Fear turned Diamond’s legs to jelly. Is this my test? Or has the Queen tolerated as much as she was willing between her favoured guard and the half-blood magic wielder? Bile rushed Diamond’s mouth. She swallowed it painfully. Being this close to Commander Ream terrified Diamond, reminding her of the temple and the throne room. No. No panic attacks. I can survive this. The Queen will not kill me unless I am of no use. She wants a weapon, not a corpse.
By sheer effort of will, Diamond put one foot in front of the other, trying not to succumb to the desire to lean on the wall or to turn tail and run.
Attion led her through a heavy oak door and into a large training room. A lump formed in Diamond’s throat. She would not cower from the immortal tyrant who sat awaiting her arrival. Unceremoniously, Lord Commander Ream placed a hand on Diamond’s shoulder and shoved her forward.
The Queen sat on a plain wooden chair at the far end of the room; beautiful, regal, immaculately dressed—and coiled like a snake ready to strike. A thick black cape hugged the monarch’s shoulders, gold buttons pulling it tight across her shapely breasts. The fall of her long golden hair was twisted over one shoulder, shining like spun gold against the sable material that hung down to her feet. One foot—encased in a warm, fur-lined, deerskin boot—tapped impatiently. Diamond hid a small smile of satisfaction at the Queen’s outward sign of irritation.
A line of elite guards stood either side of the Queen, all staring blankly forward. Attion walked forward and stood at the far end of the line. Her stomach lurched as his eyes flickered toward her. He lifted his chin and squared his shoulders. At his silent order, she mirrored him. Satisfied, he focused forward.
Right, no cowering. Emotionless and utterly still, the twelve other guards resembled marble statues. Diamond’s feet ground to a halt.
“No!” she gasped in shock.
***
Two young women cowered on their knees in front of the Queen.
Kitty stared forward blankly, her face grey with fright. The wet patch that stained the maid’s dress broke Diamond’s heart. Something had petrified Kitty enough to soil herself.
Diamond’s eyes shot to Rose. A large bruise marred her cheek and blood trickled from her nose. Visibly trembling, Rose met Diamond’s gaze. It was all Diamond could do not to run to her friend.
The Queen smiled spitefully and glanced at Kitty before sliding her eyes to Rose.
Diamond deliberately looked away from the only two women who had ever befriended her, trying to take control of the fear that twisted her insides. Breathe, she told herself.
Then she noticed the male lounging lazily against the wall behind the Queen’s right shoulder. Diamond was unable to tear her eyes away from his face. It was unlike any she had ever seen, distinctive and absurdly perfect in its own way. Amused and arrogant, his deep blue eyes studied her right back. Skin as blue as a summer sky glowed and shimmered in the shafts of sunlight that illuminated him. Along his cheekbones and across the bridge of his nose, there was a ridge of cerulean and silver scales that disappeared under his silky blue hair. He was easily as tall as Hugo. Although not as heavily muscled, this male’s body exuded strength and power. His athletic form was clad in material so silky that it looked like he were swathed in liquid sapphire.
His lips twitched into a wide smile at her scrutiny, and she scowled back in instant dislike. Removing his hands from his pockets, he crossed his arms over his chest in one flowing motion, arching a blue brow at her. Diamond looked away. This perfectly astonishing male, who was neither human nor fae, was the least of her worries.
Ream shadowed her as she approached the line of elite guard. The Queen wasted no time on a greeting, no smile at all upon her face. There were no council members for her to pretend for now.
Diamond dipped her head, the only sign of subservience she could force. Resentment and fear tore at her heart. Hugo was not among the elite guard. Diamond firmly pushed thoughts of him away. They would crush her if she let them.
CHAPTER 24
A sly smile curled the Queen’s lips. “Well, well, half-blood. I have it on good authority that you are excelling in your lessons to become a warrior. It seems your tutors feel you are ready to move on to honing that hideous but useful magic of yours.”
Diamond stayed quiet, her heart thumping in her chest. Kitty began to shake. Rose bravely reached for the other woman’s hand and grasped it. The Queen flicked her gaze at them, then seemed to dismiss them from her mind.
