Page 49

I gave her my other palm to let her taste me, forging the sibling bond. Blowing snow swept through me, carrying some of her memories. She had the reputation for being cold and austere among the Valois court, never fitting in among the Parisian queens despite leaving her homeland in Ireland centuries ago. Save for one queen. An unlikely friend. Lover. Though they’d kept the depths of their attachment secret from the rest of the Valois court.

Not from shame. But to protect each other.

I lifted my head. I already knew the answer, but I asked out loud anyway. “Carys, what’s the probability that Mairead can hold Paris in my stead when I’m away from the city?”

“Fifty percent,” Carys replied immediately.

My lips curved. “What’s the probability of both Sorcha and Mairead holding the city for me?”

“Let me see them standing together, my queen.”

“Sorcha, please join us.”

They made an unlikely pair standing side by side. The blushing, laughing pretty woman who preferred to wear wildflowers in her hair, and the solemn, quiet, dark woman who kept her emotions buried deep within. Until Sorcha took her hand, squeezing firmly. Mairead turned to look at her, her eyes shimmering like deep secret, bottomless wells. The first touch of spring softening the harsh winter.

“Oh.” Carys blinked, and Winnifred gave a full-body shake, fluffing up her feathers. “Together, they will serve you well, Your Majesty.”

“Would you two be willing to work together to hold Paris for House Isador?”

Sorcha bit her lip and stared down at the floor. Through her bond, I felt a flood of emotions. Joy mixed with a fierce surge of hope, quickly tempered by resignation. “I wouldn’t wish to⁠—”

“Yes,” Mairead blurted. “Your Majesty.”

Sorcha turned slowly, her shoulders braced. “You don’t have to do this. Nothing must change.”

Mairead stared straight ahead at me. “I have no property inside France, Your Majesty. House Beira is literally a cow shed in Eyeries. Once Dunboy Castle fell, our holdings were stripped away to next to nothing. I knew next to nothing about court life when I came to Paris, though I had an excellent mentor in Queen Sorcha. Everything I learned about Aima life outside of a modest Irish holding came from her. I cannot—do not—aspire to grandeur or rigorous formalities, but if I may serve and work alongside my friend, then I’m sure I can do anything. We will hold Paris for you. Together.”

“Gina, make a note that House Valois’s former properties are assigned to House Beira to distribute as Mairead wishes.”

Mairead gaped at me for several long moments. “But— Surely⁠—”

“Done, Your Majesty,” Gina replied.

“It’s too much.” Mairead gulped, shaking her head. “I cannot manage so much, Your Majesty. My House hasn’t managed a major holding in centuries.”

“Whatever you don’t want to deal with, you can give to Sorcha. If neither of you want it, then you can give it to any of our other siblings. I trust your judgement in distributing any surplus properties to those who can benefit and manage the resources.”

“But—” Sorcha paused until I turned to look at her. “Your Majesty, in case you aren’t aware, House Valois’ holdings were vast. Surely you want to hold those properties for House Isador.”

“I already have so many properties I’ve only seen a fraction of them. Besides, anything that benefits my siblings also benefits me. Ultimately, I couldn’t care less. If you hate Palais de Valois, knock it down. Sell it. I honestly don’t care.”

“What about the former Valois sibling properties?” Gina asked. “I assume you mean to include them in the assignment to House Beira, but I’ll formalize the wording in the Triune minutes.”

“Yes. Any Valois sibling property that came under the Isador umbrella when their queen was eliminated is now assigned to House Beira. Mairead will work with House de Cestra to redistribute as they see fit. Off the record, Gina, I may give them the Dauphine’s properties to divvy up as well, though we need to find her consiliari first.”

“Oh dear,” Sorcha murmured.

When I turned my attention back to her, she went to her knees again, Mairead with her. They both kept their gazes lowered to my feet, their shoulders down. Their bonds braced for my reaction. Mairead’s iced over, her face frozen in a polite, vacant look, while Sorcha’s mind quivered and flapped like a frantic bird trapped in a cage.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty.” Trembling, Sorcha whispered. “I assumed you knew. I’m so sorry. The Dauphine used queens as her consiliari. Queen Kimora famously used to say the Dauphine considered humans on the level of cockroaches. House Damas and their siblings operated the Dauphine’s affairs, though ultimately everything passed through Rosalind. The Dauphine didn’t trust anyone else.”

Of course. That was why they’d been seated with Rosalind and the master thrall. They’d all been in on the Dauphine’s dirty deeds. It also explained why they’d allowed thousands of humans to be contaminated into thralls. Who cared about a bunch of cockroaches who might kill and infect other roaches? Or better yet, their enemies? It also explained why Rosalind had made Charles act as a doorman. He might have been her “first” consiliarius as far as the Triune was concerned, but she never trusted him with the actual running of the Valois or Viennois business.

I blew out a rueful sigh. “And I just killed them all.”

“At least we know where to look for records,” Gina said. “We’ll start with Valois and then go to House Damas…”

Mairead raised her hand, though she didn’t look up until Gina finished speaking. “If it’s not too presumptuous to make a recommendation, Your Majesty, I’m guessing the humans associated with each house were ordered to destroy records upon their queens’ demise.”