Page 110 of What Fury Brings
Glen’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll get to you in a moment. First, I need to test Olerra on something. I have a hunch she’s been keeping secrets.”
Olerra was certain her heart had stopped beating at the words.
No.
She couldn’t know. Shecouldn’t.
“Restrain them,” Glen said to her guards.
“Touch me, and I’ll have you all executed,” Olerra said to the women fast approaching. They didn’t slow.
Andrastus stepped in front of her.
“Don’t you dare,” she said to him.
One of the guards laid a hand on her prince, and Olerra grabbed the woman’s wrist in one hand and drove her elbow down against the bone with the other.
There was a crack.
“Quickly now,” Glen said, unimpressed.
When three tried to step toward Olerra simultaneously, Andrastus threw a punch. And the fight was on.
Olerra grappled with anyone who came near her. They tried to herd her into a corner, but she kept on her toes, circling. Unfortunately, that meant she lost sight of Andrastus and didn’t notice more women spilling into the room until it was too late.
Blades were raised, and one woman brought a knife to Andrastus’s throat. Olerra raised her hands in defeat.
“What are you going to do?” Olerra asked. “Auntie will throttle you for this. You won’t get the throne with foul play!”
“It’s only foul play if I’m wrong. You see, the prince here mentioned that you kept him chained up at night, and I thought that very odd.Even I don’t need to chain up my less enthusiastic men for bed play. What purpose could my cousin possibly have for doing such a thing? And then I got to thinking. Over the years, I couldn’t recall seeing you physically overpower a man. Not once.”
Dread curdled in her stomach. Olerra’s world was about to crumble around her.
“Of course, obtaining proof is extremely difficult,” Glen continued. “I’d wanted to do it publicly. Drugging Daneryn was supposed to prove it without a doubt, but the prince was just too eager to step in and lend his muscles. Then I persuaded little Jaron to shove you in the hallway. I assured him you were too softhearted to see him punished for such a thing. But when I asked him if you’d had a chance to steady yourself before he laid hands on you, he said he couldn’t be sure. He’s useless.
“And then our dear aunt has been away from the palace with her wife these past two weeks, enjoying some quiet time. I couldn’t very well risk a positive result and not have her here to witness immediately, but I’ve just learned she’s returned. So here we are. Athon?”
The big man stepped forward. He clasped Olerra’s raised hands within his own.
Olerra’s eyes met Andrastus’s. He looked afraid for her. Worried. But she was more concerned about what would happen to him when all was revealed.
“Shove him away,” Glen said.
“Excuse me?” Olerra said.
“Show me your strength. Shove. Athon. Away.”
He was so much bigger than she was, and while Olerra could lift Andrastus, she very much doubted that she could do the same to this man. Still, she heaved in a heavy breath, gritted her teeth, and shoved.
Athon didn’t budge.
The blades weren’t necessary because Olerra no longer needed tobe restrained. She let herself drop to the floor, her eyes on the floor in shame.She’d been found out.
Soon everyone would know.
She’d been a fool for thinking she was strong enough. Strong enough to hide her secret. Strong enough to be queen when she didn’t even have the Goddess’s Gift.
“That’s what I thought,” Glen said gleefully. She turned to two guards standing behind her. “Send for the queen.”
