The muscles in my neck ached as I turned my head. I thumbed my shoulder, attempting to ease some of the tension that had gathered. I’d drank more of the potion Morgana had given me that morning.
When I’d discovered why the ingredients had run out, I almost threw up. Bones of a dead anumi only found deep in the forest. The bones they had buried here, from the one my father had killed after he thought one had eaten me when I had gone missing, were gone. They had been ground into a powder and mixed with a variety of herbs for me to drink with a honey-flavored liquid to help it go down. The honey did little to mask the taste. I was sure there were more bones, but no one wanted to venture into the trees where the beasts lurked, out of fear of not returning. Still, if we were left with no option, I’d be forced to send men in there. I couldn’t lose control and wouldn’t lose Morgana.
Turning back toward the desk, I flexed my fingers, then extended them over the buffed mahogany. The smell of polish lingered in the air. I was going to have to redecorate. The head of the anumi’s bones I’d drank had been mounted onto the wall. Its unseeing eyes were redder than blood; its fur, blacker than coal. It served as a reminder of when I thought my father cared. It had been a rare, shining moment when I wanted to believe I was more to him than an heir; my heart wished for him to see me as a daughter—to protect me, love me… but neither had been true.
The dusty air caught in my throat, forcing me to cough. My eyes were drawn to the powered light seeping through the large three glass panes on the far wall to my left. It illuminated the white on the ground. I almost tripped on a corner of the green rug, which was curled at the end, as I walked toward the window ledge. I unlatched it and inhaled the crisp, cool air.
Rows of houses with slate roofs lined the distance, stopping where the land turned to sea. Boats docked at the largest port in Magaelor, the same port where I’d found my way to Berovia. I wondered about the men who’d taken me, who had fought for me in the battle. Would they keep my secret? I hoped my rule was incentive enough to hold their tongues. They had explained how Edgar’s taxes weren’t beneficial to their trade, and I doubted anyone wanted Louis on the throne, who would be next in line if I died without an heir. He had a lot of influence at court, but among working men and woman, he was known as pompous—an arrogant politician who often took advantage of lower classes so he could line his own pockets.
Rumors floated about how he mistreated the maids and lashed the men at his farms. There was no proof, however. He was good at covering his tracks. The only evidence was the word of people he knew he could squash. I wished it weren’t the case, but I reminded myself I could only reform one thing at a time. I had, what I hoped would be anyway, a long rule ahead of me to invoke the changes I wanted.
Still, although I doubted any of them would let the truth slip, I had to be careful. A few merchants knew I had been in Magaelor the day my father died, and that one little secret would cast doubt over everything I had said. To say I had been kidnapped by Xenos from Niferum was a half-truth. I had been locked away, but only after I’d already run to Berovia.
I turned the key in the lock, then blew out a long, shaky exhale before walking to the sunken chair. I didn’t want to be interrupted. My train of thoughts was scattered. From worrying about the truth of my father’s murder being uncovered to the necromancer and Morgana, to what my brother said about Vahaga and how he looked in pain, and mostly to what Cedric had unveiled had me unable to focus on one problem at a time. They all knotted my stomach, pushing tears into the corners of my eyes.
Pressing my fingers against my forehead, I rested my elbows on the paper-covered desk and let my tears fall. I could be alone here. It was the one place I felt safe. No one knew I’d taken the office as mine yet. As far as everyone, including the guards, considered, the office was as empty as it had been since the king’s death.
Cedric was alone, shackled in a cold room in the holding tower. It was where all treasonists went, and seldom came back after being taken through the wrought-iron gates. I’d ordered for him not to be sentenced or executed; it had been fear that pulled me into having him arrested. He knew where the Sword and Dagger were and had made it abundantly clear he wasn’t going to tell me where they were.
