“I see this necklace means a lot to you, magic wielder. Such a pity.” The Queen gave a snake’s smile as she taunted, “Just think how easy it will be for me to take everything you care about. Make no mistake, girl, if you don’t do as I ask, your friends will die a horrible death.”
Diamond stood mutely, gaping at her necklace. The threat and promise in those words so terribly clear. The jewel seemed so small and insignificant discarded on the table in front of the master commander’s tightly-clasped hands. Sudden and unbidden, anger stirred in Diamond’s belly, bursting up from her core in a torrent so deep and strong she trembled.
Across the room, the glow in the crystal flickered then went out. Hugo shifted his obsidian eyes to Diamond’s face. She let all her rage and hurt burn through as she caught his gaze and held it. Before she understood what was happening, her magic surged through her blood, thrashing to escape.
Not here, not now, she beseeched it, casting her eyes down to the floor. Hugo placed his large hand on her shoulder as if to restrain his prisoner. Diamond jerked away from him. Or tried; her arms and legs were as immovable as granite. It was as if he could hold her to utter stillness with just his touch. Calm washed through her body, engulfing the raging magic until it sputtered and died. Her mind felt thick, her thoughts syrupy and slow. Diamond took a deep breath and shook her head, forcing her ravaged body to life.
She yanked her shoulder from Hugo’s grasp. His only response was to glance at her impassively.
Immediately her head cleared.
Chapter 49
The Queen continued to speak.
Gods, she’s not even done yet! thought Diamond bitterly.
“You will need someone to oversee your training. A warrior who will keep you under control and ensure compliance with my wishes. A tutor who can school you in the art of weaponry and fighting—and killing,” said the Queen, smiling delightedly as if that should be abhorrent to Diamond. The beautiful monarch bit her lip as if considering her options. “You will also need a warrior who is powerful enough to supervise you whilst you learn to control your magic.”
The Queen turned to Hugo, who stood silently by. Diamond’s heart soared with hope. Will the Queen allow us to be together? Diamond wanted it so much. That hope stuttered and recoiled into her heart. This cold guard was not the friend Diamond had come to long for.
“Commander Casimir? You will instruct Guard Attion Sarou to oversee the weapons training this girl receives.”
Hugo snapped his head back to the Queen just as Diamond’s stomach heaved.
“My Queen, Guard Sarou is not strong enough to contain her if her magic breaks free. She would be at risk of escaping again…or causing ruination of this palace. Having Guard Sarou train her would put you at risk.” His voice remained unemotional, but Diamond knew Hugo well enough to see the dip in his brow and the minute twist to the scar upon his cheek.
The Queen cocked her head and studied Hugo, making a show of considering his words. Diamond held her breath, unable to shift her attention away from the floor. Being forced to endure Attion’s attentions was unthinkable.
“So be it,” the Queen conceded, giving a small satisfied smile that made Diamond wonder what game she was playing. “You will oversee Miss Gillon’s training. Inform Commander Nosco of your orders and instruct him to find a suitable squadron of Prince Oden’s men to attach her to. We can’t have her too near my fae warriors, can we? Erebos only knows how, but she seems to bring out the baser instincts in you all.” She glanced over at Fedron, who did not move his eyes off Diamond.
“Master Commander Riddeon estimates Ragor will begin his assault on the wall a week, maybe two, before winter solstice; therefore you will train this girl hard. I will expect her to attain a sufficient level of skill to be used as a weapon within ten weeks. As such, you are relieved of your duties in the palace until I tell you otherwise. Lord Commander Ream will send for you when I am ready to observe your results. And Hugo?”
“Yes, my Queen?” he answered unemotionally.
“Do not fail me in this task. It would be a shame to have to dirty your hands with her death and force me to punish you before winter solstice.”
Hugo bowed low, but Diamond could feel the resentment and violence churning through the air around them. What she couldn’t tell was if his ire was directed at her or the Queen. Diamond did not care. She pinned him with a hateful glare, her eyes a smouldering violet storm. Silently she vowed she would become a weapon; she had no choice if she wanted to survive or if her friends were to live. Let the Queen be fool enough to train her. The magic in Diamond’s blood would bend to her will eventually.
