The Fae King's Ruin

An Exchange

Ever since coming to Alfheim, Aelthrys had been in the business of always keeping an eye out for his cousin. He protected her in more ways than she understood, defended her from the sharks who did not believe in her and took on more of her share in administrative work because he believed that if anyone could give them a leg up in this entire palace, it would be her.

And he was right. In a matter of months, Aislin had managed to make herself a force to be reckoned with. The Great Council respected her as co-chairman and her contributions to the new laws that they were using to reshape Fae governance were invaluable. And though Aislin was not manipulative enough to have done it on purpose, he counted King Avery falling for her as such.

That, in his opinion, was inevitable.

Aelthrys had to admit that he saw their coupling from a mile away. He had seen the curiosity from the King from the very first time that they met again for the Great Council. Aislin intrigued him in a way that she confused him, especially when she had seemed so confident challenging him on the very first day. He knew that the less-than-fair numbers of delegates in those first couple of meetings had been a test to see how their side would react and Aislin had stepped up, championed their side single-handedly, and stunned everyone else.

He had a feeling that the King admired strong females, and he found that Aislin understood him more than anyone else in his court.

The General studied the two now. He was waiting with them for the Montfoltiers to arrive. The fireplace in the twenty-seater dining room had been lit and both Aislin and Avery were standing before it, leaning closer towards each other. Although Aislin hadn’t told him anything about it yet, he knew that the two were much more open with their feelings now. He liked that his cousin was happy despite their impending marriage being forced on them by a treaty. Still, he wished that they respected his presence.

By all means, he was Aislin’s guardian now. He did not need to see them be so public with their affections to affirm what he already knew.

Avery murmured something to Aislin that made her titter with giggles. With great effort, Aelthrys fought to keep his eyes from rolling at them and fixed a mask of neutrality over his expression while eyes as dark as the night sky slid over to where he was sitting and nursing a glass of scotch.

“Aelthrys, why are you over there?” she asked, still chuckling. “Come and join our conversation.”

He shook his head once politely. “I would very much rather my solitude, cousin, especially when I am about to be subjected to a rather uncomfortable meal.”

Avery frowned apologetically, shame in his eyes. “I heard about what you did for Catt, escorting her away from the snakepit that is my courtyard. I’m sorry if she was rude to you anyway.”

“No need to apologize on her account, Your Majesty,” he replied courteously. “It’s no secret that I somehow managed to push her buttons by simply existing. If you keep doing it, you'll run dry on apologies before you and Aislin are married.”

Aislin glared at him disapprovingly over the king’s shoulder. The King, however, was chuckling. “That, unfortunately, might be true. Still, I thank you for being patient with her and her brothers as they visit. Which is why I arranged this dinner. I think knowing you would ease their anger a bit that I am making her do this.”

He merely blinked at the King, holding his own tongue. He caught a glimpse of Aislin’s guilty glance at his way and knew that the King’s statement had been unfair, even to her own ears. He owed nothing to the Montfoltiers; if they had a problem with the betrothal, they could always petition the Great Council. To subject Aelthrys to a dinner he did not want to attend in order to smoothen things on their side spoke of a kind of entitlement that grated on his patience and pride.

But for his cousin, he would endure it a little longer. After all, Aelthrys felt that it was his fault anyway. If he had squashed Lord Elrin and his little minions’ plans earlier, Aislin would not have been pushed to take such drastic measures.

The door opened and in poured the guests that they had been waiting for. Aelthrys, in no amount of hurry, stood as the Duke entered first with his wife on his arm, followed by his two other siblings not long after. He merely dished a passing glance at the three of them and instead settled his eyes on the Lady of Montfoltier.

She was already glaring at him murderously, her eyes glinting as her very posture was daring him to challenge her again the way he did in the garden. He recalled the remarks he had made, even going so far as to call her a three-year-old. The shark-like grin on his face spread so widely that he could not help it if he tried.

“We apologize for making you wait,” the Duke said with regret. “I wish we had a better excuse than waiting for the kids to simply turn in for the night.”

Avery grinned. “That’s okay. I should have written in my invitation that it was alright to bring them. I miss them terribly when they are away and they are growing far too fast for my liking.”

“And ours,” Duchess Elena agreed, smiling sweetly. 

Aislin gestured to the table. “Why don’t we all sit down? You are just in time as the food was just about to be served.”

That was a lie, of course. The butler had said earlier that the food had been ready the moment that their party of three arrived. He stuck to Aislin’s side of the table as she sat on the right of Avery, who took the head of the table. The Montfoltier brothers had planned to sandwich the two females between them, the youngest one taking the farther end, but with their even numbers for each side, it would look awkward.

Avery coughed and stared at Catteline, her sparkling crimson dress winking at everyone as she stood with preternatural stillness.

“Catt, why don’t you sit beside the General?” he said with gentle firmness.

