Challenge of the Court: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Other Realm Book 5) by Heather G. Harris

Author:Heather G. Harris [Harris, Heather G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-04-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 21

When I stalked into the throne room, Emory wasn’t there though the rest of the circle was. No one looked surprised at my presence; they’d been tipped off by one of the brethren.

I didn’t bother with a preamble. ‘I’ll be sending you my bill for the time I spent looking for Alfie.’ I struggled not to snarl. Be polite, Jess. ‘It is not acceptable to kidnap someone as part of some stupid challenge.’

‘Fake kidnap,’ Elizabeth corrected demurely.

I glared at her. ‘Shit like this is the reason dragons have a reputation for kidnapping princesses,’ I ground out. ‘It wasn’t fake to Alfie’s mother. You made sure of that. You have put her through real psychological distress.’

‘She’ll be compensated financially.’ Elizabeth shrugged, as if it was of no moment.

‘That is wholly inadequate. What else will you give her?’ I pressed.

‘I have given her respite from her annoying son,’ Elizabeth ground out, glaring at Alfie. ‘He snores.’

‘I do not! You snore,’ Alfie protested.

Her eyes narrowed and I held up a hand. ‘Do not let this conversation degenerate into an argument about snoring. That’s not why we’re here.’

‘Why are we here, Jess?’ Elizabeth demanded.

‘It’s Jinx to you,’ I said firmly. Only family called me Jess, like Emory and Lucy. To the rest of the world I was Jinx. She didn’t get to call me by my name. ‘We’re here because you put me in danger by faking a helicopter crash, then you distressed Bella by faking her son’s kidnapping.’

‘Wonder what else she fakes,’ Shirdal muttered lewdly, loud enough for Elizabeth’s nostrils to flare in outrage.

I enjoyed the moment, and I appreciated Shirdal’s support, but this was my show. ‘You also made Jack Fairglass fake an attraction to me that could have had far-reaching consequences for our friendship. Your challenges have been petty and poorly thought out.’

‘What would you rather? Some sort of trial by fire?’ Elizabeth bit back.

‘Yes!’ The unwise answer burst out of me.

‘Fine, then that’s what we’ll do. Do you release me from my oath to Emory?’ She leaned forward, eyes glowing in anticipation. ‘Will you participate in an activity that could cause you physical harm?’ She held eye contact with me.

‘Of course,’ I snarled back. In for a penny, in for a pound.

Elizabeth smiled like the shark that she was. ‘Excellent. Done and done. So mote it be. You agree to take part in a true challenge. It just so happens that I have a gauntlet prepared for you tonight at 8pm, when the castle is closed and darkness has fallen.’

I kept my face blank even though my mind was in overdrive. I had walked into her trap and now she had me hook, line and sinker.

I glared. ‘Did you really arrange all of that bullshit just to get me to agree to a gauntlet? Don’t you think kidnapping people and breaking into my office were all a bit extreme? I know you don’t get on with vampyrs, but Emory and Nate Volderiss have come to an understanding. By attacking Volderiss’s offices you put that in jeopardy – for nothing.

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