“Master Commander Riddeon, you and your guards will take that necklace down to the palace vaults. You may choose which of the iron boxes to place the jewel in. The key will stay with the Master of the Vault,” she ordered her commander. There was no doubt in her voice that he would comply with her wishes.
The golden-eyed commander stood. “Fedron! With me,” he barked to his warrior, who still had his attention fixed solely on Diamond.
The warrior’s hazel eyes held such predatory fae hunger it made her skin crawl. Hugo, who had already noticed the other male’s attention, blasted a wave of invisible magic into the air. Diamond started, shocked by the ferocity of his response. She snarled at them both. She did not need Hugo’s protection from any other fae male—not now, not ever; he had made his choice—his Queen—not her. Diamond poured wrath into her eyes and stared the other warrior down.
Amusement glinted in his eyes, and she realised he was relishing her defiance. He deliberately slid his gaze to Hugo. Challenge poured off him. It burned in his eyes and in his vicious snarl before he bowed in deference to his superior’s order. As he walked away, he flashed Diamond an insolent grin and a wink that enraged her. Hugo followed his progress with an icy gaze.
The Queen stroked her slim fingers tenderly down Hugo’s cheek, bringing his attention back to her.
“Ten weeks. No longer, commander. I will expect this girl to demonstrate her new skills. If she fails, well….” That sensual smile turned cruel and she glanced at Lord Commander Ream, who stood by the throne. “My Lord Commander can have whatever is left of her. If she does succeed in her test, you will take her outside the shield. Her magic is clearly wild. With your more—practised—skills you can mould it into the weapon we all need. I want Ragor away from this city before winter solstice. After all, this will be a very important celebration for both of us, Hugo.” Her voice became a sensual purr. “And we will have far more important things to occupy our time than war and inexperienced young girls.”
Whilst their attention was fixed on each other, Diamond blinked and shifted her vision. Hugo’s energy snapped wildly against the Queen’s green confident aura. Tense seconds passed as silver serpents and sweeping green ribbons fought, but to Diamond’s horror, the Queen prevailed. Slowly, like the coils of a snake her green magic curled around his torso, slithering down his thighs and along his arms. Outwardly he held his mask in place as she writhed around him. But it did not last. Disgusted, Diamond could only watch as those green ribbons touched him intimately. Hugo’s jaw clenched and his eyelids flickered, his nostrils flaring. The Queen chuckled with satisfaction at his involuntary response. Stretching her neck back, she closed her eyes and shuddered with pleasure.
Seeing that magical fight made no difference to her feelings for him, or so Diamond told herself. Hugo had made his choice: he belonged to his Queen, body and soul, it seemed.
“Oh Hugo, you should not resist me so. This winter solstice is going to be the best either of us has experienced in a long while.”
Hatred, and something akin to jealousy, sparked through Diamond’s chest at the implied intimacy in those words. Before she could even begin to think about that, the Queen fixed Diamond with a glacial stare.
Chapter 50
“Now, before I let you leave, we must hold the trial.”
Diamond jerked her head towards t
he Queen. “What trial?” she parroted automatically. Panic instantly squeezed her chest. When would this be over? She was already bound to servitude until she died fighting the Wraith Lord. Will I be tortured now?
“Lord Commander, bring in the prisoner,” instructed the fae Queen with obvious relish.
Diamond twisted her head, watching Lord Commander Ream march to the double doors. Hugo turned too, the flicker of a frown between his brows. The Queen gave Diamond a calculating smile. Dread curled inside Diamond’s stomach. What in the goddess was going on now?
A moment later General Edo was marched into the throne room between two Queen’s guards. He thrashed and swore savagely, a maniacal glint in his eye. Fresh bruises marred his face and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“General!” exclaimed Diamond, taking a step forward.
The general glared coldly at her, stopping her in her tracks.
