Page 47 of Kill the Queens

“Some sort of demon thing?"

The king's gaze shifted to Rehan. "She's joking, isn'tshe?"

Rehan nodded. "Yes, she's joking."

"You haven't known me long enough to know if I'm joking." The words rushed out of Ace before she could keep her mouth shut. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, entirely reminding herself of Shelby. The part of her that felt empty pulsed. "Is it safe to assume that you do?"

King Osiris nodded.Ace gestured for him to continue.

"You're certainly more angel than demon." The king smoothed a hand down the flat expanse of his torso, running his fingers over the buttons of his shiny black shirt that had been left undone at the top to reveal the fine dusting of hair along his pecs.

Ace really wanted to laugh now. Was she dreaming? Was this a living nightmare? There was simply no way that she was standing in front of the Fae King discussing how she might one day be the ruling class in Pasia alongside this stranger. Not to mention that nothing about Ace was angelic.

"I can tell you don't believe me." King Osiris stood from his chair taking long slow steps around the table as he talked. Every time his foot came down the heel of his boot tapped and the metal buckles jingled. "You see when the human body dies and the soul leaves it, it immediately starts breaking down. Slowly deteriorating."

Her teeth ground together.Yes, she was aware of what decomposition was.

The king continued rounding the table. "To reverse the damage and keep the body intact as a soul is returned, it must contain some ounce of, as you call it,holy fire. You are as close to an angel as they come, my dear. A warrior made by the gods."

Ace could feel the corners of her mouth drooping into a frown.You are as close to an angel as they come, my dear.Should that be exciting? Shouldn't that be good news?Instead, that weight in her stomach only grew heavier. Shelby would be excited to find out that he'd actually fallen on the right side of good and evil. At least Ace hoped.

"We are connected to all things created by the gods. We are connected to the gods themselves. Reborn through their grace and fire. You…you are endless potential," Rehan was saying softly. "You have so much more holy fire in you. I can feel it when I'm near. I can see it in the vibrance of your eyes and the way the flames flicker within them."

"Is this some sort of 'eyes are the window to the soul' type deal?" Ace laughed nervously. Rehan stared at her intently and she was up out of her seat and began pacing behind her chair nearly colliding with King Osiris as he finally made it around the table.

King Osiris showed off the rows of shark like teeth, gripping her shoulders to keep Ace in place. "What do you say? You complete your task for the gods, I give you a crown…"

"I don't want a crown."

"What do you want?" The king leaned closer. He smelled just as any person of status did. Like heavy perfume that made Ace want to crinkle her nose and sneeze.

How was she supposed to answer that? Was she supposed to say that she wanted peace again? She wanted to die? No, that wasn't entirely true. At least not anymore. She could tell him that she wanted to free the warlocks—which was already part of the deal— but that didn't feel entirely correct either. She supposed what she truly wanted, what she would stay here on this earth for, was to not be truly alone ever again. She wanted someone she trusted, someone she could call a friend, possibly a lover.

Ace looked over her shoulder, the tangle of her brown hair falling down her back with the motion. She flicked her gaze over to Rehan and sighed. He'd been brought back for her…Rehan was supposed to be that person, if only she'd give him the chance. He seemed eager enough.

"I'll…" she started trying to find a way to must the courage for the rest of her words. "I'll take the deal. Under the condition that you allow me to free the warlocks. That we save my friend that was so rudely left behind.”

The king thrust his hand out between them, that smile only growing wider. Ace stared down at his fingers.

"What's in it for you?" she asked, before putting her hand in his.

"Revenge."

FIFTEEN

Queen Farah

Tonight's gathering was far more intimate than the other events. Today there weren't several pairs of eyes watching the queen or her court hovering around. The only audience the queen and her suitors would have were the few guards who'd been posted around the room. An extra safety precaution, though the queen didn't need it when she had her staff.

The long dining table had been swapped out for a smaller rounder one with four chairs. A white tablecloth had been dropped across it, set with tall red candles and a vase overflowing with roses. Lanterns had been blown out with the exception of the chandelier that hung over the red curtains that had yet to be drawn.

A show was going to start. Nothing too exciting, in Farah's opinion, but a play that had traveled throughout Pasia and had rapidly gained popularity. Farah had matched her dress to the color of the shadows in the room. Black silk caught the light of the few flickering flames; it hugged her chest but fell away from her body at her waist. A single slit revealed a strip of her thigh when she walked to one of the waiting seats.

There was a tremor in her hands that could be blamed on the news she'd received yesterday evening. There was more activity at the wall. Fae. She was certain. The guards had brought back a warlock, locked him away in her dungeon to be dealt with later. It was rumored that he'd been a part of the pair that Queen Sienna had been looking for. Farah didn't much careabout that; her sister was dead. However, she had the sneaking suspicion that the Fae and this couple were somehow connected. The warlock would be tortured, beat in the cruelest of ways so that Farah could get any and all information out of him. She was excited for that, but not as excited as she was for tonight.

With the new movement from the Fae Farah knew she was running out of time. She needed Reed's strength. Tonight she planned on asking him to stay even after she gave the crown away. She'd lure him away. Drink his blood. Gain his strength. It was almost too much to have to sit here through the show.

"Queen Farah, your suitors have arrived, shall I let them in?" The voice came from over her shoulder. Light trailed in from the door that had been cracked open, the servant’s shadow visible within it.

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