Page 33 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

“I want him back,” I said. Let them think I was nothing more than a concerned mother.

Eadric’s eyes met mine. He’d seen me tremble. I wanted to bare my teeth at him. Instead, I gave him a mild look and turned my attention back to Sabium.

“I think we both know your son is no captive, Your Majesty,” Zathrian said.

Sabium’s face slowly whitened with rage. I didn’t move. I barely breathed.

“Regardless,” Sabium bit out. “I would like to know exactly how they are still alive.”

Zathrian winked at Sabium. “Because my dear cousin broke the rules. She didn’t just stop time. She turned it backward. And she used enough power to prevent me from stopping her.” The mocking expression drained from his face, and his words were coated with bitterness. “She shouldn’t have survived. Such magic is forbidden for a reason.”

Eadric’s eyes had darkened, his hand clenching around his fork. My own hands began to sweat. That amount of power…honed until it was blade-sharp…

No wonder Sabium was furious. The populace would rally behind that kind of power.

Sabium leaned back in his seat. “One of my spies caught a glimpse of her on one of Rostamir’s ships. She did survive. Could she use this kind of power again?”

Zathrian instantly shook his head. “It is a defiance of the gods for her to have used it even once. They will be paying attention to her now. Likely, it required a piece of her soul to achieve it the first time.” Zathrian held up a piece of parchment, raising one eyebrow. Not long ago, Prisca had given me that exact cool, dismissive look. The similarity was eerie. “Now, let us talk about this.”

Sabium scanned it, his eyes cold. “My armies are handling it. There is no threat.”

Zathrian stroked his chin. “If you don’t understand how the rumblings of rebellion can destabilize a kingdom at war—and destroy morale in an army—then we have a problem.”

The room went silent.

“My soldiers have made my position clear. Any who abandon the ranks will have their families killed soon after.” Sabium hadn’t looked at me since we’d sat down, but he glanced at me now. “And what do you think, my queen?”

My heart beat in my throat. I raised my hand to cover the pulse point in my neck, pretending to toy with my hair. “I think our armies can easily handle any such rumblings.”

Sabium flashed his teeth in an expression that could never be called a smile. “Precisely.”

He was giving me his full attention now. And that same terror I’d felt standing next to Pelysian came flooding back.

He knew I’d disappeared from the market. He hadn’t bothered asking where I’d been. It was unlikely anyone at the mine would have recognized Nelia, but he might know she hadn’t returned to her duties here.

I had to find the grimoire and leave tonight. And if I couldn’t find it, I would still need to flee for my life.

I should never have come back here.

LORIAN

The back of my neck itched, and I glanced around, feeling as if someone was watching me yet again. My fae senses roared at me, and yet each time this happened, Iwas forced to admit that no one was there.

Occasionally, I heard the hiss of a low, taunting voice. Other times, the voice was familiar.

Prisca watched me closely as we returned to the larger cabin Daharak had made available for meetings. We’d taken a brief stroll on the deck, and my wildcat had a pleasing flush to her cheeks.

A flush that gave me all kinds of ideas.

But the moment the door closed, Prisca faced me fully.

“What is it, Lorian?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been acting a little strangely over the past few days. As if you’re on edge.”

As much as my instincts urged me to protect her from any further stress, any potential worry, she deserved better than that. “Can you…feel someone or something watching you?”

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