Iron Crowned Chapter 15

I had two immediate reactions to this. One was that Dorian could wait near forever he had no right to demand anything of me. My other reaction was kayoedrage that he could come traipsing into my home when I was banned from his. Admittedly, that was my own fault. I hadnt put down any hospitality rules to cumber him reveal. As such, hed be welcomed like any other non-enemy monarch particularly by my people. I considered alone sending Volusian to revoke hospitality provided then tossed that idea aside. Id take care of this myself.I drove out to the gate dash by my home as fast as I could without getting a ticket and then crossed everywhere to the anchor inside my castle. Once there, I hurried by the halls, oblivious to servants startled stares. I knew where Dorian would be. My people would have received him in the nicest chamber, the one befitting any visiting monarch.Sure full. Dorian sit inside the parlor, lounging in a central chair with Shaya, Rurik, and others seated a round him. He looked like he was holding court in his own castle. My evoke doubled. Everyone except him jumped up at my sudden approach, giving hasty bows.Out, I snapped. All of you. And shut the door.My words go a trend no question about who scarce I indirect requested out. Dorian didnt move, but the rest scurried to obey my orders. I saw Shaya and Rurik exchange looks with each other, no doubt worried what was difference to risk with the two monarchs they loved.Once we were alone, I turned on Dorian. What the hell are you doing here?He regarded me coolly, face perfectly at ease. Visiting, as is my right. Theres nothing that says I kittyt. Unless youre revoking my hospitality?I should, I said, stepping forward with fists clenched. I should have my guards throw you out on your ass.He snorted and absentmindedly smoothed a piece of his commodious hair. Good luck with that. Theyd throw you out first, if I gave the order.So thats why youre here? To start a rebellion in my own ki ngdom? no Im here to remind you of your responsibilities to your kingdom since youve clearly forgotten.Really? I crossed my arms across my chest in an effort to stop myself from doing something stupid. I see youve forgotten what Ive done for my kingdom. Say, like, saving it from disaster. And risking my life for that fucking crown so that we could finally have peace.If memory serves, you caused that disaster when you created an inhospitable desert. His voice was still damned pacify. And that crown is doing you no good.Didnt you hear me? We have peace. The fightings stopped.The fightings temporarily stopped. Katrice is playing you, and youre allowting her. Shes dragging her feet, using this negotiation delay to figure out a way out of this. If you really want to end the war once and for all, you need to get involved and let her know youre serious. Wave the crown around. Dare her to chaffer your bluff. Show her youre in control and stop all of this for real.I gave a harsh laugh. Thats so typical of you. Attempting to pull the strings, as usual. You dont even have the crown, but youre sort outing me what to do with it.Dorian shot up from the chair, smooth features breaking into annoyance. I am remembering what it means to be a king. Im not running play away and letting others deal with things that seem too hard.Right, I said, keeping an eye on the distance between us. Getting the crown was easy. Which is why, of course, you were right out there with me.He narrowed his eyes. You know I would have if I could. So I did the only thing I could I got you out there after it.By lying I exclaimed. I tried to keep my voice strong, letting anger be the only emotion to slip, but grief cracked me a little. By creating an elaborate set-up with Masthera in the hope Id seize more(prenominal) land for us. Why do you not see how wrong that was?Was it? His leger was starting to match my own. Id so rarely seen emotion seize him, and it was both terrible and beautiful. Do you think our people think its wrong? The ones whose homes are no longer in danger? The ones who are alive because of this? The crown bought that, and youre going to ruin it all if you dont force her into talks none only that, by not acting, youre letting what Leith did to you go unpunished.Oh, he got punished, I said.Yes, agreed Dorian coldly. By me. Something you seem to have forgotten, now that youve jumped back into bed with that animal.Kiyo isnt part of this. And what you did isnt enough to concur me to stay in a relationship with someone who constantly deceives me.Dorian turned away, putting his back to me. Somehow, this was more insulting than all the glares in the world. I can only assume this is human logic. Achieving peace by bending the truth is deceitful. The greatest sin in the world. But infidelity is moral and expert.Its not And I wasnt I didnt cheat on you. As far as I was concerned, we were through. I was free to do whatever I wanted.Obviously.I didnt want to sh ow any weakness in front of him, but the thing was, part of me still questioned if having sex with Kiyo back in the forest had been right or not. Id even felt conflicted at the time. Id let my impulses win out, using muddled logic to satisfy both my lust and need for revenge.Look, I said, trying to calm myself down. I didnt mean to hurt your feelings He spun around so sharply that my words dropped. I didnt fear Dorian, not with my power and in my home, but something in his eyes made me step back. Queen Eugenie, he said formally. Dont trouble yourself over my feelings. Replacing you in my bed isnt that difficult. You have too high an opinion of yourself in that regard.Those words slapped me in the face, despite all the reasonable parts of my brain screaming at me that it didnt matter. I had no reason to care what he did. No reason to care about him.So, I said, matching his tone. Ysabel has a place to sell her skills again.Very good ones, he agreed. The question now is if youre goin g to use yours. Put Katrice in her place. Get her to negotiate so that we can get the concessions we deserve. Stop acting like a human.I am human. You keep forgetting that.He studied me up and down, giving me the opportunity to do the same to him. You dont care, you dont care, I told myself, trying to push aside how much Id loved that gorgeous face.No, he said at last, contempt in his voice. Its impossible to forget. Youre acting like one now, refusing to do the right thing just because Ive