Page 159 of The War and Deceit Series omnibus

Glancing away from the raw emotion, I shrug, looking at the guards over his shoulder who are watching us with interest. “Of course,” I reply, answering as if risking my life for his isn’t a big deal, even though we both know the truth.

Gripping my shoulders, he lowers his face so we’re eye to eye, his frustration clear. “Why?” Shaking me slightly, he almost begs for the answer, and there’s a pain in his eyes that scares me.

“Clarissa!” the queen calls, her voice sharp as she saves me from answering the question I don’t have an answer for. Takinga slow step back from him to put some space between us, I finally meet his eyes again.

“We’ll talk later. Wait here for me?” I ask softly, relieved when he slowly nods. Part of me expected him to demand I answer him before he let me leave.

Turning, I straighten my shoulders and walk towards the waiting queen, who’s been watching my exchange with narrowed eyes. As I reach her side, I dip my head slightly in respect, even though it’s the last thing I want to do.

“How may I assist you, Your Majesty?” My voice is light, and I make sure to keep my eyes down, following Naril’s instructions. I’m suddenly grateful he’d insisted I have court lessons.

The queen makes a small snorting noise and waves her hand. “You can drop all that, Clarissa. I want us to talk honestly,” she tells me, waiting for me to meet her gaze. When I do, I’m sure my disgust at how she treats Eldrin is clear on my face as she gives me a smug smile. “There you are,” she purrs, her eyes running over me again. “Let’s go into the garden.”

She doesn’t wait for my reply, instead she simply walks towards the open glass doors at the other side of the atrium. Her ladies-in-waiting follow closely behind her, their floor-length capes swishing on the ground. Trying to calm my racing thoughts, I step forward and follow her outside. I expected the guards to follow us, but I realise with surprise that it’s just the queen, her maids, and me. Either there are more guards out here that I can’t see, or she doesn’t consider me a threat. Both of those could be true, and knowing the queen, they probably are.

The gardens are beautiful, and there’s not a leaf out of place or a weed to be seen. The white gravel I’m walking along weaves a path past expertly manicured trees and bushes of bright pink roses. It’s quiet, the only sound the soft rumble of the waterfall where the river meets the sea. The gardens are actually in thecenter of the palace, the white stone walls rising up above us, and at the edge of the garden is the river the palace is built over. The queen’s wearing a beautiful white dress today, with bronze embroidery on the sleeves and on the bottom of the skirt. A bronze sash around her waist matches the diadem that’s resting on her immaculate hair. The dress is very different than the usual fitted gowns she seems to favour, giving the impression that she’s soft, virginal almost.

“I suppose you’re wondering why I summoned you here.” Her question makes me jump, her musical voice bringing me out of my musing. She’s farther into the garden by a rose arch, the white petals matching her dress, making her look like she’s part of the garden.

“Yes,” I admit, as I meander down the path towards her. “I know you don’t particularly like me, so it was a surprise.” This is a risky thing to say, but she said she wanted the truth, so that’s what I’ll give her.

Raising an eyebrow at my candid response, she gives a short laugh before turning back to her flowers and running a finger over the petals. Under her touch, they seem to bloom even more, the leaves becoming fuller and the plant brighter as it leans towards her like she is the sun. “You’re right,” she replies. “I don’t like you, but I have to keep you around because of Vaeril.” I’m still staring at the plant that now looks magnificent as it grows up the rose arch, but at the mention of Vaeril, I bring my attention back to her. “If I kill you, it could kill him, and I’m not willing to risk that.” She moves onto another plant, and the same process happens again. Any plant she touches springs to life. Paying attention, I notice I can sense her using magic, but it’s strange, almost unnatural, and it feels like ants are crawling along my skin.

“What do you mean?” I question, and she turns from the plant to look at me with an arched brow again.

“You’re bonded.” Panic flares to life inside me. She knows? Vaeril wanted to keep that a secret because he’s worried what she would do with the knowledge. The queen is jealous, and knowing one of her favourite elves is bonded to me might push her over the edge. Her smile pulls into a grin as she sees my surprised, fearful look. “Oh yes, I know about that, I figured it out long ago.”

What do I do? She could be lying and trying to get answers out of me, but if I say anything, I could be confirming her suspicions.My thoughts whirl as I try to decide how to react. On the other hand, I want to know what she meant about how Vaeril could die if she was to kill me, but how do I ask without sounding ignorant?

