Page 27 of Midnight Deception

I spot Atlas immediately, but I only acknowledge him now, knowing that it’ll piss him off. Of course, he’s already watching me, taking in my every move before looking down to Star at my side. Luna is standing beside him and gives me a tight smile.

My eyes flick to a chaise lounge, and I see the queen lying on it, pressing her head up with her hand as she watches me with a smile. It’s similar to the position I’d been in not that long ago, and I can’t help but compare the two of us. She looks beautiful and composed in a deep purple gown that shows off a generous amount of cleavage. It hugs her body like a second skin, and the firelight makes her silver eyes shimmer. In comparison, I probably look homeless, my clothes wrinkled from sleeping in them. When I looked in the mirror earlier, my skin was pale, and the grey marks under my eyes made me look like I’d been in a fight. My usually shiny, gorgeous scarlet hair looked limp and dull.

“Laelia, thank you for coming,” the queen coos. We both know that I had no choice about whether I turned up or not. I still don’t know what she wants from me, and I don’t buy her previous explanation. While she’s done nothing to hurt me, she’s held me here and stopped me from returning to my mates, which means I don’t trust her. If I refused to follow Kano here today, I’m sure someone else would have arrived to force me to the queen’s reception rooms.

Her hungry gaze lands on Star, and I fight against the urge to move in front of my wolf to hide her from the queen. “She’s quite remarkable,” she comments with a purr in her voice, sitting up and leaning forward as her eyes rove over Star once more. “Your gift is strong.”

I’m not sure how to answer her, yet I think she’s also speaking more to herself than me. The fact that I am so strong seems to thrill her, yet I can’t decide why. I’m going to be leaving as soon as I learn control, so it makes no sense for her to be so pleased by my strength.

Leaning back, she crosses one leg over the other, a curious expression on her beautiful face. “You came when I called.” It’s not a question, but it does make me frown. Did she really think I wasn’t going to and that I’d refuse her order?

Seeing as she wants to play at being civil, I dip into a quick curtsy and flash her a smile, although thanks to my mood, it probably looks more like a snarl. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

Oops, that was much more snarky than I intended. Thankfully for me, the queen just raises a brow, her lips tightening as she works not to show that I’ve pissed her off. There’s tension in the room that wasn’t there before as everyone watches our interaction, waiting to see how the queen reacts. Pursing her lips, she lets the tension in the room build a little more before clucking her tongue. The atmosphere pops like a bubble, and I hear the others releasing deep sighs of relief.

“I hear you’ve been struggling with your lessons.”

The queen’s question pulls my attention back to her, and now it’s my turn to arch a brow. Is this why she’s called me here, to talk about my lessons? They began today, what does she expect from me? Trying not to call her out on the bullshit, I make a non-committal noise. “It’s not been easy.”

She sighs and gives me a look that’s full of disappointment. “Laelia, I need you to try harder than this.”

Okay, I’m too tired and cranky for this. I shake my head because I can’t have heard her right. Taking a deep breath to stop myself from saying something that’s going to get me killed, I release it slowly. “I only started to learn today. You can’t possibly expect me to learn everything in one day.”

She looks me over, and I see her mind spinning. Something shifts behind her eyes that makes me nervous. I don’t know why, but my instincts are screaming at me to run and that this woman is dangerous. “Perhaps you need some inspiration to keep you motivated,” she suggests lightly. The comment should sound innocent, but somehow, with her saying it, it sounds more like a threat. “Tomorrow is a very special day in our calendar, and I’ve decided to throw a ball in celebration, with you being the guest of honour.”

My brain takes a moment to catch up with the sudden change of topic. Is this the motivation she was talking about, a ball? Relief floods me. I’d feared she’d try to use someone against me as motivation, but instead she’s throwing a ball. I want to laugh aloud. Do I want to go to a witch’s ball? No, but it’s a hell of a lot better than the alternative I was imagining.

She stares at me with an expectant expression, and I realise she’s waiting for an answer. “Oh, yes, sounds lovely,” I blurt out.

The queen seems satisfied with my response and nods her head. “Good, that’s sorted then.” She looks as though she’s about to dismiss me, but she tilts her head slightly and locks her eyes on me once more. “I also heard that you’re having a problem being separated from your mates.”

I’m going to kill whoever has been whispering in the queen’s ear about me, and my money is on Atlas. My eyes flick over to the traitor now, his jaw tight as he refuses to meet my gaze. Yup, I’m pretty sure he’s the guilty one here. Unable to deny her comment, I dig my hand into Star’s fur, gripping on to help stabilise me. I feel like I’m going to pass out and need to lie down as soon as possible.

“Yes, the magical block you placed on me cut the bonds. I couldn’t feel them or access my wolf. It made me sick.”

The queen absorbs my words before glancing over her shoulder and smiling at Atlas with a bright smile that makes my bond hiss inside me. “I hear that my lovely Atlas is your mate.” She laughs as though this is the funniest thing she’s ever heard. “What a sense of humour the goddess has. At least we know for sure now that you belong here.”

How the hell do I answer that? Am I supposed to thank her and tell her she’s right? Because she’s not, I don’t belong here. I might be part witch, but that doesn’t make this place my home. My home is with my pack, friends, and mates. However, I’m struggling to form a coherent thought, and my body is done, pain and exhaustion pulling at my limbs and causing everything to hurt. With how sick I was this morning and then beginning to learn how to control my power, it’s too much and my body wants to shut down.

Thankfully, the queen decides that I’ve gotten the message and waves at me dismissively. “You may return to your rooms. Lessons are cancelled for tomorrow because of the celebration. It will give us time to get ready and reflect. You may use this time as you wish.”

The way she says it so offhandedly and obviously just expects me to scurry away now that she’s done with me only stokes the embers of my anger. However, I need to get out of here and lie down in the dark before I make a fool of myself.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I grit out, backing away. My eyes lock with Atlas’s, who’s watching me with an air of concern. That makes me want to snort, but I hold it back. Kano steps back to my side and begins to lead me away.

Just as we reach the door, the queen calls out, “Oh, and Laelia?”

Freezing on the spot, I glance over my shoulder and see her watching me with that predatory focus once more.

“Don’t let me down.”

* * *

I make it about halfway back to my rooms before Kano huffs and swings me up into his arms. I try to protest, but he’s having none of it. If I wasn’t so exhausted, I’d have fought him on this. As it is, though, I fall asleep to the gentle swaying of his body.

I wake up as he lays me down on my bed. Blinking, I look around blurrily and realise I’m back in my room. It feels like I just closed my eyes for a second, and when I opened them again, I was here. It’s disorientating, and it makes my groggy brain ache. Wincing, I do my best to scowl at Kano, but it doesn’t have the desired effect. In fact, he just looks more concerned.

“Is this the sickness or something else?”

---