Copper Veins(20)

“Hey!” Sadie protested, but Max hushed her. After all, it was a good question.

“I did not wish to anger the Seelie Queen by apprehending her daughter,” Oriana explained.

“Yet you found my son-in-law to be fair game,” Mom observed. “Foolish, Goldie, very foolish.”

Oriana stared at Mom, then at Micah, as if just now making the connection that if Maeve was my mother, and Micah my husband, Micah was Maeve’s son-in-law. And this rocket scientist was our queen. Oriana began a stammering, babbling apology, but Mom waved it away.

“If you want Sadie’s oath, she’s here now,” Mom said, indicating her youngest. “Take it up with her.”

Oriana drew herself up, mustering her last remaining shreds of dignity. “That would please us.” As Oriana ascended the dais to her throne, movement to my left caught my eye. Ayla, the Inheritor of Fire, rose from one of the cushioned benches and followed Oriana up the steps. Just as I was about to ask why Ayla was here, being a human of fire and no connection to metal, she helped Oriana loosen her collar and expose the skin over her heart. Based on the familiar expressions exchanged between them, it wasn’t the first time she’d done so.

“That’s interesting,” I murmured.

“They have become quite close,” Micah replied. Before I could answer, Oriana extended her hand to Sadie.

“Come to me, Sadie,” Oriana commanded. “Pledge to me your loyalty, and all will be forgiven.”

I positioned myself in Micah’s arms so I was facing the dais. It looked like we would finally have all this pledging nonsense sorted out, and before dinner at that. Sadie, however, made no move to approach the queen. Instead, she remained rooted in place.

“’S’okay,” Max said. “It’ll be over in a flash.”

“No.”

“I’ll go with you,” Max urged, reaching for her hand.

“I said no.”

Every set of eyes in the hall, from the Gold Queen’s to the servants’, stared at my sister. Sadie had never refused to do anything in her entire life—from eating Brussels sprouts as a kid to taking a ridiculously overloaded teaching assistant’s position at school—all because she couldn’t bear to hurt someone else’s feelings. Yet here she was, refusing to pledge to the Gold Queen. What a great time to grow a backbone. After enduring our stares for a good solid minute, she explained herself.

“Why should I pledge my loyalty to this…this fool?” Sadie demanded. “I mean, I’m the one with the power. I’m the Inheritor of Metal, and she’s a basket case. Why are any of us following her?”

Micah released me from his arms, but I held on to his hand. I needed an anchor in this maelstrom of ridiculosity. “Sister, she is our queen,” he cautioned.

“Why?” Sadie demanded, rounding on Micah. “She’s a nut job! Why aren’t you king?”

Micah’s eyes went wide. “Silver is second to gold,” he began, but Sadie wasn’t buying it.

“Yeah, well, maybe those rankings should be reevaluated,” Sadie muttered. “Mom’s a queen, so why aren’t we following her?” She fell silent for a moment while Oriana’s outraged face got redder and redder. “No,” Sadie continued. “My loyalty is special, and I won’t be pledging it to anyone like her.”

With that, Sadie turned on her heel and stalked out of the Golden Court. Oriana just stood before her throne, spluttering and wringing her hands while Ayla covered her breast and drew her to her throne. Micah murmured an apology to the closest attendant, and we took the opportunity to follow Sadie.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I said once we’d caught up to Sadie. She was waiting for us near the metal pathways, her face having taken on a sickly green cast.

“Me neither,” she replied. “I think I’m gonna throw up.”

“You’ll be fine,” Max said. “Everything you said was true. Oriana’s nuttier than a fruitcake.”

Mom murmured her agreement, and we turned to hop onto the metal pathway. I stole a look at Micah—his brows were furrowed, his mouth a slash across his face.

“Hey,” I said, looping his arm around my shoulders. “Talk to me.”

He blew out a long breath, then hugged me against him. “I…I just hope that this incident does not return to haunt us.”

We stood together for another moment, then we mounted the pathway and followed the others back to the manor. I sure hoped there were no far-reaching ramifications of Sadie’s refusal, but I knew we wouldn’t get off that easy.