Page 68 of The Lost Nation

“It’s not our troops who are attacking—it’s the Cantradians!”He cried out.

I swore and tried to mount, but I was too weak. Erik’s hands were at my waist a moment later, lifting me up and onto my horse. I grabbed the horn of the saddle, and shot him a thankful look as he handed me the reins.

“Get it under control, then let me help you. When it’s over.” He whispered to me.

A wave of fondness swept through me as he understood what I needed to do, and wouldn’t stand in my way.

My crown was a melted mess of metal, so I ripped it off my head and pried the sapphire free from its prongs. I slipped it deep in a pocket in my dress, feeling it pulsate against my body.

“STOP!” I commanded.

My men obeyed immediately, rushing to rally around me. Nearby Georg’s men were doing the same. The Cantradians refused. “Where is Dante?" They cried. "Where is our king! We’ve been lied to! ATTACK!”

I snarled as the elder Davos stirred up rebellion, rushing forward as the humans tried to attack the creatures. Seeing that we wereattemptingto restore order, the drakens and lykos tried to mostly knock their attackers unconscious.

And the Cantradian idiots thought they couldwin.

I tried my best to save them. “Stop. All of you. Your leader wasn’t strong enough to withstand the black magick, so he fell—”

“LIES! YOU HAVE MADE BACKDOOR DEALS WITH THE OTHERS! SHE WANTS TO ADD CANTRADA TO HER KINGDOM!”

I shot an exasperated look at Erik, who rolled his eyes. Then he grabbed his sword and raced up a large boulder, addressing them.“I am a son of Cantrada! Listen when I say youmustcease attacking your allies, or they will be forced to defend themselves. Let us leave here in peace, and return to your families! The magick was disbursed at high cost to your leaders, and the Overlord is no more!”

It was a masterful speech. But there was nothing but silence at the end of it.

“Liar!” Called Davos, who was quickly joined by a chorus of others shouting similar diatribes.

“Traitor!”

“Backstabbing bastard!”

“He warms the witch queen’s bed! Of course he’ll ally with her!”

Then an arrow hit Erik in the thigh, and he staggered to his knees.

I lost control. “If you do not surrender immediately, I will kill you where you stand.” I uttered, and despite the low tone of my voice, everyone heard me. All fighting ceased, but they did not back away.

“Cunning bitch. Your lies taste as sour as—”

I raised my hand and Davos fell, choking as water bubbled over his lips. His body hit the ground, and I glared at the rest of his army, whose faces were white with fear. As they should be, after seeing a man drown on dry land.

“Make yourownchoices. Go home and resume your lives, and have one month to figure out who will lead you. The gods know you haven’t been able to handle selecting one on your own thus far.”

Erik yanked the arrow out of his thigh and threw it to the ground, spitting on it.

Silence reigned.

Then a young man stepped forward tentatively. “What happens if we cannot agree?”

A fair question, if annoying.“Then you will belong to me.” I uttered, sick of all of them.

Half the men thought this seemed fair, but the other half were incensed by this. They threw themselves at my allies—witches, drakens, lykos, and unicorns. It was tempting to drown them where they stood. Erik’s hand landed on my calf, clutching hard from his place on the ground.

I stopped.

“Let your allies do it. Play the part of a benevolent leader.”

I closed my eyes and soothed the rampaging magick that lurked underneath my skin. Water ran down my dress to cleanse away the blood, and I breathed out.

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