Page 36 of Kill the Queens

TWELVE

Queen Farah

The little black box was nestled in the palm of her hand, the soft velvet material gentle against her skin. Farah glared at the box as the door to her bedroom slammed shut behind her. What is this? Why did he do this?

A growl bubbled out between her lips. She hated him. She loathed him for what he had that she did not. Didn't he hate her too? Wasn't he just using her?

That's what this gift was. Some perverse attempt at persuading her into tolerating him. Farah couldn't look away from the small box. Her back pressed into the chilled wood of her door as she leaned into it. She hoped she opened the box and hated what was inside.

Maybe she shouldn't even open the box. That's right…she could probably chuck it in the fire right now.

She lifted her staff, pointing it in the direction of the dark fireplace. Water climbed up the glass globe, sloshing down in one big wave. Then the fireplace wasn't so dark anymore. Embers turned to sparks that gave way to large roaring flames. Light danced into the room and onto her cream-colored bedding.

She should throw it in the fire.

Don't open it, Farah. Don't do it,she told herself even as the desire to know rose up inside of her.

With a huff, she straightened from the door and walked the distance to her bed. Her eyes shifted between the box in herhand and the fire. Before she could think on it, before she could give in to the growing want, she growled through her teeth and threw the small box. It hit stone with a clank that made the queen press her eyes closed.

Gods, she wanted to know what he thought would win her over. But she couldn't give in. She couldn't give him that power.Never.

Gently, she laid her staff across her bed before she perched on the mattress’s edge. Flames were covering that little box now, eating away at whatever was inside. Earrings? A necklace? Some stupid little pin?

It doesn't matter,she told herself. By the time she was cradling her head in her hands, there was a short knock at the door.

"Come in," she called.

The door cracked open to reveal one of the older members of her court. A rather frail woman who'd once had honey gold hair that was now streaking with grey. She hadn't attended the event but much of her court had rooms within the castle walls and during the process of finding a king, most had chosen to stay through the events.

"Hello, Ellowen." Farah sat up, a hand drifting onto the end of the staff.

"My Queen." Ellowen dipped into a curtsey. "Would you like the rest of your guests to be dismissed for the day?"

She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. Farah supposed that meant she had more to talk about than just the fact she had left.

"They can go. I don't have much care who gets invited back." Except one person. "Though…could you make sure the man who left me a gift does return? Reed Copeland?"

Ellowen cocked her head looking rather birdlike. "Reed Copeland? The man who was beaten all black and blue?"

A faint smile turned the corners of the queen's lips up. "Yes."

Ellowen didn't move from the spot she stood. She just watched the queen with that same look she always had. It wasn't a cruel look nor was it judging, it was just as if she was trying to understand. Most had tried to understand Farah growing up and had always fallen short. Perhaps she was just an enigma.

"Well, if you're going to stay you might as well take a seat." Farah gestured to the small table with two seats that sat at the window. It had a great view over the castle walls and into the city. Most days she enjoyed her dinner in solitude at that table.

The woman was already nodding and walking that way the moment the words left Farah's mouth. Either she'd been hoping she could be offered a seat or the woman was just that scared to even hesitate to follow an order.

"Thank you." Ellowen pulled out a chair and delicately sat on the edge. "Is there really no interest in anyone specific other than Mr. Copeland? What do you think about our very own Zacharias Logan?"

Farah almost laughed but was able to keep a straight face. "I suppose I never really considered Zacharias. It's quite interesting to me that he has decided to try for my hand."

"He is well liked throughout the court."

"Does that mean you are all backing his proposal?"

Ellowen shook her head. "We have all decided not to show favoritism to any one suitor. Though I wouldn't want you to forget what Zacharias brings to the table. May I ask what has you so inclined toward Mr. Copeland?"

'So inclined.' Ha. Ha. Ha. Farah couldn't even call it that. She wasn’t ‘inclined’ toward Reed, at least not romantically. She only wanted what so many would think she could not have. Nothing was out of her reach anymore. Nothing. No matter what they told her, Farah would claw, fight, and kill until she got whatshe wanted. Until she got whathehad.

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