Page 189 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“Are you aware of a lot recently?”

I gave the elf a soft smile before sitting at the small table in the center of the room. I took a sip of the tea Miska had made earlier, and the slow throbbing in my head subsided.

“I believe you have news, yes?”

Orym nodded and came to stand near me. “Nothing good.”

I said nothing, waiting for him to go on.

“A casmirah was spotted last night shooting across the sky. I take it that you know its meaning?”

“Very well. I have seen only five in my existence. They are never wrong about their choices.”

Orym scratched his brow. “Then you know the East is gone,” he said, placing a small handwritten note on the table. “Veruka sent me an update. Everything is gone because of—”

“Dianna,” I interjected, placing my tea down.

“That’s what Veruka and I assume. The more Dianna challenges Nismera by killing her troops, the bolder and more hostile the rebels grow. The more they recruit and expand their numbers. Nismera is nervous.”

“She has a right to be, yes.”

“Well, Veruka says that Nismera now thinks that the casmirah appeared for her because she rid the world of Dianna and her beast, eliminating the threat.”

“Hubris is a gift not only for gods, you know?” I said, adding one sugar cube to my tea and stirring.

Orym took a seat across from me. “What do you know? I mean, we’re talking annihilation here, Roccurem, on a massive scale. There had to be at least fifty planets out there.”

“She is a goddess created from destruction and fear. If those she rules no longer fear her, she loses her upper hand. Now, she thinks she has gained it back,” I explained.

“And that does not frighten you?” Orym’s panic only increased. “It’s nothing but floating shards of rocks there now. What weapon does she have that can do that?”

“Many.” I leaned back, taking another sip. “But what frightens me has not arrived yet.”

“What does that mean?” Orym asked.

“You should get some sleep and spend at least one more day resting.”

Orym’s face paled as he stood. “We need to tell them.”

“We will when they return.”

Orym sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m going to send another message to Veruka. Maybe with more information, we can get ahead of her.”

I said nothing as he headed for the door, nothing about his concerns or worries about what was to come and nothing about the harsh cold that followed him from the room.

SEVENTY-SIX

CAMILLA

I sat at my vanity, clasping my earring and watching shadows coalesce behind me in the mirror. I rolled my eyes and blew out a long breath as Kaden stepped from them, adjusting the cufflink at his right wrist.

“Dramatic much?” I asked and stood to face him.

Kaden’s brows shot upward as he regarded me.

“What?” I asked, gazing down at the sparkling gown that hugged my body.

“Nice tits.”

---