Page 21 of Queen of Stars and Shadows

“We didn’t receive any new prisoners recently, did we?” the king asks, looking befuddled.

“Yes, you received more than a dozen,” I say, letting my voice carry. “Those that had been abducted by rogue nightmares. And I look in this state because I battled them myself, and I traveled far to come to your aid.”

“She speaks nothing but lies, your Highnesses…” the priest dithers.

“Since he will not tell you the truth, I will.” I curl my fists at my sides, fighting against my nightmare who thrashes furiously inside me, wanting to take over. “The High Priest is the one who has been entrapping the magic in Eldare.”

“Take her back to her cell!” snaps the priest.

“You do not give orders around here,” the king growls, at the same moment the queen says, “So youdidbring in new prisoners today! Why weren’t we notified?”

The High Priest is purple in the face, shaking with rage. “Did you not hear what she said? She let nightmares into Eldare, and she is queen of them! She has brought death and destruction to our doorstep!”

“Let me speak to you alone, your Highnesses,” I plead. “I will explain everything. My entire story.”

The queen gestures for the guards this time, shooting a wary look at the priest. “Escort the priest back to his chambers,” she commands.

The High Priest’s eyes burn into me with hatred. “I always knew you were cursed,” he hisses. “From the moment you were dropped at our doorstep as a baby. Dark and impure.”

“What’simpureis using young women as your consorts, taking their magic and their lives, all so you can control Eldare from behind the scenes.” I let wisps of shadow curl up around me, and then inch slowly toward him. “Iwillreturn the magic to this realm. And you will have nothing.”

The priest spins, snarling as the guards escort him from the room.

“Now,” says the queen, offering an encouraging smile, “please tell us everything you know.”

And I do. As I tell my tale yet again, their eyes grow wider and wider, learning of the High Priest’s deceit as well as thedire circumstances I now find myself in. When I’m finished, they both sit back in their chairs, seemingly too shocked to speak.

“You will need an army if it comes to a battle, and I suspect it will,” I say. “How many warriors are at your command?”

The king stammers, his brow furrowed in confusion again. “Eldare has always been a peaceful country. We have perhaps a thousand men at arms…”

“And women,” the queen adds.

My heart sinks. A thousand? “I am not sure that will be enough. You may need to enlist the citizens as well.”

“But do you really think she—Avonia—can bring an entire army through these—these rift things you spoke of?” the king asks.

“If she hasn’t already, she will find a way.” My jaw clenches and unclenches. I need them to see how serious this is, and that what little time we have is slipping away far too rapidly. “You could at least start by releasing my companions, and those we rescued. Then rally your army and have them at the ready.”

After several moments of deliberation, they nod. “Take Queen Sarielle back to her comrades. See that they are fed and provided for. We will meet in the courtyard in one hour’s time.”

“Thank you.” I offer them a slight bow at the waist.

I turn, noticing the guards are eyeing me in an entirely different way as we travel back toward the barracks, and the prison beneath it. When we step out of the palace into the night air once again, I let out a sigh of relief. Finally, something is going right.

It’s then, across the sky, that I hear the unmistakable screams of hundreds of nightmares in the distance.

Chapter Thirteen

Zyren

It’s hours aftermy capture before I finally get an opportunity to escape.

I don’t even think of trying until they take us into the prison ward below the barracks. Even I can’t fight off a hundred warriors. After I’m placed in a cell, I watch as they carry Sarielle’s unconscious body down a corridor in the opposite direction. Fury stirs in my core at their treatment of her—punching an innocent woman in the face is unconscionable.

Of course, according to my brother, she’s far from innocent.

But I still don’t think it’s right.

---