“Silence!” the Queen barked. Swishing her skirts with a flourish, she walked back across the floor and sat upon her throne.
General Edo stared from her to Diamond, such hate in his face that Diamond recoiled.
“Tell me, magic wielder, do you trust this male?” she asked, narrowing her eyes on the general.
Diamond frowned and answered without hesitation, “Of course I do. I’ve known him all my life. He was the one who saved me from Ragor’s Seekers”
“Was he indeed?” asked the Queen almost gleefully. “I wonder? How do you think Ragor’s hunting dogs found you? It was you he was searching for, wasn’t it—or at least the necklace you wore?”
Diamond gulped, not liking where this was going at all. How does she know that? Diamond had told no one—not even Tom—what Cranach had said. General Edo was bucking his body with such force his captors were almost losing their grip. He bared his teeth at the Queen.
The Queen’s grinned delightedly. “Oh, general. I’m so sorry but the cat’s out of the bag,” she purred and nodded at Lord Commander Ream, who once again disappeared, this time into a heavily reinforced wooden door behind the dais. The Queen tapped her sharp fingernails—still marred with Diamond’s blood—against the arm of the throne. An irritating high pitched click.
Diamond dared a questioning glance at Hugo, but his attention was fixed on General Edo. In an almost casual move, he twisted his body slightly and placed himself between her and the general. His hand grasped the hilt of a long dagger that sat on his hip.
Minutes passed in silence. The toads at the table did not dare move, let alone talk. Diamond could almost feel their fear. What previous horrors had they witnessed in this room of power? Diamond wondered.
The door swung open and chains rattled. Diamond gaped, as did the toads. The Queen’s guards, however, all remained stoic in their observation. Snarling and growling, a skinny Seeker was hauled before the throne. Clearly half-starved, its bones almost protruded through its skin, skin that was covered in sores and festering small wounds.
“Do you recognise him?” the Queen addressed General Edo curiously, a dangerous smile curling her lips.
“No,” growled General Edo.
“Are you sure?” she asked, then turned to Diamond. “As much as it pains me, magic wielder, as much as your kind disgust me, you still belong to my kingdom, as did most of those in your town who died when his brethren attacked,” she said, gesturing at the Seeker. “This creature has told me how Ragor found you and why. It seems the Wraith Lord has been hunting for you and your father for a very long time. Your father was clever enough to hide that necklace since your mother died. But alas, he wasn’t clever enough to recognise the enemy and traitor that lived right on his doorstep. Was he, general?” she drawled.
Diamond stared in confusion at General Edo. His eyes held pure hate as he glared at the Queen. Slowly those icy grey eyes found Diamond. That hate did not diminish; if anything, it flared brighter. Hugo’s magic pushed against her, almost as if he were trying to cocoon her in it. Diamond thrust it away.
“What does she mean?” she asked the man who had helped raise her, who had been there to pick her up when she fell, who had kissed her goodnight alongside her father.
“Nothing! She knows nothing!” he denied, his wings flaring. Diamond gasped as she noticed the small bolts that had been driven through them. Iron. So he could not armour, could not fly. “She is setting me up,” he spat, panting as his wings fell uselessly behind him.
“Oh come now, general. Don’t lie,” simpered the Queen.
The Seeker squealed in a high pitched, decidedly human way as the chains around his neck and limbs were yanked and he fell onto his knees. Diamond flinched. It sounded disturbingly like a child in pain.
“Magic wielder, it was the general, your father’s loyal friend,” the Queen sneered, “that sold him out to our enemy. He paid this thing, and it’s equally disgusting father, to take a token belonging to you to Ragor and deliver a message.”
General Edo paled, his attention narrowing on the creature. As he searched the creatures face, Diamond knew with sickening certainty that the Queen was telling the truth. Diamond watched with horrified fascination as the Queen stood and prowled closer to the Seeker. She looked intently into its eyes. That ancient magic blazed, burning the air and surging like a sandstorm against Diamond’s skin. She tensed as her own reacted, building along her nerves and in her blood. Hugo glanced at her, his scar twitching; once again that strange soothing feeling clouded her mind and calmed the wildness of her magic. She shook her head, trying to clear it.