“Along with the rest of mine and Prince Oden’s army, your squadron will leave for the wall tomorrow. However, before I agree to let you leave with them, you need to prove your abilities.” The Queen flicked her attention to Rose, who stared at the floor, before moving her green eyes to contemplate Tallo, who stood with a guard at his back near the edge of the room.
Sweat broke out on Diamond’s brow. Tension simmered in the air. Even some of the elite guard swallowed hard.
The Queen’s eyes suddenly turned dark and stormy.
Trance-like in his movements, the guard behind Tallo pushed the compliant master-at-arms to his knees. Slowly he unsheathed a dagger from his waist and buried the tip in Tallo’s neck right under his right ear.
Tallo’s eyes widened, but he did not utter a sound of pain, nor did he fight. The look on his face told Diamond he knew it was pointless to resist.
Diamond’s head whipped back to the Queen. Cold fingers of terror danced along her spine, her breath escaping in small panicked huffs as another guard stepped forward from the line. His face and eyes were dead.
Cruelly, he yanked Kitty’s head back. Kitty mewled like a frightened animal. Before Diamond could utter a word of protest, the guard dragged his blade over the soft skin of Kitty’s neck. Blood spilled down her chest. Within seconds the light had faded from her friend’s cornflower blue eyes, and she crumpled in a heap.
“No!” Diamond cried, launching herself forward, but cruel arms caught her and held her fast.
The Queen narrowed her eyes and laughed coldly. “Just so we are clear. I don’t make idle threats. I have another guard close by your friend—Tom, isn’t it? I think you have met Thorn before? And of course the prince has a shadow. Not a guard, of course; that would be too obvious. But someone who is more than capable of destroying him if I so wish it. So, if you don’t want to lose any more friends, you had better hope you are good enough to be of use to me.”
Vomit rushed Diamond’s mouth. Sweat slicked her palms. Her eyes stayed fixed on the blood that dripped from the guard’s dagger as he stepped behind Rose. Rose squealed and began to sob.
“Quiet! Or I’ll have my Lord Commander silence you again,” the Queen barked harshly.
Rose took big gasping breaths, trying to master her terror. Diamond felt her admiration for her friend soar.
The Queen stood and prowled over to Rose until she was standing behind the blank-faced guard. He pulled Rose to her feet, then moved to one side. Stepping close enough for her body to brush up against the young healer, the Queen played with Rose’s rich brown hair, gently running her fingers through it as if she were caressing a lover.
Diamond clenched her jaw. Rose whimpered and trembled—her legs shaking.
“Shhh,” the Queen whispered into the shell of Rose’s ear. Her right hand slid slowly over Rose’s shoulder and her left hand travelled up into the trembling woman’s hair.
Diamond froze with horror, unsure what to do to help her friend. Holding Diamond’s eyes, the Queen smiled. Sharp green teeth snapped down behind a row of perfect white ones.
“No!” Diamond gasped. Again, those iron-hard arms grabbed her from behind, instantly clamping her in place.
“Still yourself,” Ream hissed in her ear. Repulsed by his closeness, Diamond froze. “Keep your eyes on her. If you look away, I will crush the life from you,” he threatened, wrapping a hand around her throat.
Wide-eyed, Rose looked at Diamond, but before either could utter another sound, the Queen sank her teeth into the soft sk
in on Rose’s neck. The young healer went suddenly ridged, her eyes rolling back. A sucking sound came from the Queen’s mouth.
Disgust shivered through Diamond, saliva and bile burning her throat. After a few seconds, Rose’s body became limp. The Queen held her up as if she were no heavier than a baby. The column of the Queen’s throat bobbed as she feasted.
Diamond could not tear her eyes away from the sickening scene. Horrible seconds passed until the Queen dropped Rose’s limp body to the ground. Ruby red blood ran down the Queen’s chin as Rose convulsed in the large, congealing pool of Kitty’s blood. The Queen delicately wiped her chin with her fingers, sucked the blood from them and returned calmly to her seat.
“Well, it’s been far too long since I’ve tasted a woman. Maybe I’ll do it more often. Her blood was far sweeter than any of my guards’,” she smiled demonically, blood staining her single set of white teeth.
