Page 146 of To Bleed A Kingdom

“Now, Captain.”

I clench my jaw at the order, recognizing the finality in her tone for what it is, and take one slow step back. Then two, but no more than that. Just enough to clear Adelphia’s line of sight, but close enough to intercept these creatures if they wish to cause her harm.

“Where are my guards?” Adelphia asks.

Aurora cries out, slapping a hand to her mouth, and my gaze snaps to the doorway, seeing the guards’ slumped forms.

“They're fine,” Lena says, tossing a flippant hand over her shoulder. “They’re taking a nap.” Her gaze wanders to the Queen, speaking directly to Adelphia. “I need to speak with you.”

“You've said as much,” Adelphia replies, her tone calm and regal, her mask firmly set in place. “Since you’ve gone to so much trouble -”

“It was no trouble at all.” Lena smirks. “We just walked through the door.”

Adelphia's expression doesn't shift, but her chest expands with a steadying breath. “What do you wish to speak to me about?”

“The attack today isjust the beginning,” Lena claims. “You've noticed the increased activity from the Soulless? Even before today?” Adelphia nods. “The same has been happening throughout the continent. The King of Brecca-”

“So there is a King,” Theon cuts in, a worried frown pulling at his lips.

“There is,” Lena says factually, still holding Adelphia’s gaze. “The King of Brecca has been watching you for years, biding his time while building his army and amassing weapons. Magical and otherwise.” She gives me a pointed look and my breaths stall in my lungs when she adds, “They plan to attack.”

“When?’ Aurora asks, speaking directly to Tristan as she ambles toward him. Griffin stops her with an arm around her waist, her features contorting into misery when Tristan ignores her, staring straight ahead.

“A month,” Lena answers her. “A couple weeks more, if you’re lucky.” Lena takes another step closer to Adelphia, but nothing more as Kace, Griffin, and I move in sync with her. “If Brecca attacks you as you are now, Cascadonia will fall.”

Lips pursed, Adelphia drums her fingers along the arms of her throne. “You've been here over a month. Why haven’t you told us sooner?”

“It would have jeopardized my mission.”

Adelphia gives her a droll look. “Which is?”

Lena considers her for a moment. “We're searching for someone.”

“Who?”

“That's not your concern.”

Adelphia clenches the throne, her knuckles whitening as she leans forward. “You are in my kingdom. That makes it my concern.”

Lena laughs, a cold, arrogant tone I've not heard from her before. “One would think so, but it doesn't.” Adelphia's lips tighten in response and Lena’s laughter cuts off. “Trust must be earned, Your Majesty, and you haven't earned the right to this knowledge.” Lena’s gaze snaps to mine, an accusing light flashing beneath. “None of you have.”

“Who are you?” Adelphia asks, searching Lena’s face with a furrowed brow.

“Me?” Lena shrugs. “I'm no one.”

“Where are you from?”

“Nowhere.”

Quickly losing patience, Adelphia says through clenched teeth, “What are you?”

Lena says nothing, wandering towards the table as I follow along, careful to keep myself between her and the Queen. “A being with access to a vast amount of knowledge.” She plops down in a chair, casually holding my mother’s gaze. “Someone who knows how to kill the Gods Cursed.”

Someone gasps, probably Aurora, while I stand here stunned, my feet rooted to the ground in shock.

But Lena gives us no time to recover as she barrels on. “Your people believe the Cursed are invulnerable, but you're wrong. There is a weapon of sorts, stored deep within the Mandala Mountains that can be used to kill them. It negates the Goddess of Death's power.”

Our people have searched for years to find a way to destroy the Gods Cursed. To cure the Soulless. But every trail led to the same conclusion. Only a god can defeat a goddess’ power. But maybe we missed something. Maybe there really is a way to defeat them. Hope kindles within me but it quickly dwindles, morphing to rage when I remember who my source of information is.

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