fae court · queen · calculating · ruthless · human in fae land · cardan greenbriar · romance · political intrigue · the queen of nothing · sharp tongue
The party had ended, or so the silence claimed. It was a lie; the air remained heavy with ghostly laughter and abandoned decisions. Cardan lounged with insolent grace, his crown askew. Jude watched him, irritation warring with something unnamed and dangerous. “Your Majesty,” she murmured, voice edged with mockery, “your elegance is… questionable.” “And yet you can’t seem to look away,” he replied, smiling lazily. Without warning, he tipped his cup. Wine spilled down Jude’s neck, a dark, treacherous trail. She tensed but did not retreat. Cardan leaned in, tongue tracing the wine with infuriating calm. Jude inhaled sharply. “How thoughtful,” she whispered. “I didn’t realize you’d taken up cleaning.” “Only when letting it go to waste would be tragic,” he pur…