Rose stopped twitching and lay inert next to Kitty’s bone white corpse.
Revolted by his proximity, Diamond struggled against Ream’s grip. Tears blurred her vision. He gave a satisfied chuckle and gripped her tighter, mockingly nipping the exposed skin of her neck before letting go and moving behind his Queen.
Silent seconds ticked by.
The Queen studied her nails.
She’s waiting for something, Diamond realised.
Less than a minute passed before Rose awoke in a daze. Pushing herself into a sitting position, the healer stared around in horror. She did not seem to remember what had just happened. Covered in Kitty’s blood, her fingers fluttered to the bleeding wound on her neck. She winced.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” purred the Queen.
Rose’s green eyes darkened as she stood. Unlike the guard who had murdered Kitty, Rose’s eyes remained clear, but her poor face contorted into a mask of utter confusion and fear. Diamond swallowed in recognition. This is what had happened inside her head the day she had killed General Edo. Awareness of what was happening, but no control to stop it.
Tallo tracked Rose’s progress towards him.
Horrified, Rose pulled another dagger from his guard’s waist. Tears ran down her pale cheeks as she was forced to push the point of the blade into the other side of Tallo’s neck. The big warrior grimaced but held completely still.
Diamond met the Queen’s arctic gaze.
“Prove yourself now and Tallo will live. Fail to impress me and I ensure your friend slits his throat—right before I order one of my guard to slit hers. Or maybe not. Perhaps I’ll give her to my esteemed commander for his entertainment, then kill her. Oh,” she said, addressing Ream almost as an afterthought. “You did remember to let Commander Casimir know his student is being tested today, didn’t you? I should hate for him to miss the fun.”
“Yes, my Queen. I sent a messenger,” he replied, bowing his head.
“Not to worry. It is a long way from my chambers to the barracks. I expect we will see him very soon.”
Triumph resounded in her voice, stealing Diamond’s breath. Her chambers?Rose was forced to twist her blade. A rivulet of blood ran down Tallo’s neck, dripping onto his shirt front.
No, Diamond would not allow herself to think about Hugo. Concentrating on this test was the only way for her friends to survive.
“Prove to me my master-at-arms is worthy of his position, that he has completed the task I gave him to train you.” Elegant shoulders shrugged. “Then he can live. Fail, and this traitorous whore, whose friends seek to usurp me, will kill him. If you prove your worth, you will be taken outside the shield where you will learn to summon and control your magic. Make no mistake though, if you still live when this battle with Ragor is done, you will return here, to me. You will not try to escape, or I will kill anyone and everyone who has ever spoken kindly to you.”
“I understand,” answered Diamond, rage growing in her belly. Wrathful magic burned a path along her bones. She subdued it, not allowing it to flare. This test had to be completed without magic or the Queen would know the shield did not smother Diamond the way it did other magic wielders.
“Do you?” the Queen asked softly, her eyes drifting now to Attion. Diamond’s mouth dried out as her sharp, green teeth glinted menacingly. Then they were gone.
Wrong. This was all so wrong, and Diamond was helpless to stop it. She had never thought she would care what happened to Attion, but she found she did. The threat of those teeth made her blood run cold.
“And just so we are clear, Commander Casimir is mine. His infatuation with you has been amusing and no doubt will be useful, but do not think for one moment I will allow it to last. Oh, and in case you are curious, he’s been serving me—every night this last week, as he is sworn to do.”
Those words, accompanied by her satisfied smirk almost shattered Diamond’s world. Serving her?
The Queen gave a reptilian smile at the devastation on Diamond’s face. “I know where your magic comes from,” she told Diamond coldly. “You look so much like that whore of a goddess. She stole what was rightfully mine: my throne, my marriage, my child,” she spat those words with such venom even Attion’s eyes flickered to her. “I knew you were her descendant the moment I laid eyes upon you. I don’t know where you came from—neither do I care—but you will use that female’s legacy to save all the souls in this valley. Unless you want them to rot in Chaos because of your failure. If Ragor triumphs and I am forced to fight him myself, there will be no valley and no city left. Our warring magic will suck the life from everything. Do you hear me? There will be no survivors save the victor of our fight. So if you want your friends and all these wretched mortals to live, you must stop Ragor from arriving in this city.”
