I’ve never known what to think of the Delsarian Queen. She always has an air of knowing more than everyone else in the room, and she probably does, considering she too is over one thousand years old. Age is a closely guarded secret amongst fae. It’s difficult to know which leaders knew one another as adolescents, and Mazus and Lobelia are no different. It’s well known that she loathes the Velmaran King, and the two are always renegotiating trade agreements between their nations, each attempting to get the upper hand on the other. She did not come to Thayaria’s aid during the war, but neither did she aid Velmara.

From my perspective, she’s as culpable as the rest of them. The centuries-long alliance Thayaria once had with Delsar ended the day she decided not to get involved when Mazus invaded my kingdom unprovoked.

I settle into the role she and everyone else expects of me, adding sarcastically, “Your Majesty, you know I can’t resist ruffling Mazus’s feathers a little. Since I can’t practice my dark magic here, I must resort to cheap insults and petty gestures.” Lobelia grins, that knowing look in her eyes once again.

“Ah yes, the dark magic of the Witch Queen, seen by Mazus himself and proclaimed by his messengers across the Four Kingdoms. Too powerful to be left unchecked, he claimed. The reason for his so-called war. How do your witchly pursuits go, Queen Laurel?”

“A witch never reveals her secrets,” I add cheekily before taking my seat, ignoring Mazus’s cold gaze.

Mazus stalks to his chair, taking the one across from me and staring me down with a smug look, and I resist the urge to unleash my actual power on him. I will the room to shake for just a moment to taunt him, and he sends a quick burst of air at my face in response. My eyes narrow and I bare my teeth.

Before things can escalate more with Mazus, the Reshnar leader enters, and all eyes quickly turn to him. Clem Carther is the first human to attend a Forum of Royals. He was elected to the highest leadership position by the Reshnar people three years ago. Mazus glares at him with unguarded contempt, while Lobelia looks at him like she wants to devour him, though in what way I’m unsure. He bows to each of us, before saying, “Your Majesties, it’s my honor to be here for this historical Forum of Leaders.” My eyebrow quirks up.