The Queen’s court looked on in a mixture of disgust, fear and hate.
A flash of light caused everyone to blink furiously. In its wake lay a naked child, crumpled in a heap on the floor.
Diamond gasped. Even Hugo shifted on his feet as he stared at the boy who couldn’t have been more than twelve years old.
“Magic wielder, meet Simeon. He’s obviously a shapeshifter. But goodness, what an ugly being to have as an alternative self, don’t you think? Simeon, meet the girl whose father you helped to kill—Diamond Gillon.”
Simeon peered up at her, wide-eyed but fiercely defiant. His face was as dirty as the rest of him. “I didn’t kill nobody,” he denied and looked hatefully at General Edo. “He paid me da. He told us he would be a king soon, and that he would pay me da more money than we ‘as ever seen to run to the Dead Lord and give ‘im that scrap of cloth. All them people dyin’ was his an’ me da’s fault, not mine.”
Diamond felt the weight of his words crush her heart.
“No….” she whispered, shaking her head.
“It weren’t my fault!” Simeon cried in a squeaky voice, his words pouring out in a torrent. “Me da made me go with ‘im. I didn’t want to go, but I ain’t got no ma, an’ he said I ‘ad to. Me da was a shifter too, but that Dead Lord, he wouldn’t let us leave. He made us run back up north with them other Seekers. ‘Bout nearly killed me, it did. But we ‘ad no choice. They said they would tear us apart with the rest of the town if we tried to run—or you wasn’t there.”
Diamond could not believe what she was hearing, that the general had orchestrated the annihilation of a whole town. And he had used this child to do it. Diamond’s mind whirled, remembering all the times he had seemed distant and cold, his insistence at leaving her father to his fate. She felt sick as she met the full force of General Edo’s gaze, flinching at the deep hate and resentment in his eyes. It was far easier to look at Simeon. Before she could stop herself, she asked, “Where is your father now?”
Simeon unabashedly stood up, the state of his body ripping a gasp of dismay from Diamond. Turning to Hugo, he inclined his head at the huge warrior. “‘E killed ‘im. I watched from the trees.” Simeon held Hugo’s gaze fiercely, longer than Diamond had seen anyone else hold it. Standing naked at the mercy of his captors, she couldn’t help but admire such bravery. “Then I followed yer scent back ‘ere. I dodged all them dead things out in the forest, an’ all them Seekers—they weren’t bothered wi’ me. I’m too s
mall to threaten them—but I nicked bits of the food…they left behind.” His face revealed what gruesome fare that would have been.
“Why? Why did you come here? Why didn’t you run?” Diamond asked, feeling a surge of compassion for this resourceful boy.
“To kill ‘im,” Simeon responded, lifting his chin and glaring up at Hugo, who stared back blankly.
“Silence!” ordered the Queen.
Simeon jumped, suddenly looking like the frightened child he was. What had they done to him in the dungeons? Diamond thought, feeling nauseated.
“General Edo, it is clear that you conspired with Ragor, whose hunters used your token to track the magic wielder to Berriesford. You are therefore accused of wilfully causing death to my people by duplicity, and the act of treason against me by bargaining with my enemy.”
Slowly she raked her imperious gaze across the council toads. “As this is an act of treason, you are not entitled to a council hearing. I therefore sentence you to death.”
Chapter 51
“What?”
“No!”
Diamond and General Edo shouted at the same time.
“I did not kill your citizens! This boy is lying!” bellowed the general. “The only one we know died for sure was her father—and he was Rhodainian!” he thundered.
The Queen ignored him. Realising his protestations were in vain, the general began thrashing against his captors’ grip, earning himself a twist of the iron bolt in his left wing. He roared.
“Now, now, it’s no use fighting, general. Your fate is sealed. It’s just a question of who will carry out your sentence.”
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 30