Chapter 249
Nina stumbled back, and Nadine went with her. “My king,” she cried out. “Are you really going to allow her to threaten us in front of you?”
Rowan seemed to think about it for a moment. Then he shook his head and turned to me. I saw a flash of triumph on Nadine’s face. I lifted a brow, and Rowan smiled. “Are you threatening them?”
“No, my king.” I grinned up at him. “I’m swearing an oath.” Another gasp went through the room. “I, Amy Maclean, swear that if anyone from this family provokes me in any way going forward, I will call for a Cath Báis. I will refuse any and all reconciliation methods brought forth by the council. Any more provocation will end in death, either Nina’s or my own. On this I swear.” I felt the world shift, the oath taking form.
“NO!” Nina dropped to her knees.
I drew in a breath of air, feeling lighter. Nix settled, and Megan rubbed her side against the barrier, then Nix, calming us both. Calm, sisters. Her voice was soft and comforting. The angrier you are, the harder it is to control the flame that changes our scent. And my mate is too close to slip up.
Nix huffed and closed her eyes, calming herself. You’re right, I’m sorry. She shook her fur and then laid down. It’s been harder to control my anger since we woke. But I will do better until we are clear of this mess. Megan gave a tiny nod, then went back to the flame.
“My king.” Thinius stepped closer, and that agitated Nix, so I turned my back on the trio and went back to the table.
“Please continue.” I smiled at the girl, frozen, with a tablet in her hand. “Don’t let my drama hold up your chance.”
The girl looked startled, but she tried to hand me back my tablet. “I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?”
She looked over my shoulder. “You were more of a queen than I could ever be.” She took a step, but I grabbed her hand gently and pulled her back.
“Whoever is meant to be queen is up to the king and the goddess.” She tried to protest, but I held up my hand. “My parents raised me to be who I am today. Everything you just saw was learned behavior. The only thing I have over you is power and rank, but in the matters of love and leadership, I am no better or worse than you are.” I raised my voice, turning to look at the faces of the women in front of me. “Please. I don’t want any of you here to decide that you are not worthy of being considered for the position of queen. I am neither worse nor better than any of you. And if the goddess and the king select you to be queen, and you are just, then I will willingly follow you.” I turned back to the woman. “So please, don’t let any of this drama stop you from putting your hat in the ring. You deserve to be considered just like everyone else here.”
I watched her think over what I said. “Do you really think so?”
I smiled back at her. “Of course I do. I don’t know what you were watching, but I threatened to kill someone.” More than a few of the women there laughed with me. “That doesn’t really scream queen material.” I could feel Rowan’s eyes on me, but I focused on the young woman. I pressed the tablet into her hands. “What is the worst that can happen? You don’t get to be queen?” I lifted a shoulder.
“I’ve been looking for my mate for a few years.” Her words were a whisper.
But I smiled and gave her a wink. “I think the goddess has the perfect plan for you. You just have to be patient.” She smiled and then started filling out the application again.
“My king,” Thinius called again. But I kept my back turned. “Are you seriously going to let her do this?”
“Do what?” Rowan’s words held an edge, but Thinius was too stupid to catch it.
“This! All these women are skipping our application process!” His face grew ruddy with his anger. “She is essentially skipping the council completely. As if we are nothing!” He yelled, still working himself up. “I won’t stand for it. My family won’t stand for it. The council won’t stand for it.”
“Why does it matter?” Rowan crossed his arms.
“Because we already know who’s going to be the next queen! And none of these low-bred, classless whores are who the council selected.” Everyone turned, and the room grew silent. I covered my face with my hand to stop the laughter. He really is that fucking stupid. The silence grew. You could hear a pin drop, and the words finally registered in everyone’s mind. Nina and Nadine’s mouths dropped open, and I watched Thinius’s face drain of color.
Rowan stilled. “What did you just say?”