He's here for me, to kill me, like he promised at Elysium. I gasped as my heart and stomach began careening around my chest. But what I want doesn't matter this time.' He pointed his sword at me. And Mab can hold a grudge for a very, very long time.' 'Would you insult my monarch, Queen Mab, by refusing? She would take it very personally, and blame Oberon for the offense. 'Well, it's a stupid tradition.' I crossed my arms and glared. And it's tradition in Elysium that a son and daughter of opposite territories dance with each other, to demonstrate the goodwill between the courts.' 'Then why the hell would you think I'd dance with you?' But yes, if I'd had the shot, I would have taken it.' I have no intention of facing Mab's wrath should I embarrass her. 'Don't worry, princess, I won't break the rules of Elysium.

'There are worse things.' At my horrified look, he offered a faint, self-derogatory smile. 'I warn you,' I said, pleased that my voice didn't tremble, 'that if you try anything, my father will remove your head and stick it to a plaque on his wall.' I took a deep breath, raised my chin, and looked him straight in the eye. Even if I didn't quite believe it, Ash certainly did. I didn't want to interrupt them simply because a prince of the Unseelie Court was talking to me.īesides, I was a faery princess now. They were deep in conversation and did not notice me. I shrank back, eyeing Oberon and Queen Mab. 'And to think,' the prince continued, smiling, 'I lost you that day in the forest and didn't even know what I was chasing.' Horrified, I clenched them in my lap, trying to concentrate on what Ash was saying. My traitor hands itched, longing to run my fingers through those bangs. Up close, he was even more beautiful, with high cheekbones and dark tousled hair falling into his eyes. His eyes, cold and inhuman, glimmered with amusement. 'So this is Oberon's famous half-blood,' Ash mused as I whirled around. “There was a soft chuckle beside me, and my heart stopped.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa