Page 110 of Once the Skies Fade

“When they need reminded of their places, yes. Am I not to use my powers to protect the kingdom?” I glanced around the table. “What good is it to have such abilities if I can’t use them to help others?”

On those final words, I tightened my shadows’ grip around Matthias’s hard length, gave him a few more vigorous strokes for good measure, and then pulled the darkness back into my hand. Matthias stared down at the table for a second before lifting a hand to his temple, as if he were suddenly suffering from an intense headache. No one around us seemed to notice—except Isa, who still glowered at me disapprovingly.

Spreading my hands wide above the table, I clasped them together and bowed my head to my guests.

“Now, if you would please excuse me. It is getting late, and I could use a bath after such a long day.”

I didn’t wait for a response before pushing back my chair and turning to leave. No one moved. No one said anything. No one came after me. And I couldn’t be bothered to give a shit what they said about me once I left.

As Matthias had reminded me, I was the stars-damned queen. And I could do whatever I wanted.

Chapter 48

Matthias

It was another half hour before I could even think about getting up from the table once Calla left, and there wasn’t enough ice water in the room to cool me off. By then everyone had departed except Graham and Phillip, and the three of us walked back to our wing together in silence.

When we reached the stairs, though, Phillip cleared his throat quietly and noted, “I don’t know why, but the thought of meeting the subjects with the queen is more stressful than the last two trials.”

Graham shrugged. “It’s not that bad. Usually they’re just arguing over stolen property or need help after a difficult harvest season.”

“But what about the humans?” Phillip asked, quickly looking back over his shoulder as if the queen herself might attack him for even mentioning them.

“They should have all left by now,” Graham said, though by his tone it seemed he didn’t believe that to be true.

I waited a few moments before asking my own question. “Did we ever learn why she banished them?”

Graham and Phillip shared a quick look before shaking their heads. It was Graham who elaborated. “After the king died, sheseemed to blame the humans for his death, but she refuses to talk about it beyond repeating her edict that she can’t serve them.”

“Can’t?” I asked. “Not won’t?”

Graham nodded. “The most she ever said to me and General Marlowe is that she cannot be objective with them, cannot rule them as they deserve.”

“So it’s like sending away a lover before you can break their heart,” I mused.

Phillip sighed. “Only to crush it for them when they refuse to go? It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“Whether it makes sense or not, she’s the queen,” Graham said, as we turned the corner into our darkened hallway.

“Do you miss your old accommodations?” Phillip asked Graham.

“Not really. It’s quieter in this wing, actually. Though, I’ll be happy to move into the royal suite when I win.”

Phillip scoffed lightly and stopped at a door, saying his goodnights before going inside and leaving Graham and me alone. The silence between us—broken only by the soft thuds of our boots on the stone floor—was less awkward than usual, but still far from comfortable.

I lifted a finger and pointed ahead of us. “I’m at the end of the hall.”

He eyed me from the side. “Are you asking me to walk you home?”

“I mean, you’re welcome to come in for a drink. Except, I don’t actually have anything but water.”

“I’ll pass,” Graham said flatly as he paused at a door halfway down the corridor. “Maybe another time.”

“Can I ask you something?” I asked, taking a quick glance around us to ensure we were alone and no queen-hiding shadows lurked nearby.

“What is it?” Graham asked, doing a fairly decent job of hiding his annoyance.

“How did the king die?”

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