Page 27 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“What about the prince?” I saw Ara and Ryvin, my chest tightening with anxiety at the thought of anything happening to her. I was still new to the concept of a mating bond, but I knew Ara was connected to him in a way she couldn’t control. I hated that for her.

“He won’t be a problem. The gods are already coming for him and his stolen magic,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

She lifted her brows. “You don’t know?”

The knock on the door made us both turn, and the conversation ceased while a servant set a tray with tea and honey cakes on the table between us. Once the door was closed, we sat quietly for a moment, neither of us reaching for the refreshments.

“Explain what you were talking about,” I said, finally breaking the silence. “What is going on with the Fae Prince?”

“He stole your sister’s magic. If the rumors are true, she was even more powerful than him. And just like his father, he took all that power for himself.”

Heat roared, and I could feel my cheeks flush. Ara never told me the details about what she meant whenshe’d said she had no magic anymore. “More powerful than him?”

“Isn’t it always how it goes? Doesn’t seem to matter where you come from. Men see us as a threat and find a way to chain us, to dull our shine, to use our gifts for themselves. The king needed me because my court wouldn’t rebel against him if I was by his side.” She leaned forward and poured the tea into two cups, then slid one toward me.

“Tell me more.” I took the offered cup.

She took a tentative sip, then set her cup back on the table. Then she told me how the Fae King had stolen his mate’s power. How Ryvin had done the same to Ara. I listened, jaw tense, taking in everything that had been kept from me. How much of this did my father know? Was the power the Fae King held the reason Athos bowed to them so easily?

“Then he set his sights on all the fae courts,” she explained. “It was join him or be destroyed. With the power of Nyx, and a son who could kill hundreds without touching them, we didn’t stand a chance. I was young, but I knew I could save my people. I agreed to be his consort in exchange for protection. He thought we folded, but we’re nearly immortal. We can be very patient.”

I was impressed by her foresight. And a little terrified. She was definitely better to have as an ally. “The only problem with this is that it all rides on the defeat of the Fae King. He’s already taken Drakous. How could we possibly stop him?”

“For starters, I have allies who will follow me once Igive the word. Plus, there’s his sorceress,” Aspasia said. “You take her down, and everything falls apart.”

11

Ara

Returning home feels like defeat.Once I’d have given almost anything to step onto our sandy shores. Now, I feel like the very land mocks me. It’s a reminder of how much harm I’ve brought to my people since I first dared to leave.

The guards recognize us this time, letting us into the palace without hesitation. Or maybe they heard what happened the last time they challenged my friends.

A heavy silence fell around us, sorrow and guilt making me fight against the urge to crawl into a cave so I could hide until everything came to the inevitable end. I wasn’t even sure what that end would look like anymore. All of our ideas had failed, and I wasn’t sure if there was anything we could do.

The palace was quiet. Guards were few, and I didn’t seea single servant. It matched the solemn tone we’d experienced while walking through town. Few were out in the streets, and they stayed away from us as we passed. All of Athos wore the heavy weight of defeat.

Argus walked toward us, a weary smile on his expression. “Welcome back, Princess. I heard the news and I’m glad to see you’re alive.”

“It’s starting to feel like a curse,” I replied.

“It’s for a reason, we must have faith. The gods will come to their senses,” he answered.

I kept my thoughts about the gods to myself. “Where is Lagina?”

“In the study. But you should know, she’s got a guest with her.” His eyes darted toward my friends before returning to me.

We fell into step alongside him. “What kind of guest?”

“My mother,” Laera grumbled.

I stopped walking. “What?”

“Why is she here?” Ryvin asked.

Vanth readied his sword. “Selena’s with her, isn’t she?”

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