He couldn’t put me before his family, and I couldn’t put him before Magaelor. He presumed I’d done it for Blaise, but it wasn’t only him. Magaelor was at risk because of the mer king, Aqugar, and he’d surely drag the ships of my navy to the bottom of the ocean if I didn’t bring him the Objects of Kai. The mer always had been predators, but they were more dangerous than ever. It was an effort I understood now because the mercreatures took on traits of the king or queen, and Aqugar had worn the Crown of Discieti. Like Blaise, he could not feel love, but he’d lived with the curse far longer, without any want to hold back and not give in to his dark urges.
A light knock rapped on the door, and I jolted upright. I fought the urge to respond, praying whoever it was would think the office empty and leave.
The handle turned, but the door didn’t open. It shook, and I eyed the keyhole on my side as a key was pressed into the other. “Winter?”
Blaise’s voice trembled my hands.
“I know you’re in there. I’m not leaving until you open the door.”
I blew out a long breath, then sighed. “One moment.”
I unlocked it and creaked the door open. Blaise was wearing blue robes, and his crown was hidden within his mess of curls. His expression was stony as he pushed past me. “Lock the door,” he ordered, then walked to the window. Looking out, something he did a lot when he was in any room—a trait we shared—he shook his head. “I’ll assume Cedric being taken away this morning to the tower means I was right. He did steal the Dagger.”
My shoulders slumped. In a way, I was glad Cedric was behind bars. I was pretty sure if he wasn’t, Blaise would have killed him. “Yes.”
“Do you know where it is?”
“No.”
He turned to face me. “Did you even ask?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Of course I did. I’m not an idiot. He wouldn’t tell me. He needs them to give to his family so they can keep them from Kiros. He thinks if we give them to Aqugar, he won’t give them back.”
“He’s right. Aqugar won’t relinquish them once they’re in his grasp.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Wait… you said them?”
I bit my lip. “He took the Sword too, the Sword of Impervius,” I said, as if he didn’t already know what I was talking about.
“You did the right thing, locking him up.” His jawline was sharper under the white light. It seeped through pale gray clouds, illuminating Imperia in a light glow.
My stomach knotted. “I know.”
“Let’s hope his family doesn’t find out.” He rubbed his forehead, decreasing the lines that had formed on his skin. “This is quickly turning into an international crisis, one Niferum could get dragged into.”
I sat behind the desk. “Because Magaelor doesn’t have enough problems without this.”
His gaze softened. He turned and closed the distance between us, then took my hands in his. “I’m sorry he betrayed you.”
“I’m not.” My expression hardened. “I’ve learned a valuable lesson. I won’t be trusting people from now on.” I cast my eyes downward. “It hurts too much. He’s not the first person to break my heart.”
He squeezed my fingers and leaned over. “He will be the last.”
“You can’t make such promises, Blaise.”
“I could kill him for it.”
“I would never forgive you.”
“I know.” He paused, then let go of me. “We will find them, the Sword and Dagger, and you can let Cedric go and send him back to Berovia. It’s more than he deserves.”
I didn’t respond. “I have meetings today. I can’t lock myself away forever.” I suppressed a nervous laugh as it climbed up my throat. “Everyone thinks being queen is a luxury. It’s not. It’s the highest form of public s
ervice, and one I feel is draining the life from me.” I wouldn’t admit it to anyone else, but between us, I felt like I could say anything. There was no judgment in Blaise’s eyes.
“You’re just getting your footing here. You’ve not been bred for this. This was your brother’s future for the longest time, and now you’ve been thrown into the role with little training. In time, this will all become easier.”
“I have some training,” I said. “You underestimate me. I just mean it can get a little overwhelming.”
He whistled out a breath. “You underestimate yourself, love.”
“I’ve already sent Adius and his most-trusted men to search for any place the Sword and Dagger could be stashed. For now, I must go about as if nothing is wrong.”
“If you don’t find them.” Warning laced his smoky stare. “I will use my own means to retrieve them.”
