Taming the Thorny Rose novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Rite

The hall emptied slowly, and Osric was the last to leave.

He stopped beside me and lowered his voice so only Aldric and I could hear.

"Seven days until midwinter, my dear," he said.

"Take care of him.

"He's been so delicate lately."

Then he was gone, his long coat whispering behind him.

I turned on Aldric.

"The Rite," I said.

"The thing you said you'd tell me when I'd known you more than a day."

"It has now been two," said Aldric.

"Your arithmetic is poor."

"Tell me."

He led me up three flights of stairs without a word.

At the top there was a library with a high window, a fireplace and shelves that reached into the dark.

He sat me down in a chair and stood across from me, which I suspected was manners.

"The Night Court has no heir," he said.

"The kings are not born.

"They are made, from the strongest of us, and bound to the court by a human wife.

"She holds the Thorn blade.

"Once every century she stands in the stones at midwinter and judges."

"Judges what?"

"Whether the king is fit."

"And if she says no?"

"She strikes."

I sat back.

"So the queen decides if the king lives."

"Yes."

"And you chose a hunter for a queen."

"Yes."

"That's insane."

"It's honest," said Aldric.

"A vampire bride would flatter me.

"A bride who loved me would lie.

"A hunter with a reason to hate me will tell the truth."

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