Green eyes narrowed into slits at the obvious order hidden in the softly spoken words. The Montfoltiers tensed, proceeding to glare at Aelthrys even though he had nothing to do with the order. Swallowing whatever retort that had been sitting on her tongue— probably one that was reserved for Aelthrys because she had been so sure he would be the first one to test her tonight— she slowly walked, crossing over their side by taking the shorter route and passing the head of the table.

He sighed quietly as he stood and held the chair open for her. He could feel his every action being watched like a hawk so naturally, as Catteline was lowering herself to the seat, he leaned slightly down to whisper to her.

“Thought of any insults for me yet?” he inquired with politeness. Aelthrys knew none of the others could hear him so he made sure to keep his face carefully pleasant.

Catteline, however, did not have such control as he and Aislin had. She wore her emotions for everyone to see, and it was apparent that she was pissed at him. He stamped down his grin.

“A plethora of them, actually,” she hissed.

He showed her a look of surprise as if to say ‘Plethora? Really? That is such a big word for you!’. That made her grind her molars. 

Aelthrys returned to his seat with a much better outlook for the remainder of the night. He ignored the way he always had an audience scrutinizing him, glaring at him from across the table. They subjected him to this dinner, they could very well stomach the repercussions that came with putting him in close quarters with, as per Res’ assessment, the Wicked Witch of the East.

The first course came and he recognized it immediately after having traveled to France for a covert mission that had him under glamour and staying there for a good year. The onion soup was appetizing, served in a bread bowl that was freshly baked.

As was the custom in his court, he discreetly watched in his periphery for Avery to pick up his spoon before he picked up his and only took that first bite after he did. Aislin was the same, which could not be said for the Montfoltiers. Catteline was the first to reach for her food and had already taken a sip before Avery did.

Probably feeling his eyes on her, she glanced up and lifted a brow as she smirked. “Did the mongrel need someone to show him how civilized people dine?” she asked sweetly.

He returned it with a smirk of his own as he replied, “I have never sat on a table with an animal before. I was merely observing how one, in particular, had gotten so good at mimicking their superior.”

Across from them, Calix muttered, “Will you two stop?”

“No,” Catteline growled. “I will not! He started it!”

Aelthrys opened his mouth to defend himself but Avery had been quick to get in the middle. “No, he did not. General Aelthrys had never started a single argument out of all the ones you both have had. Either this gets more interesting or this stops now, Catteline.”

The Duke pursed his lips, glancing at his sister with reproach and disappointment. Catteline saw it too, and he tried not to look too pleased with himself as her eyes slid over to him.

Beside Aelthrys, Aislin smiled at the Montfoltiers. “The goal here is to just have a pleasant dinner. I’m sure that you want to get to know my cousin and me, just as much as we want to know you. After all, in one way or another, we will be family.”

“I agree,” Duchess Elena said, nodding. “But we would be lying, of course, if we did not make it clear that we have… reservations about Catteline’s engagement with General Aelthrys.”

Silence dropped over the table, reminding Aelthrys of the momentary calm before the storm. He saw Avery reach over the table for Aislin’s hand, but she moved it away before he could touch her. The set jaw of his cousin was not a good sign, and he held his breath as she parted her mouth.

“And what makes you think that your reservations will alter the course of the Great Council?” his cousin asked coldly, with none of the previous friendliness to be seen on her face. “What makes you think that General Aelthrys does not have his own reservations? You do not get to make demands here, just relationships. We all have to live and abide by the law, and soon, the Treaty. I suggest stowing away whatever preconceived notions you have that either the King or I will accommodate your qualms.”

Slowly, he looked to Avery, ready to pull Aislin away just in case of a conflict. But he was even more surprised to see him nodding along to her words, completely siding with her. What Aislin said did not shock him in the slightest bit, which meant that either his cousin had already expressed them beforehand, or he knew enough of what she felt about it and really did agree.

On the other side of their table, the Duchess looked stricken. The Duke looked to be at war with himself, not knowing if he should side with his wife or the Unseelie Princess, who had given her the reality check they needed. Calix, however, had turned thoughtful. By far, that was the expression he was alarmed by the most.

The first course was cleared away with none of their bowls touched that much. Near the middle of the second one, Catteline loudly dropped her fork and glared at her brothers and sister-in-law.

“I told you that I was doing this, regardless if you agree or not,” she ground out. “I have never ever wanted to pull rank, but Ilyn help me, I will do it if you do not stop this nonsense.”

Then, she picked her fork up again and did a complete one-eighty as she leaned over to look at Aislin with a smile. Stunned, he sat back to allow her to converse with his cousin without his face blocking them.

“So, Aislin, same time tomorrow?”

As she nodded, he stared at the Lady of Montfoltier, seeing her in a way that he hadn’t been able to before. He could not believe that he’d gotten her all wrong. It wasn’t that she was against the marriage that would ultimately bind them for a small portion of their lives the same way her family did. In fact, she was willing.

So, that meant that the hatred stemmed from nothing but him.

Aelthrys had been hated all his life, so he did not understand why that little thought bothered him more than he would care to admit.