Page 18 of Queen of Ever

‘Thanks.’

In the centre of the room, a fae lord was on his knees, pleading for his life.The High Council—twelve ancient fae lords and ladies from the most powerful families in the land—sat shadowed behind the queen, bearing witness and holding the law in keep.But the laws governing the monarch of the Unseelie Kingdom were few, and none of them dealt with the manner of punishment meted out to those unfortunate enough to have displeased her.They wouldn’t intervene.

‘If you’re planning some kind of revenge stunt,’ Briyala continued in a whisper, ‘please don’t drag me into it.’

The queen drummed her fingernails on the arm of the throne, one dark brow arched at the man now weeping at the foot of the dais.

‘I’ll try to keep her attention on me,’ I muttered.‘Shouldn’t be too hard.I was the one who broke the engagement.’

‘But I let you.’

‘Well, I also destroyed her throne room.’

‘Tarian,’ Briyala said, her voice a low warning, eyes flicking over to me again.‘You’re protected by your rank, but she doesn’t have to tolerate me.Perhaps try to keep from making her any angrier than you have to.You’ve got the look of someone ready to do something self-destructive.’

I didn’t reply to that.The fae on trial was now writhing on the floor, screaming in pain, and a hush fell over the hall as everyone watched.It made me feel faintly nauseous.I knew that feeling only too well.

‘I’m sorry about Imogen,’ Briyala said quietly when the torture finally stopped and the screams died away.‘I had hoped for a different ending for the two of you.’

‘It isn’t over yet,’ I replied, and she shot me a sharp look, but the queen had risen, ready to announce sentencing, so she said nothing more.

‘I sentence you to a century in the Drowned Keep.’The sentence echoed through the chamber, and someone in the audience began to sob audibly as the prisoner slumped forwards, head bowed in surrender.The Drowned Keepwas a hard sentence for anyone.A prison constructed beneath several kilometres of ocean, those who served a sentence there usually succumbed to illnesses related to the water pressure and lack of sunlight, if the isolation didn’t drive them mad first.It was almost impossible for loved ones to visit, and completely impossible to escape from.

‘As you will it, Your Majesty,’ the High Council chorused in agreement as the prisoner was shackled and led away.

My mother had already moved on before the prisoner had left her sight, letting out a long sigh and pinching her brow as she turned her eyes away, long-suffering victim of the grief she caused others.She looked equally irritated and bored, which was not a good combination for anyone about to be tried.When her gaze fell on me, her mouth twisted in something approximating a smile.She’d found an avenue to vent her displeasure, then.

Beckoning over one of her entourage, she leaned down and murmured something in his ear.He immediately turned and squawked, ‘Crown Prince Tarian Duvain, firstborn son of Queen Moriana Duvain and heir to the Unseelie Throne, step forth for trial.’

Arun stiffened, hand drifting to the hilt of his sword, before dropping away again as he seemed to remember he couldn’t protect me here.A hiss of whispering swirled round me, but the crowd only really perked up a little at the prospect of my eventual torture.It wasn’t anything anyone hadn’t seen before.Barely noteworthy.

‘And Lady Briyala Awenydd,’ the announcer added after a moment, sinking my hope that we’d be heard separately and whatever punishment would be mine alone.Briyala drew a breath and straightened her posture, stepping forwards without hesitation.It jolted me into action to avoid trailing along behind her like a kicked puppy.The crowd parted, letting us through, and the moment she reached the foot of the throne she knelt, neck curved, eyes downturned, long skirt fanned out around her feet, wearing her humility with a grace I envied.

My knees lacked her flexibility.I stood holding the queen’s gaze for a long moment, feeling like a clenched fist, pride and rage wrapped so tightly around me it just about choked the air from my lungs.Magic prickled and twisted in my veins, pushing against the bonds of my control as it fed on my hatred.

The moment stretched.A fingernail tapped out the seconds on the arm of the throne.Almost imperceptibly, Briyala cleared her throat.Please don’t drag me into it, she’d begged.

I knelt.

If the queen was pleased, I couldn’t see it.My eyes were fixed on the stone floor.

‘You are both accused of breaking an engagement I personally bound you to without my consent,’ Moriana began, her voice high and clear, projecting easily through the silent room.‘You disobeyed my will and used underhand means to thwart the terms of your agreement.’

I raised my gaze, opened my mouth to disagree, but Briyala was faster.

‘We did, Your Majesty,’ she said, eyes still fixed downward.‘We beg your forgiveness.’

‘Do you?’There was a shuffling of fabric as the queen sat back in her seat and crossed one leg over the other.‘Beg, I mean.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.Most humbly.We never set out to disappoint or disobey you.I implored Tarian to honour his mate bond because I believe in the sanctity of fate above all else.Tarian—’

‘—I made my own decisions,’ I cut in forcefully, recognising the bent of her intention.To take the blame.As though I’d let her when it was my fault that we were here.‘I didn’t consult anyone before I made them.I definitely didn’t consult Briyala.She had no part in my choices.’My mistakes.My fault.

‘Then how unfortunate if she were to share in your punishment for them,’ Moriana purred, dark eyes gleaming as I realised too late that I’d walked straight into the trap she’d set for me.‘So, have you come to do as she says, Tarian?Tobegfor my forgiveness?To beg me for mercy on the unwitting woman you’ve damned with your insubordination?’

Her meaning was clear: beg or let Briyala suffer.I wished she’d just fucking torture me.

‘Yes.’The word cut through my gritted teeth.

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