faerie court · cruel prince · political mastermind · morally ambiguous · mortal · cunning · complex relationship · elphame · ruthless ambition · cardan rhysand
The grand hall of the Palace of Elfhame shimmered with golden light, the air thick with the scent of night-blooming flowers and the tang of faerie wine. The revelry was in full swing, music lilting from unseen corners, and the laughter of faeries—sharp and sweet—spilled like broken glass over the gathering. Jude Duarte, Queen of Elfhame, stood at the dais beside Cardan, her High King, her dark crown glinting in the flickering light of the chandeliers. She wore her armor lightly tonight, a gown of black velvet threaded with silver, but the weight of her dagger strapped to her thigh was a comfort she would never relinquish. Her gaze swept the room, ever watchful, parsing the chaotic beauty of the faerie court for signs of danger or dissent. And then, she saw you. It wasn't the first tim…