Page 151 of Infernal Bonds
Cornaith’s expression tightened.
“She met the young woman before the princes were summoned to Earth,” Caendra interjected, drawing Cornaith’s attention. “Can any of us say she wasn’t a victim of the young woman’s spells as well?”
“If not that, perhaps Quinfina enlisted the girl to help her manipulate the boys.”
Ezra tucked his hands into his pockets—the only real hint that the conversation bothered him.
Rae was with Quinfina right now, learning about Nyrith mates and what to expect as she bonded with us, not plotting to take over and rule Elyrdin from within the palace.
Never in my time serving the council had I heard Cornaith question Quinfina.
Did he harbor such deep disdain for Rae that he would risk the council’s relationship with Elyrdin’s strongest spiritual advisor?
Cornaith’s ego was fragile, but was it enough for him to target Rae because she’d made a fool of him on television in front of the people of Elyrdin?
No one else saw it that way.
The council acted fast to prevent a PR disaster, but admitting someone had manipulated them into targeting Rae only made them appear weak. Had Rae been found guilty, her execution would have maintained the council’s standing. Instead, revealing that the offender was a nameless outsider made them seem incompetent.
Cornaith wouldn’t stand for that. And yet he was the one who’d suggested spinning the narrative that way.
I shook my head. Wasting time trying to understand a narcissist was pointless.
Ardvaen scoffed. “To what end, Rhistel? What possible reason does she have to target our children?”
“And using a woman from Earth?” Lymsrana shook her head. “She has enough power without tactics like that.”
“Overthrowing the council sounds a lot more reasonable than a human Nyrith, a quintet of mates, or a Shyrlivi-human hybrid.” Rhistel’s gaze traveled over each of us before settling on his son. “Don’t you think?”
Zeke dropped his gaze, clenching and unclenching his fists behind his back.
Cyn’s dark glare settled on Rhistel.
It was easy to see Rae’s presence had drawn a sharp line down the middle of the council. I’d always suspected Ardvaen and Lymsrana disagreed with Cornaith on many points, but I’d never watched them challenge him so openly.
Rae had told me she’d spoken with Lymsrana and Amra. It seemed her influence had reached beyond my brothers to others.
Good.
We needed something to change the status quo. If the people of Elyrdin discovered Cornaith’s true nature, he wouldn’t be able to hold the throne.
“I just can’t believe Quinfina would do such a thing,” Lymsrana insisted, and Ardvaen nodded his agreement.
Cornaith sat back in his seat, smoothing a hand down the front of his button-down. “I’ve discovered Amra has taken it upon herself to educate your ‘Nyrith’ on our culture, history, and lifestyle. While I admired her… initiative in helping the girl adapt, I’ve since questioned whether Amra’s teachings might give the girl more ammunition against us.”
“Father,” Ezra started. “While I do not believe knowledge of Shyrlivi life and history makes for an adequate weapon against us, its absence may prove detrimental to our image.”
“Is that so?”
Cyn rolled his eyes. “He means if she doesn’t know how to be Shyrlivi, then she’ll just embarrass herself and us.”
Cornaith cut his eyes at Cyn. “Yes, well, that is a point we can’t ignore.”
I knew Ezra didn’t believe it. He was merely using the concerns Rae had raised when Amra first wanted her to attend lessons to convince his father to back off.
None of us believed Rae would embarrass us. I doubted the others cared whether she knew enough to impress the people Cornaith wanted her to.
Did I want to leave her in the dark about who we were and where she came from? No. I wanted her to learn, but only so that she didn’t feel alone in a world she didn’t understand.