asked you to. Youre being contrary out of spite. He strode toward the door. If you dont act soon, youll regret it.I didnt like him being the one to end this conversation. It was more of him always having the power. Are you threatening me?Dorian put his business deal on the doors handle and glanced at me over his shoulder. No. Im not the threat. Katrice is. And while you keep going on and on about how much Ive wronged you and lied to you, I can say with absolute certainty that what Ive just told you is the truth.Noted. Hastily, I made an attempt at acting like the queen around here. You can go now. And dont come back.That earned me a half smile, though there wasnt much humor in it. Are you revoking my hospitality?I hesitated. No. Im above that. Ill just assume youll do the right thing and stay the hell away from me.Noted, he replied, imitating my earlier tone. He opened the door and walked away without another look. I stared at the empty space where hed been, wondering whod come out on top of that argument.By the time I emerged and found Shaya, Dorian had already left my castle for his own lands. She asked nothing about what had transpired with him, but worry was written all over her face.How close are we? I demanded. How close are we to sitting down with Katrice and writing up a treaty?Shaya paled, and I realized I had turned my anger at Dorian on her. Not as close as Id like. She agreed she agreed shed come in person, but only if the talks were held in the willow Land. Q ueen Maiwenn has agreed, but Dor King Dorian says thats unacceptable. He suggests the Linden Land or the Maple Land. Katrice refuses.Linden and Maple. Kingdoms both staunchly neutral. Maiwenn theoretically was too. Shed always put on the pretense of friendship, and I was certain Kiyo would put up her hospitality. But something about it made me uneasy. I didnt want to support Dorian but then I realized that instinct came from exactly what hed warned me of wanting to rival him just out of spite. Our personal mess aside, he was my ally. Neutral ground was best for us.Reiterate Dorians stance, I said. Linden or Maple. Im going back to Tucson. permit me know what happens.Shaya opened her mouth, to protest or beg for help, I couldnt say. Dorians words came back to me. Get actively involved. Wave the crown and make Katrice agree to our terms. No. On that, I wouldnt agree with him. I wouldnt use that crown like he wanted me too, even as a threat.Thatll be all, I told Shaya. She nodded, teachable as always.The look on her face as I left made me feel a little guilty. mayhap I could make things easier for her. Maybe I could expedite all this. But for now, there was literally no harm being done. What could Katrices stalling achieve? If she began hostilities again, she ran the risk of facing the crown she plainly feared. My people were safe. The waiting was frustrating, but it had to end soon. Id told Dorian I was human, and thats what I intended to be. I would go home, start following up on jobs, and let the gentry deal with this red tape until I was absolutely needed.And that was exactly what I did.I returned to my old life. Kiyo and I continue dating, and being with him, reestablishing our old tie-up and sex life, went a long way toward blocking out images of beautiful, voluptuous Ysabel in Dorians bed. My workload increased as did my income though my jobs tired me out more than I was used to. That scared me. It made me think about what it meant to be human an d gentry. Id fought to keep my human side dominant. Was the gentry part taking over? Stunting my shamanic abilities? No, I firmly decided. This was stress, pure and simple.In the two weeks that followed, though, I had to concede to my gentry side occasionally. The Thorn Land called to me, so I continued my quick visits, keeping the land strong and no matter how much I hated to admit it strengthening myself. Unfortunately, I took little joy from that because no good news ever came from the Otherworld. Katrice kept switching back and forth. Yes, shed agree to the Maple Land no, shed changed her mind. Linden. But only if ambassadors went first, then the monarchs. No shed go. But it was back to the Willow Land. Or maybe some place altogether different? What about the Palm Land?Dorian made no attempts at direct relate with me, but there was no need. When I went to bed each night, I could see his face. Wave the crown, wave the crown. Fortunately, my aggressive workload tired me out e nough to fall asleep quickly.Good news of sorts finally came one day when Kiyo and I were out hiking. The temperature had shot up, heralding spring, and Id welcomed the break from work. Traipsing through the wilderness was something Dorian would sure never do especially in the desert. But like me, Kiyo appreciated the rugged beauty and heat of the land. Id missed these excursions with him.His eyebrows rose when my cell phone rang. You can get a sign on out here?Apparently.I was as surprised as him. Looking at the ID, I saw Enriques name soda water up. His recent reports, after that brief surge of promising news, had been clipped and vague simple reminders that he was still working on things.I answered eagerly. Please tell me youve found something.I have, he said. Enrique had that smug tone from when wed met. It had been annoying then, but now, I found it encouraging. I finally tracked down the gun principal and I didnt hear the rest because a sudden drop in the temperature and tingling in the air heralded Volusians arrival. Apparently, I could get an Otherworldly signal out here too. My minions orders to report all urgent news trumped whatever Enrique had to say.Hey, I interrupted. Ill call you back.What the I disconnected, not giving him a chance to slay his outrage. He probably wasnt used to being hung up on. I turned to Volusian, who waited patiently and silently for me. He was a spot of darkness on the joyful day he seemed to suck away the light of the world.Please, I begged. Please tell me Katrice has finally given in, so that we can talk.Volusian stayed silent a some moments. I swear, it was for dramas sake, and I felt like choking him. No, he said. The Rowan Queen has not agreed to negotiations yet, although she has acted.Kiyo and I exchanged looks. There was no way this could be good. I was also pretty sure Volusian liked delivering this news.Shes kidnapped your sister, he said. And has a list of demands to be met, if you want to see Jasmine alive again.