"And I can provide you with money too, Christina," Lilith continued, her voice a smooth, silken thing that was a stark contrast to the chaotic, emotional storm that had just swept through the room. "As an apology from the crown, for the suffering you have endured. You can use it to start anew, to build a life for yourself far from the shadows of this court."
Christina, who was still staring at me with a mixture of shock, confusion, and a dawning, unwilling admiration, finally turned to the Queen. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she whispered, her voice a low, grateful murmur. "I… I will think about it."
Then, I spoke, my own voice a sharp, cutting thing that was designed to break the fragile, tentative peace that had settled over the room. "Hey, Queen," I said, my tone a deliberate, insolent drawl. "What do you mean by 'pretend marriage'?"
