To Kill A Kingdom | ACOTAR ✔️

Chapter 10 - "But that does not mean that I do not wish to kill you!"

A letter arrived announcing the movement of the meeting date, which Evette supposed she understood. There had been attacks on the Night Court, the Summer Court, and Angevin all from Hybern. Evette was in the middle of writing her letter back to Eris when Evander joined her. "Writing your love letter back to Fire Boy?" Evander mused to her as he sauntered into her room.

"It's not a love letter." Evette scowled at him over her shoulder. "They're friendship letters." His previous one had inquired as to whether her and her kingdom were okay as he had heard of the attack, which she thought was very sweet of him. And it further proved her point that he was a good man.

Eris was never beating her allegations of supposing he was truly a good man, she was afraid.

"No man writes a letter to a woman if he's just interested in being friends, Evette." Evander told her. "He's taking time out of, I'm sure, his busy days just to write to you and to reply to your letters. Even more so if they're secret."

"Did you come here to be foul, or did you want something?" Evette asked her brother unimpressed.

"I've come to inform you that mother says I'm coming with her to this meeting." Evander informed her, and she turned to face him. "Me and Caedmon, while Roan and Kaladin look after Angevin in her and your absence." He wiggled his brows at her. "Who knows? Perhaps I'll get to meet this Fire Boy of yours. Maybe me and him can bond over our shared powers."

"Stop being foul." Evette scolded him sharply. "I haven't decided who I'm bringing yet. Definitely Aerlo since he's my second - maybe Valerian as well. I ought to ask if he wants to come." She added on more to herself.

So, Evette finished off her letter back to Eris stating that she'll see him at the meeting at the Day Court, and she had it sent, before she went out in seek for Valerian. Since it was stated there was no fighting, it'd be wise to not take Macaria - that woman had an incredibly short temper when it came to anyone out of their Court. As for Elexina...Evette was pushing her towards her brother, Kaladin.

Her mother was leaving him in charge, and she was leaving Elexina in charge during their absence. It was the perfect opportunity to push Elexina to the man she so obviously loved.

Finally, Evette found Valerian at the drop - the very part of the castle that had a deep drop alongside the waterfall into the black water deep below. She approached him from behind silently. "What do you think of this meeting?" Evette asked him, and he turned to look at her.

"Personally, or generally?" Valerian asked.

"Personally." Evette replied.

He paused as he thought for a moment in silence. "I think they'll use us to get what they want, and get rid of us and toss us aside like we're nothing afterwards." Valerian told her. "That's the way I'd do it were the roles reversed. We were not made to be allies - we are superior in every way and they loathe that."

Evette hummed softly, nodding. "This meeting, I'd like you to accompany me with Aerlo." She told him.

"Whatever you wish." Valerian nodded at her. "And, how will it be going? In terms of your relationship with the Night Court?"

"I will be representing my kingdom...not my friendship with the Night Court." Evette replied. "From the second the meeting starts to when it ends...they are not my friends. They are simply potential allies, or enemies. Nothing more. I am going to be the Black Queen, not their friend."

She knew she had to make the correct decision - not for her friends and not for morality, but for her kingdom and her people - at this meeting. She'd have no time for unneeded and unnecessary niceties just to keep people happy.