Page 166 of Lady for Embers

“Queen Talwyn?”

Her head whipped to the side at the shaky voice. There were four Fae lined up, each with shirastone on their wrists. They wereall on their knees, and the female who had spoken was trembling.

“What is the meaning of this?” Talwyn demanded.

“We are exploring all possible work-arounds,” Alaric said simply, striding away from her to where Mordecai stood.

“With my people?” She moved to stalk after him, but Tarek’s grip tightened on her arm. “When I let you into my Courts it was with the understanding that my people would not be harmed.”

“When you let me into your Courts, it was with the understanding I would help you and you would help me,” Alaric replied, his tone going cold. “I would have entered the Courts with or without you. You simply chose wisely that day.”

“Iwillhelp you,” Talwyn said. “Let my people go, and I will help you.”

“You already have, your Majesty. You re?lled my power to make this possible.”

Mordecai handed Alaric a book already opened to a speci?c page. The Maraan Prince ran a ?nger along some text before glancing up at the Fae on their knees. “One of each element, yes, Mordecai?”

“As you commanded, my Lord,” the seraph answered.

“Good.” He snapped the book shut, handing it back to him. He strode purposefully towards the Fae, back straight, and in the faint coming light of day, Talwyn could see the coldness of his features. “The Fae Queens control the ins and outs of the prison. Perhaps blood of each element will grant me the same.”

“This will not work,” Talwyn said, panic rising. “The wards and spells around the prison are too strong for something so simple to overcome them. And even if it does, it still will not get you inside.”

“I agree,” Alaric said, head tilting as he studied the Fae on their knees before him. “But I do like to make sure I have tried every possible solution, even the ones that seem futile.”

Before she could make another argument, Alaric’s ?st was closing, the four Fae gasping in unison before they slumped forward, the light gone from vacant eyes that stared up at the lightening sky.

“Spill it all,” Alaric said, stepping back so Mordecai could move in front of him. A sword went across throats, blood soon pooling on the ground in puddles. No one spoke while the blood continued to slowly creep along the dirt, eventually covering the space Talwyn stood on.

She was standing in the blood of her people.

Alaric hummed in disappointment. “Perhaps it needed to be done at dusk and not dawn.”

“What?” Talwyn balked, tearing her gaze from the dead Fae to stare at him.

“Perhaps I got the timing wrong. We can try again this evening.” He had moved far enough away that his own boots were still clean, free of blood and dirt.

“This will not work,” Talwyn spat. “I told you I would help you. Leave them alone. Tell me what you need, and I will do what I can.”

“I am done asking, your Majesty. Now I just take.” He jerked his chin, and Tarek was forcing her to her knees before the Maraan Prince. Alaric moved slowly toward her, his boots splashing softly in the blood she knelt in. He reached out, running his ?ngers along her jaw. She held his gaze the entire time, refusing to look away. “Such strength and power,” he tsked. “You would have been sought after in my world. So many would have fought for the opportunity to take your life and, thus, your gifts.”

“Your world sounds dreadful,” she sneered.

“Oh, it is,” he agreed. “It is why I desire this one so ?ercely. This world is my prize when I complete the task he gave me. I thought we had the same goals, wanted the same things.”

“I wanted my people safe. You have sacri?ced them.”

“You would know about necessary sacri?ces, wouldn’t you, your Majesty?” he said mockingly. His ?ngers drifted into her hair before he gripped it tightly, yanking her head back farther, and she bit down on the grunt of pain. He would not get that satisfaction from her.

Alaric smiled as if he could see her resolve, and he leaneddown so he could speak into her ear. “I have broken spirits stronger than yours, Talwyn. You will be easy to sway, easy to break. You have already proven such. Proved it years ago when you believed you could be worthy of a twin ?ame.” She pressed her lips together, refusing to give him any reaction, but his words did what they intended. His cheek pressed to hers as he continued to whisper to her. “I have been taking what I needed from you for years, Talwyn, and you have been happy to hand it over so long as yourrevengewas promised. Too young and naïve to see the bigger picture.” His hand loosened some, ?ngers spreading to gently cup the back of her head. “You were never meant to be a queen, Talwyn. Surely you know that by now?”

She did know that, didn’t she? She had been coming to realize she had just been a place-holder all this time. Maybe Sorin had known all along that she would not remain in her position. That was why he had cared more about Eliné than her when her aunt had disappeared. Maybe her aunt and Sorin had prepared her just enough until someone better came along. They had seen she would never be what her mother had been, would never be good enough for this, no matter how much she tried and devoted herself to her people. She only wanted what was best for them, and it was becoming clear that was not her.

“I will still obtain that revenge for you, Talwyn,” he said, moving back slightly. His ?ngers were still wrapped in her hair. “But only because it serves my own purposes at this point. You, however, will continue to give me what I need.”

She felt the shirastone leave her wrists the second before she felt Alaric’s power latch onto hers again, yanking it from her very soul.

She cried out, falling forward and barely catching herself with her hands, blood splashing up her arms. “It is not fully replenished,” she gasped. “Not even close.”

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