Page 36 of Consort

Instead of scolding me, he laughs. If only I could find it amusing. I thought I was done with the emotional burden. Clearly, I’ll need to push her out of my mind completely.

But I can’t do that until I’m sure she’s safe. I sigh and look up at Farris to ask for one last favor. “Will you follow her? I’d like to know where she and her mother are staying so I can make sure it’s secure. I know you’re probably tired, but you can be donewith me once you find them.”

“Easy,” he says. “Then, I’ll go get some heat of my own back in the village.”

“You’ve earned it,” I tell him with a grin.

He tells me where to find Lynoss, then vanishes. He’s illusioned so well I can’t even spot him. The Omega will be looking for bright blue hair and white clothing. She’ll never notice Farris following her.

I set off to retrieve the future soldier for the queen. The task is uneventful. Lynoss sees me coming and rushes over with a packed bag in hand. How loathsome to be that eager for evil work. I don’t say a word on the way back, letting him boast proudly of his magic as we walk. At least, this way, I don’t have to pretend to remember anything he and Farris talked about.

By the time we arrive at the castle, the sun is fading. I’ll be glad to hand him over and go get some rest. But Folas summons us to the throne room as soon as we enter the main doors. I’m surprised to see the queen already waiting there, lounging on her throne in a flowing, white dress. Did she know I’d be returning? Or does she just sit on her throne all day, giving soldiers ideas on how to torture others?

I push Lynoss down to his knees, and we both bow, waiting for her to speak. As I kneel on the hard, stone floor, the queen’s celibacy rule for her consorts comes to mind. I should be nervous that she’s found out about the heat.

Somehow, I find it hard to care if I die for even one of the moments I shared with the Omega.

“Rise,” the queen commands in her gravelly voice. She motions Lynoss to step forward. “Show me your magic.”

The bastard smirks and turns to me, effortlessly lifting me into the air like Mitah did to that poor shifter. It triggers my rage, and in turn, my magic. Instead of glowing like usual, my hands burst into flames of bright, blue fire.

This is new to me, but it feels strangely familiar. Like it was there all along, waiting to be unleashed.I wonder what else I can do.

I reach for Lynoss, but he jumps back and holds me just out of reach. Despite this impressive new ability, I feel powerless and trapped. Just like the shifter did. When I picture the terror on his face, my magic surges from my fingertips, the flames nearly reaching Lynoss’s face.

I swell with confidence at the new trick, but it’s not enough. I need to findmore.I growl and push harder, determined to close the distance and snuff him out completely.

But the queen is no longer interested. “Good, good,” she says, with a wave of the hand. “Folas, go settle him in his new quarters.”

I study her face, shocked to find her looking truly bored. Lynoss gapes at her with his hand still raised toward me. He frowns, disappointed at her lack of enthusiasm, but he lowers me to my feet.

The two of them can move on if they want, but I’m not finished yet. I lunge at him, gripping his neck tightly with my blazing fingers.

The flames are too much, burning him too severely. I pull back on the fire and let the heat of my skin burn through his flesh like I normally would.

My magic is angry at me for holding back and burns me up from inside instead. I shouldn’t kill Lynoss, though. The queen may not be so forgiving a second time. And I don’t want the good telekinetic to be forced to take his place. Lynoss’s wounds are severe enough to be excruciating and will take time to heal, but at least he will live. My magic will have to be satisfied with that.

Lynoss cries out and stumbles away when I release his smoldering throat. The scent of his burnt flesh in the air fills me with a twisted satisfaction I don’t try to suppress. I hope thequeen doesn’t call for a healer right away. I want him to suffer for a while. He’ll remember not to cross me, and maybe word will spread to the other nobles not to fuck with me, either.

Fading into the background is safer, but I couldn’t allow him to feel like he’d defeated me. Unfortunately, his cocky personality tells me he won’t give up so easily. I’ll have to watch my back now. Telekinetic power is one of the most difficult magics to fight against. I can’t afford to let him sneak up on me later. And I’ll need to practice my reach, now that I know my magic has one.

Folas looks horrified, staring at Lynoss’s charred throat with a disgusted grimace. When he realizes I’m now grinning at him, he lifts his chin and hurries toward the door on the other side of the room.

“Follow him,” the queen says to Lynoss, not even bothering to ask his name.

She also makes no mention of a healer. Folas will probably fetch one for him. But I enjoy watching Lynoss stomping away, wheezing and squeaking as he tries to hold in his cries of pain.

The satisfaction of watching the bastard suffer fades away as I’m left alone with the queen. My stomach lurches at the thought of being forced back into her bed again. I need to get the Omega out of my head, but replacing her memory with ones of the queen is not the way I want to do it.

Luckily, the queen has other issues to discuss.

“I appreciate violent displays of anger,” she says, drumming her fingers against the wooden armrest. “Go ahead and lash out whenever you want… just keep it away from Folas.”

Well, that ruins my plans. He was one snide remark away from getting his tongue fried off. He must be a good lackey to have her protection like that.

“You’re very powerful,” she says, pinning me in place with her stare. She looks so unthreatening with her leg thrown over thearm of her throne and such a lazy smile. “You said your parents were just simple fae...”

A fierce protectiveness washes over me. I thought she was done asking about my parents. They already lost me to my revenge. I can’t put their own lives in danger, too. I must be careful how I react, though. Trying to keep her away from them would basically paint targets on their backs.

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