Donor had accomplished his goal. Eorla was being blamed for the destruction of the Guildhouse, with me as her accomplice. They were still counting the dead. The story suited Maeve, and she railed against terrorists in press release after press release. The Teutonic Consortium played the same theme with more emphasis on the role of solitary fairies. For once, both sides acted together.
The official story was that Ambassador Aldred Core died in the collapse. The true story was Donor Elfenkonig, the Elven King, was dead. No one knew outside a small circle of fey and maybe a select human or two. Maeve kept her silence, waiting to see who would take the reins now that her chief adversary was gone.
I tore my gaze away from Joe. “Will you promise not to hurt the humans?” I asked.
Her lips pulled into a taut line. “In war, one can never make such promises.”
“You’re not at war with them,” I said.
She glanced at me with understanding. “I know what you’re feeling, Grey. I know what it means to protect people who depend on you. The failure to do so is the pain of leadership, but the Wheel of the World turns as It will. I will do my best to keep this between me and Maeve. That is all I can promise.”
I glanced back at Joe.
“That will have to be enough,” I said.
Ace Books by Mark Del Franco
The Connor Grey Series
UNSHAPELY THINGS
UNFALLEN DEAD
UNPERFECT SOULS
UNCERTAIN ALLIES
The Laura Blackstone Series
SKIN DEEP
FACE OFF