by Cayla Kluver
I once more examined the pages. There were footprints all around the scene, and at the bottom she had scrawled the words that were also scarred onto her breast. Keep silent your screams and never look back.
More unnerved than I wanted to admit, I snapped the journal closed and let it fall to the floor, not sure how well I would sleep with the memory of my maiming revived. Body tired and brain muddled, I blew out the oil lamp and tucked myself into the luxurious double bed for which Tom Matlock was paying. My thoughts roamed in the dark until the recollection that had been clawing at the back of my mind made it to the forefront.
“I didn’t betray him,” Illumina had said to Fane. Such deliberate words. Why hadn’t she said, “I’m not a traitor”? Or “I didn’t betray anyone”?
And then another memory sprang forward, this one from the night my wings had been taken.
“Shhh,” a female voice had whispered in my ear.
One woman among five men, her moonlit silhouette slight as a child’s, her hand lightly stroking my hair. Suddenly her face came into focus.
I sat up in bed, screaming like never before.
* * * * *
Acknowledgments
Well, this was a tough one. Without the following people, this book wouldn’t have happened:
As always, Mom, Cara, and Kendra. You put up with me, support me, and push me in the right direction, even when I can’t see it for myself.
My superagent, Kevan Lyon, for being the first line of defense (and offense!) even when I’m being a flake. Taryn Fagerness, foreign rights guru, for her passion and dedication. What a blessing it is to work with you two.
At Harlequin, which these days is feeling less like a publishing house and more like a home: Natashya Wilson and Annie Stone, for their invaluable editing insight. Lisa Wray, whose marketing skills are rivaled by none, except perhaps Mary Sheldon, Melissa Anthony, Amy Jones, and Siobhan Clayton. Jennifer Gould, who somehow deciphered my scanned-in scribbles and turned them into a beautiful map design.
Mr. Larry Rostant, for the stunning cover art.
And of course, everybody who’s reading. That means you.
Until next time,
Cayla
Questions for Discussion
What are the motives and goals of the Anti-Unification League? Why does Anya disagree with their goals, even after experiencing personally the violence against Fae being perpetrated in the Territory? Based on what you know about the history of our world, do you think that closing down the borders between Chrior and Warckum completely would be an effective strategy for the long term?
The author describes Fae who have lost their wings as often feeling as if there is nowhere left that they belong. Can you think of any examples of peoples in our world who feel this way?
Assuming that Anya finds a way to return to Chrior, who do you think would be the most effective leader for the Fae: Anya, Illumina, or Zabriel? Why?
Why do you think that Hastings and the men working with him are trying to manufacture a creature with Fae magic? What implications do you think this will have for the relations between the humans and the Fae?
From what we know of Illumina, it seems that her extremist political leanings are at least in part a result of her father’s treatment of her as a child. Do you think the rest of the family, including Queen Ubiqua, should have been responsible for Illumina’s well-being? In your opinion, how much of our personality and beliefs is a result of our upbringing, and how much is inborn?
Rather than turning himself in to the authorities, Thatcher More chooses to take his family into hiding. Would you have done the same? Are there any other options that you might have considered?
When Anya hears about the upcoming execution of Alexander Eskander, she and the other Fae feel vindicated, even excited at the prospect of his death. But as Anya quickly learns when she sees Spex at the plank, there are two sides to every story. How do you feel about Eskander’s execution? How do you think it affected Spex, his son? Did it benefit the Faerie people? Should Eskander have been killed?
Shea must make a difficult decision between her loyalty to her family and her loyalty to her friend and companion, Anya. Do you think she makes the right choice? Why or why not?
If you were Anya, what would you do next after making the discoveries that she does at the end of the novel?
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin ebook. Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
ISBN-13: 9781460325414
THE QUEEN’S CHOICE
Copyright © 2014 by Cayla Kluver
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com