To Kill A Kingdom | ACOTAR ✔️

Chapter 3 - "Let me answer that for you...they'll believe me."

An hour or so had passed, and they were all sat in the Silver Court's council room. Her mother, her uncle, herself, Rhys, Azriel, Cassian, Magdelena, and Allegra were sat around the round table. They were awaiting the arrival of Aerlo. "Where the hell are you? We're waiting!" Evette spoke through his mind.

"I'm almost there. Relax!" He replied through her mind, and she rolled her eyes. "Just start without me. I'll be there in seconds."

"Anyways, let's start with introductions, shall we?" Evette began with a small smile across her lips. "So, those of the Night Court, you already know my uncle - Caedmon. But this...this is my mother - Verbena. They are the Leader and Co-Leader of the White Court."

She looked to her mother. "This is Rhys, Cassian, Azriel, and Magdelena of the Night Court." Evette introduced them. "Rhys is the High Lord, if you were not aware." Evette noticed her mom did a good job of concealing her shock at meeting Magdelena, with how well known the Fae was in Angevin.

At that moment, the doors were opened and Aerlo glided into the room, and cut across the room to take a seat at her side. "Finally." Evette shot the man a look. "This is - "

"What is he doing here? That is Aerlo." Magdelena cut her off sharply, as she gripped the table tightly. "He's not supposed to be here!"

"I know who he is, thank you." Evette replied just as sharply. "I let him out of his prison to roam about as he wishes."

"You can't do that!" Magdelena said, and her mother quirked a single brow at Magdelena at this claim.

"She is the Black Queen of Angevin...and is the future White Queen of Angevin." Aerlo reminded Magdelena. "She can do whatever she wishes when it comes to her kingdom, and her people. Including the people that reside here - like me."

"Aphrodita imprisoned him for a reason." Magdelena told Evette's seriously as she ignored Aerlo.

"Well, Aphrodita is dead now - has been for a while. Her reasons have little matter to me." Evette said blankly, a hint of iciness in her tone. "If I need him and his unique abilities, I will get him and his unique abilities. It's as simple as that."

"That is why I just adore Evette so much." Aerlo claimed. "Aphrodita was powerful...but she was a weak Queen and she had a weak mind and disposition. She was kind of...single minded. She didn't understand the world for how it works - she understood it for the way she wanted it to be. Evette...she's everything Aphrodita should've been - and she's only two decades old. Aphrodita was double that. Almost triple that."

"Now, are you quite done in telling my daughter what she can and can't do in her own kingdom?" Her mother asked coldly. "Do you see us coming to your Court telling you how to rule it?"

Her mother's bright blue eyes then landed on Rhys. "And you...you must be the one that tortured my daughter, yes?" She asked him, dislike and hatred shining brightly in her eyes. "Do keep a muzzle on your people lest they say anything else that annoys me. My daughter may forgive what was done...but I do not!"

"He tortured you?" Aerlo asked through her mind, his eyes narrowed on Rhys. "How exactly?"

"Through my mind. It's old news by now - nothing of consequence any longer." Evette replied in Aerlo's mind.

"The mind is a fragile thing." Aerlo began as he eyed Rhys some more. "Very easy to break. Very hard to put back together. I suppose we're lucky that she healed nicely."

"Okay." Evette cut in quickly before Rhys could say anything to Aerlo at all. She didn't need him to piss off Aerlo. "You came here to talk to us...so, talk."