Cast in Faefire: An Urban Fantasy Romance (The Mage Craft Series Book 3) by S.M. Reine Read Free Book Online

princess,” Konig said.
    It was the truth, but it still stung. “We don’t have to be likable. We have to be compelling.”
    Violet smiled bitterly. It looked especially vacant with her whited-out eyes. “In that case, I suppose I should get back to planning your wedding.”

    * * *
    B efore entering the weeks-long recovery that had followed bleeding into the soul links, Marion had made a few important wedding decisions. She’d explored Niflheimr for a location that was structurally safe, relatively warm, and distant from the carnage that Leliel had wreaked upon the courtyard. Marion had found a chamber in one of the towers adjacent that met all requirements perfectly.
    Whatever role the room had served before the revolution, nobody seemed to know. It was vast and empty and connected to the visitors’ bedrooms by a hallway. Privately, Marion suspected the Winter Court had used it for orgies. The sidhe liked to use everything for orgies.
    Violet had needed Marion’s permission to make substantial changes to Niflheimr, but a few drops of blood later, the chamber had yielded control to the visiting queen. She’d managed to make things grow in the ice. Trees. Vines. Even furniture. The mere presence of flora seemed to have brought humidity with it, and dampness clung to every corner.
    After Jibril left, Violet threw herself back into the magical labor of modifying the wedding venue. Nori was helping—or so she claimed. For the time being, helping seemed to be following Violet around and keeping track of her executive decisions so she’d be able to update the happy couple on what was transpiring.
    Marion watched with reluctant amusement, hanging back where several benches were stacked in a pile. She knew better than to get involved when Violet was urging the ice to turn into perpetual waterfalls flanking the altar where the vows would be exchanged.
    “You can’t fault your mother for her vision,” Marion said, trying to force a smile for Konig. The trees shivered as he stalked toward her. Sidhe didn’t skimp on sex, and they didn’t skimp on temper tantrums, either.
    “Maybe Deirdre Tombs is right,” Konig said. “Maybe our marriage is damned by the gods.”
    Marion glanced at Violet, who was conducting more seats to grow from the floor near the front of the room. They were like wooden vines wrapping together, forming into the shape of seats more perfectly than any careful hand-carving could have.
    She drew Konig further away, just in case his mother was listening.
    “You don’t need to be afraid of losing your title as prince,” Marion whispered. “We won’t let it happen.”
    “I’m not afraid of anything! But you must realize that we can’t leverage your relationships to lobby for votes. The wards on Niflheimr are already weak. If you keep leaving the plane to talk to people…”
    “I’ll strengthen the soul links as many times as I need to. I’m feeling much better. I can spill a lot of blood again.”
    “And need a wheelchair to attend your wedding?” He snorted. “That’s going to look fantastic on the cover of Vogue .”
    “I won’t need to drain myself as much this time. We’re just a few days from the wedding.” Once Konig was married to the Winter Court’s steward, assuming the role of king, he’d be able to connect to the sidhe magic. He’d be able to recast everything. The wards would be strong, and neither of them would need to suffer major blood loss over it.
    “If there will be any wedding at all,” Konig said.
    “Are you reconsidering the wedding?”
    “Not because of her , and what she might do to me. Because of what she said about the gods. Just because she’s an asshole doesn’t mean she isn’t also right. How do we know that this won’t make the gods come slamming down on us? When’s the last time you even talked to them?”
    Marion could remember the exact moment she spoke to them—one of them, anyway. “When Seth brought me back here after Sheol. When he was