Page 78 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“Not helpful,” I said.

“Enough. Mortagan, you’ve served Athos longer than I’ve been alive. You served my father well. If you are no longer capable of doing what’s best for us, you will receive full honors in your retirement,” Lagina said.

General Mortagan’s eyes widened. “You’d do that?”

“I would. We have one chance at this. If you want to help us, you’re welcome to stay. If you’re going to be a complication, I need you to leave.” She stared at him with all the power I’d seen used by her mother and the authority of our father.

I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. She was stepping into the queen thing better than I could have ever imagined.

“Fine. But if they betray us—” Mortagan began.

“—the fae will kill us all anyway,” I finished for him. “We take our chances working together or we surrender. There’s no other option.”

He grumbled, but nodded once. “I will meet with the general from Thebes.”

“I’ll go with him,” Vanth offered. “You worked with meonce before. I fought with your men. You know I’m honorable.”

“I have no problem with you. It’s them I don’t trust,” he threw a sideways glance at Ryvin and Laera.

Laera made a show of checking her nails, as if this was the most boring conversation she’d ever had to withstand.

“We should invite their leader to our meeting,” the other general, who’d been silent until now, said as he moved away from the table. “They should be part of the plan. We need to know their strengths and how to best position them against the fae.”

“I agree,” Lagina said.

“We’ll return soon,” Mortagan bowed to Lagina. “Your highness.”

Vanth patted Ryvin on the shoulder before following the general out of the study. The other general joined them, leaving me with my sister as the only other Athonian in the room.

Her shoulders drooped and she let out a slow breath, as if she was releasing all the tension she’d been holding for weeks.

I crossed to her and took her hand. “How are you doing?”

She let out a sound that was almost like a laugh. “This is not what I expected my time as queen would be.”

“When was the last time you rested?” I asked.

“I did get some sleep last night after we got the shields up,” she said. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. You’re the one who just returned from trials I can’t even imagine.”

“You’re doing amazing,” I assured her.

“It’s not over yet,” she said.

“And there’s the wedding,” Laera added.

My brow furrowed, and I looked over at the Fae Princess. “What wedding?”

“Tonight. The Dragon King came all the way back to Athos just for Cora,” Laera explained.

“Really? He’s making her do that now?” Anger made my face feel hot.

“Ara, you’re hurting my hand,” Lagina said.

I released her quickly. “Sorry.”

“It was Cora’s idea,” Lagina said.

I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”

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