nails into my fists hard enough crescent moon shapes begin to take place. The sharp bite of pain is easier to carry than the fury boiling my blood.

This is my court.

My kingdom.

And I will not let them steal it from me.

Slamming my fists down on the armrests with a resounding boom, the Court grows silent, heads flicking in my direction once more. "No more of this." My voice fills the throne room as I rise to a stand, smoothing down my dress. "This is my Court. No man would rule better than I, and I will hear no more." Walking slowly down the steps toward the now silent circle of my people, I make my way to the Council table where the Council members eye me. My once calm presence has changed to the lethal warrior I become when threatened, and by the stillness of my people, they can sense it.

Leaning down on the table, I place my palms flat in front of the navy velvet tunic wearing Elder deep in his watery lilac eyes. "You are a disgrace to the Council, Edgar," I begin, ignoring the gasps of shock. "You watched me grow. Watched me fight alongside your son in the war that nearly took us out. Yet you sit here and say I am not a fit ruler without a man by my side?" I raise my brow at him as his lips thin.

"Maeve---"

"Your Highness," I correct on a hiss, eyes narrowed on the wrinkly old man. His game is not one he has hidden well. Edgar wants his son Esmond to rule. Wants Esmond and I to marry so he can control the Court like he has wanted to for centuries. Edgar knows that forcing a mate bond is against fae law, unless it comes to a royal. If the Court deems an arranged marriage fitting, then the natural mate bond is denied for politics. Having not found a mate and these misogynistic pricks deeming me unfit to rule alone, I know this is his plan. It cannot be forced, but because I am alone here with no one to take my side, I know he will try.

"Your Highness, we only desire what is best for the Court and you."

A non-humorous laugh escapes me as my nails dig into the wood of the Council table. The rest of the room is still silent, holding their breath to see just what I might do. "What's best for me?" I shake my head. "You and the rest of the men leaving me alone to rule as I am meant to." With that, I rise to full height, turning to look at everyone. "So a woman is good enough to fight by your side in war but not strong enough to rule alone?" My nails scrape the wood as I pull away. "You had no complaints when I led us to victory during the last war. When we had the smallest amount of casualties in three centuries." I scoff, shaking my head as I spin to face them. Having my back to Edgar makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, but I ignore it. "I was fitting then, but now it seems you have made up your minds that the Court could not possibly survive on the rulings of a woman."

I cock my head. "Silence comes easy when you realize you have no argument."

"War is different than politics!" One brave soul shouts from somewhere in the crowd, his voice rising. "Just because you can lead an army into war does not mean you can lead a Court. That is a mans job. You got lucky with the army."

Heat coils in my palms as rage flows throughout my body, and before I realize what I've done, I feel the air begin to vibrate and a pressure in my chest. Looking around, I see everyone else feels it, too.

Shit.

Losing control like this will only make their point stronger. If I can't control myself, how would I control the Court? Bullshit standing, truly, but anything they can use against me, they will. Taking a breath, I rein in my magic and instantly feel the air smooth and the pressure ease.

A slow smirk grows on my lips. "Never underestimate me. Look what I could accomplish so easily. None of you would've stood a chance had I continued to crush your lungs."

"That was a cruel trick, Maeve!"

My head flies in the direction of the voice, ready to pulverize whoever else decided to speak out of turn, and when I spot the culprit, I resist the urge to crush his windpipe with a squeeze of my fist.

"Using your power to make your people fear you is no way to win this argument." My ex, Edwyn---who happens to also be Esmond's brother, and Edgars youngest son---bellows as he pushes his way through the crowd toward me. "This is exactly why no one believes you are fit to be our Queen. Using dirty tricks like this to prove a point only shows you are nothing but a fighter masquerading as a royal."

If I wasn't indebted to his family, I'd end his life in front of everybody.

"I already am your Queen. Watch your mouth, Misa, before I make you."

He throws his hands around, waving to the crowd. "See everyone? She's too violent. She needs a man to rein her in. My brother, Esmond, would do that role justice. Keeping her in check while ruling this Court how it deserves."

Strangling him is a bad idea, Maeve. Queens have better control. No choking ex's to death. At least, not in front of a crowd.

"Okay, this has gotten way out of hand."

The airy voice of my best friend Genevieve breaks the murderous thoughts stringing through my head at the exact right moment.