I didn’t even want to know what that entailed. I almost forgot. “Blaise… the tiara.” I remembered his gift. “Why did you send it?”
“It is yours.”
“Made by your court.”
“Made for you.” He smirked. “It suits you and only you perfectly. Perhaps you can wear it at your wedding one day in the future.”
I didn’t hold back the laugh this time. “If you think I’m going to get married after all of this, then you’re mad. I don’t want a man by my side. I fought way too hard for my throne to have to share it with someone who will only try to overpower me.”
“Not every man will try to overpower you, love.”
My heart stammered. “I know my people will expect it, but I can’t risk it.”
“Oh, how you’ve changed,” he said with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
“I was fed up with being pushed around.”
He grinned. “That you were.”
“So are you going to tell me how you found me?” Curiosity arched my eyebrow.
The corner of his lip lifted. “Winter, you and I are two sides of the same coin. I went where I would go if I’d just been betrayed. Somewhere no one would expect.” He lowered his voice. “When I killed my father, I went to his office too, for a break from the constant interruptions. Everyone kept coming to my chambers for meetings. It was… irritating.”
I chuckled, and some of the weight lifted. “Same. Although, you did do the same to me when you arrived.”
“That wasn’t for a meeting, love. I wanted to be somewhere private with you.”
My cheeks heated. “I need to talk to you about something else too.”
“More bad news? At least it’s never boring when you’re around.” He winked when he noticed my expression. “I’m just teasing. Go on.”
“Tell me that again once you’ve heard what I have to say,” I said, and he walked to the section next to the desk where three armchairs sat around a circular table. My father used to play cards at it with Ashur, who’d fled after Edgar fell. I sat in the one across from him and rolled my head back, feeling tension tighten in my shoulders. Thumbing the back of my neck, I briefly closed my eyes. “The story you told me about Evangeline and the Necromancer… Well, it turns out I find myself in the same predicament.”
His eyes widened. He leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees. “You’ve been using sacrificial magic again? When will you learn to stay out of trouble?”
“No. I wish I had. At least there would be a reason as to why he’s attached to my soul like a parasite. It was when Morgana brought me back from the dead. He attached himself to me.”
He nodded, then sat back. “Necromancy.”
After I relayed everything to him, from Morgana giving me the potion to my meeting the necromancer in my subconscious, he blew out a tense breath. Seconds ticked by while I waited for a response. Anything. “Blaise?”
“Don’t use your magic,” he advised. Something I already knew.
“Morgana isn’t either. She said she doesn’t want to give him any more power than he already has.”
“She’s smart.”
“Too smart. She wants me to lock her away if she loses control.” Tears swam in my eyes. “I’ve never seen her like this before. She’s always been so strong.”
“She is,” he said simply. “He’s just stronger.”
“I’m going to request the banned books from the archives to be brought here.”
He clicked his tongue. “Not a good idea if you don’t want your priest to question you more than he already is.”
“You know a lot for someone who lives a kingdom away.”
He gave me a look. “I have eyes and ears everywhere, love,” he said nonchalantly. “Now, here’s the plan. We will have the books brought to us, but we will only send those we absolutely trust.”
“I only have Adius… and Marissa, I guess, but I don’t know her that well. I’m inviting Nissa Avery to be my lady-in-waiting, but I wouldn’t trust her to look after a plant.”
He smirked. “We will send the ones you trust along with my spies and Amara.”
I nodded in agreement. “Yes. I like Amara. I don’t think she will speak with anyone.”
“I know she won’t.” His eyes flashed. “I should warn you, Darlina is here. She came with Lucien. They’re friends.” He rolled his eyes up. “I know you don’t like her, but you should know we’re not together anymore.”
“Why would I care?”
“We both know you do.” He tapped his fingers rhythmically against his knee, smirking.
I rolled my eyes. “I should go,” I said, dismissing his comment. “I need to meet with the council over security arrangements for the memorial.”