The Queen stood. She skirted the congealed blood and came to stand in front of Diamond. Soft lips brushed Diamond’s ear. Warm, sweet breath fanned her skin when the Queen spoke. Her voice was so quiet only Diamond could possibly hear her.
“Understand this, magic wielder, the blood in your veins is diluted by hundreds of years of breeding with mortal filth. I will never allow someone like you to place a claim to my throne. If you try, you will die. But if you love Commander Casimir, then you will do everything I ask of you. If you do not, I will use and destroy him. I will get him to commit such atrocities against his friends, against the people of this city and against you that he will wish for death.”
It was all Diamond could do to hold back her tears of distress.
Smirking, the Queen returned to her seat.
“I have been contemplating what to do with your disgusting hide when I am done with your magic. I cannot abide to keep you in my city. Lord Firan?” she said imperiously.
Diamond’s knees nearly buckled. Lord Firan? Immortal Lord of the Wetlands? His reputation as a cruel and arrogant ruler matched the Queen’s. No outsiders were ever allowed into his kingdom. Those that tried to enter were never seen again. The blue-skinned male stepped forward, ensuring the Queen did not have to twist to see him.
“Lord Firan, in return for your loyalty, this female will become yours. I cannot tolerate her blood in my kingdom but she will meet your needs,” the Queen drawled.
Lord Firan lazily ran his glowing gaze over Diamond. Her stomach tightened with anxiety as the perfect curve of his blue lips twitched into a sensuous smile.
“Indeed she will,” he agreed. “My bloodline needs new magic to rejuvenate it. I am more than happy with the terms of our treaty, your grace. As long as you leave some magic in her blood for me to play with.”
The Queen nodded once in agreement before both immortals assessed Diamond as if she were a pleasing purchase. Tension simmered in the air. Before she could even snarl, urgent footsteps thumped down the corridor. The heavy oak door slammed open behind Diamond, crashing into the wall.
The Queen’s smile quickly left her face. “Commander Casimir, I wondered when you would deign to join us, or even if you would.” She shrugged gracefully, giving a feline smile. “Now I know.”
Diamond whipped
her head around, her stomach flipping as the other guards tensed.
Hugo was panting heavily, a light sheen of sweat covering his skin. His magnificent wings were armoured and thrown wide, their silver markings vivid against the shining sapphire blue. The growl that rippled from his throat was more savage than any she had ever heard. He clutched his Silverbore swords, the muscles of his neck and throat bulging and rigid with tension.
Diamond gulped. He seemed taller and more menacing than ever. It was then she noticed his eyes. A strange, feral light glowed from them. Fire, but much more, as if another being glared through them.
Those eyes quickly scanned the room.
“No,” she whispered.
In that split second, Diamond realised he was assessing where—and who—to attack. Before he had time to act, a wave of powerful magic slammed across the room, knocking his massive bulk straight into the wall. Plaster dust exploded into the air.
With a wave of her hand, the Queen’s magic cleared the dust to show Hugo pinned to the wall, a foot off the floor, unable to move. His swords, still clasped in his big fists, were forced flat against the wall.
“Commander! You may wish to consider your actions from this point on very, very carefully. Remember your oath to serve me. Remember how your past indiscretions ended.” There was such quiet lethal warning in the Queen’s voice.
Tense silence hung in the room. Only the sound of Hugo’s heavy breathing and frustrated growl filled it.
Slowly Hugo met the Queen’s gaze, and his eyes returned to normal.
Smirking, she lowered his bulk to the ground. He inhaled, exhaled, then he pushed himself away from the wall.
Terror and elation filled Diamond’s heart in equal measure. He came for me! That snarl at the Queen had been for her. His armoured wings and swords proved his intent to fight for her. But at what cost? Fear rippled down Diamond’s spine. Such an outward sign of dissent, of aggression against one’s monarch must be considered treason.
A Bond of Blood and Fire (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 2) Page 15