"This went from a discussion to a full-on assault of her competence as not only a Queen, but as a person entirely. You all are acting as if she hasn't bled the same blood as you during war. As if she has not successfully been ruling this Court for the past year. Why now is it she is suddenly not capable of ruling alone anymore?" Genevieve looks to the Council, who have gone eerily silent. "Could it possibly be that somebody wishes royalty for his son?"

"Quiet, female!" Edwyn snaps at Gen, making my blood boil.

"Do not speak to her that way."

Gen tilts her head down and hides her smirk behind her hand. She is as intimidated by these imbeciles as I am, but that doesn't stop me from protecting her. Not only is she my oldest friend, she is my right hand. The Court owes her respect and what Edwyn did was enough to get him in trouble.

Edwyn laughs. "You have always thought yourself so tough, but I know you, Maeve. You will always be the fragile little girl who lost her parents and grew up the orphaned queen-to-be."

I throw out my hand before I have time to think about my actions, squeezing my fist tightly. Edwyn's eyes boggle as he grabs for his throat. Veins bulge as I tighten my grip like a vice, my magic choking him as I lift him into the air.

"And yet, I still grew up better than you." I narrow my eyes as his grow impossibly wider. His legs flail as he is lifted above, the crowd gasping at my cruelty. "How is this for weak?" I ask as I stalk closer, not loosening my grip. "Not so terrible for an orphan, is it, bastard son?"

"Maeve..." Gen's voice cuts through my fury and I let out a breath, slowly lowering the bastard whose face is turning a lovely shade of purple. Fae can't die so easily, but it certainly would've taken him out for a few hours.

When I drop him to the gilded floor, he falls to his knees gasping for breath with his hands holding his throat. Edgar looks furious but smartly kept his mouth shut. He didn't even move from his seat, instead he sat, watching, face reddening. Knowing that if he had tried, he'd have had the same fate. As much as I know he'd never admit it, the old man knows I am much more powerful than he could ever wish to be. Which is exactly why he wants this marriage. So he can control me through his son.

"Everyone clear out. This meeting is adjourned," Genevieve announces, eyeing everyone. The Court seems too stunned to move until she clears her throat and everyone begins to scatter out the matching gilded double doors. The Council is the last to file out, with Edgar giving Edwyn a hand up. They throw glares back at me but I pay them no mind, instead I watch as they leave, then lock the doors behind them.

"Maeve, girl, that was..." Gen blows out a breath. "I don't even know what that was." She shakes her head causing her deep brown---nearly black---curls to come cascading across her face. "Are you alright?" Her hand reaches out to touch my arm gently as she gives me a sympathetic look that would get anyone else slapped. I hate pity, but with her, it's care.

"It has gotten worse," I admit, shaking my head as I take a seat at the Council table. "Last week between the Council and I we spoke. Today with Court members involved, it went from a discussion to screaming to insults and then next thing I know, I'm choking Edwyn."

"Not that I condone that behavior," Gen begins, "But I will say he did deserve it. I never liked that guy, especially when you dated him. He always felt like a weasel."

A very un-queen like snort escapes me. "He wasn't always this way, though I do see where you are coming from. Edwyn changed and not for the better. It's sad to see what Edgar and Esmond have done to him."

Gen sighs, then reaches out and puts her hand on top of my clasped ones. "Edwyn has always had this cruelty inside him. All he did was hide it well when you were together. Everyone else saw the side of him that you see now. And I'm sure he still loves you and is angry you don't want him to be your King."

Shaking my head, I say, "He never had a shot. I loved him, sure, as a young girl who was experiencing her first love. Our feelings were never going to be more than teenagers learning what romance is for the first time. Edwyn couldn't accept it when my feelings changed, and that must be when his family corrupted him. They saw their shot and they took it. Used his anger at me as fuel to turn him against me---and it worked."

The Edwyn he is now is nothing like the boy he was. Three years have passed and now it's like I am looking at a stranger when I see him. What once was love in his eyes quickly turned to hatred, and the pleasure I saw in Edgar's eyes the first time I saw that hatred will forever remain in my mind. He had orchestrated the entire change, and he's proud of what he accomplished. Exactly why he is foolish to believe I wouldn't see right through his false claim that he truly believes I am poorly ruling.

"Well, I really hate to be the one to tell you this, but your week is about to get worse than that hot-head."

Closing my eyes, I sigh deeply. "Why?" I mumble under my breath without even opening my eyes.

"Elder Edgar had Eldar Misrio send a summons to the Alpha of the North Pack this morning inviting them to come form an alliance with us."

My eyes fly open.

"Excuse me?"