“I heard about your announcement. I’m surprised the lords agreed with the expense of the coronation.”
“Nothing was formally agreed upon.” I shot him a playful smile. “That’s why I made sure to cement it publicly. Now they can’t bow out without looking bad.”
Pride coated his features. “See, you’re already getting the hang of this, love.”
“I’m starting to feel more confident,” I admitted.
I turned my back to him when I stood, but he reached for me before I could leave. Wrapping his arm around me from behind, he stopped me from reaching the door. “You forgot this.” He handed me my papers for the meeting with his free hand. When he let go, his fingers grazed up my arm, tingling my skin.
I grabbed the papers, inhaling sharply. “Thanks.”
My heart was pounding as I reached the door. I could feel his touch still. It lingered on my skin as if it were a living thing. I tried to shudder it away, but I could never shake him.
I was so mad at myself. Stupid body and stupid heart. I had just given a speech about never trusting anyone again, but I’d told Blaise everything. As much as I wanted to believe he wouldn’t hurt me, I couldn’t guarantee it, even if Morgana had been certain in his loyalty.
I hurried my steps until I reached the council meeting room, then walked inside.
***
Leaves drifted from the branches above where we sat. The benches were rotting and needed to be replaced, and they held a woody, damp smell. The smoke-tinted air carried the stench away. Large bonfires had been lit beyond the castle walls, directly across from the courtyard where we sat. It was a celebration of the dead, providing light to guide them to the veil. It was a tradition held once a year. “Thank you for joining me. I’m sure you’d rather be joining the festivities.”
Nissa shuffled uncomfortably, looking directly ahead at the arched stone leading to the cold hallways. “Yours was an unexpected invitation, Your Majesty.” She paused. “Fortunately, no one has died this year close to me, so I don’t need to partake.”
I didn’t blame her suspicion; I could sense it all around her. She had, after all, stolen our father from us.
People couldn’t be stolen unless they wanted to be. Those were the words Morgana had told me when we’d first been swept away to Inferis. They floated back into my mind.
My retaliation was probably expected, but fo
rtunately for Nissa, I needed her.
I focused my eyes on her. Her dark hair ran like silk over her shoulders and back. Blossoms and leaves carpeted the cobbled ground, and flickers of light caught between shadows as the oil lamps were lit.
“I have been told you are ambitious.” I tilted my head. “Resourceful. Manipulative.”
She swallowed thickly. “I… I’m not manipulative.”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” I said, seeing her flushed cheeks. “I need those traits, Nissa. I am willing to let the past stay where it should be if you agree to swear your allegiance to me. I need loyal soldiers, women like you.”
Her thin eyebrows raised halfway up her forehead. “You want me to be your spy?”
“Yes.” There was little point in dancing around the truth. “As one of my ladies-in-waiting,” I explained. “Corbin came to me. He asked to marry you. I gave him my answer.”
She glanced down, then back at me. “What did you say?”
My lips curved at the corners. “I said yes. You didn’t know?”
“He never proposed.” She gripped her fingers into her legs. “Men often will say anything to get what they want.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “I’m starting to see that too.”
“When do I start?”
I smiled widely. “Right now, Nissa. If you’re successful, I will ensure you will be well compensated with land and coin.”
“Ladies can’t own their own land.”
I cocked my head. “Yet, I, a lady, own all the land in this kingdom.”
“True.” She smirked, her words carrying in the breeze. “You do.”
“I will allow for you to own your own land, making a special dispensation, and eventually abolish the ridiculous law once I have enough leverage.”
“I’ll assume that’s where I come in. For leverage.”
“Good. You catch on fast. I need you to get dirt on the lords, their children, sisters, brothers… it doesn’t matter. Anyone in positions of power. Do what you must. Right now, it’s their votes against mine, and I can’t pass anything.” I gritted my teeth. “Their views on my being a woman and being able to rule are abhorrent. Apart from Edur, none of them will give me a chance to change anything.”
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