I needn’t have worried, however, as the queen seems to see right through me. “You really don’t know anything about us, do you?” she queries, smirking. My lack of knowledge seems to please her as she turns back to her plants. “When one person in a bonded couple dies, the other often perishes with them too. Vaeril is…important to me. I won’t lose him again.”

The information resonates with me, and I know she’s telling the truth. What does that mean for Tor and Grayson? Our links are different than the one I share with Vaeril, but we’re still connected. If I died, would all of them suffer because of it? I’m not about to ask the queen, and I know with certainty that if she was to find out about my other connections that it would be bad news for all of us.

A flash of jealousy fills me at her last comment—he’s important to her. I’ve known since we arrived in Galandell and I saw from her reaction to his return that she had feelings for him, but hearing her confirm it makes me uncomfortable. Does Vaeril feel the same? Was there anything between them before he got captured? I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have any romantic feelings for him, I don’t think she has the capacity to love anything, butshe likes to collect pretty things and she doesn’t like to be denied anything.

“There are some, like my brother, who think you’re special,” the queen continues, seemingly oblivious to my internal panic as she sneers at the thought that I’m anything other than ordinary. “They believe that your arrival here is a sign that the gods and goddesses will return. That theyarereturning.” She pauses now, turning back to face me, her hand still on a plant that is slowly winding itself around her lower arm. I’ve never seen anything like it, but I know better than to take my eyes off the queen. It was one of the first things Eldrin taught me—not to take my eyes off my enemy. The atmosphere suddenly changes, and I get the feeling that if I make the wrong move or say the wrong thing, I’ll be begging for death. “Those thoughts are dangerous, and Iwilleradicate anyone who says as such. My brother is protected, so I am unable to do anything about him, but no one else is invaluable.”

Protected? What does she mean by that?My thoughts are a whirl, but the threat is obvious. Some of the elves believe I’m a sign? Why me? Although the question that bugs me the most is why does she feel this is such a threat to her? So what if the gods come back, wouldn’t that be a good thing? I need to speak to Vaeril and Master Ardeth and learn more about their gods and goddesses.

“Do I make myself clear, Clarissa?”

I nod my head in a sharp jerk, my fear making my heart pound so hard in my chest, I’m sure she can hear it. “Crystal clear.” My voice cracks as I speak, and I notice the quirk of her lips when she hears it, enjoying my discomfort.

Untwining the vine from her arm, she walks farther into the garden, her ladies-in-waiting following silently behind her. Unrooting my feet from where they seem to have frozen to the ground, I trail slowly behind her. “I like to think that I’m a fairruler, but to protect my people, sacrifices need to be made,” she remarks, but I don’t think she requires a reply, enjoying the sound of her own voice too much. “Now, tell me about your relationship with the tribesman.” The sudden change of subject almost has me stumbling. Where did that come from? One moment she’s threatening me, the next she’s asking me about my relationships?

“Tor?” Confusion and surprise make my voice high and tight, causing the queen to look over at me sharply. “I know him from Arhaven, but not well. He had only just arrived before Vaeril and I fled,” I say truthfully, meeting her gaze full-on.

Pursing her lips, she watches me carefully, as if I might crack under pressure. She doesn’t want to believe me, that much is clear from the pinched look on her face. “There’s something you’re not telling me.” Narrowing her eyes, she takes a delicate, measured step towards me, and the move makes me flinch. When she sees my reaction she stops, wearing a small, cruel smile on her lips as she watches me with her hands clasped together loosely in front of her. She looks like something out of a fairy tale, and I feel like that’s exactly what she’s going for. “He’s very fond of you.”

I know she has a way of weeding out the truth from lies, but every word I’ve spoken so far has been the truth. The queen is right, I haven’t told her everything, and there’s no way I’m about to. If I’m going to survive this, I need her to believe me.

Frowning slightly, I let confusion show on my face, glancing down at my hands, which are clasped in front of me in a reflection of the queen’s pose. “He once told me that I looked like his best friend who died a long time ago, perhaps it’s that?”

Her stare bores into me, and my body freezes. For a moment, I think she’s using magic on me, but I extend my senses and can’t feel any being used. My body is just locked in fear. Her prettydresses and beauty may make her look harmless, but there is no doubt that she’s a ruthless predator.

“He travelled across the continent to find you.”

Clearing my throat, I shake my head slightly. “He’s here as an ambassador for his people.” Truth. Taking a deep breath, I smile slightly, trying to relax some of the tension in my shoulders. “That is all, Your Majesty.”

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