Page 30 of Cruel Queen

“Talia.” I hear my name before I see her. When she comes into view, I rub my eyes. Am I seeing right? No, that can’t be right. I’ve been gone less than two weeks. How is her stomach so large already? When she reaches me, she puts her arms around me, but I’m careful not to hug her too tightly because she has a large belly in the way. “I was so worried I would never see you again.”

I pull back to find tears streaming down her face. With one hand resting on her shoulder, the other lowers to touch her belly. “How did you get so big?” I ask, rubbing her rounded stomach. Her gaze falls to the diary in my hand, and she reaches for it. I let her take it, and when she opens the cover, she starts reading the first page.

“How did you get this?”

“Francis held it for Mother. She said it was time to give it to me.”

John comes over and gives me a one-armed cuddle. He gives the crowd of villagers a curious glance as he lets me go. “It’s good to have you back.”

I smile and look back at my sister.

“How did you get so big? I’ve only been gone a short time?” I ask again, and she frowns.

She reaches out and grasps my hand. “You’ve been gone for two years, Talia.”

What?I’m glad I’m not holding anything because I would have dropped it instantly if I were.

“That can’t be right.”

“Time must work differently on the other side of the portal,” Max conveys as he comes up next to me. He stands close, and Tatiana doesn’t miss his nearness. Her eyes zoom in on us, and she raises a brow in question but doesn’t say anything.

“Do you want to meet your niece? She reminds me of you,” Tatiana says before she rubs her belly. “John thinks he will get a boy next, but I’m saying a girl.” She smiles softly. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you as well.”

“Who are these people?” John asks, eyeing Max.

I spin around to see everyone standing back, waiting.

“These are King Maxilliam’s people from the other world. We managed to escape through a portal to get here.”

“How? We tried everything to open a portal, and we couldn’t make one. Not even Valefar could without a steep price.”

“Talia made one,” Max says.

“How?” John asks in an almost bark. “That’s impossible.”

“Talia is very gifted and strong.”

“I know,” Tatiana says, but I can see it’s still not making sense to them.

Max nods. “I loaned her my power,” he explains, making Tatiana’s mouth hang open at his words.

Her eyes fall on me. “You know what that does to you.” She shakes her head. “I’m glad it worked, even if it was risky.”

“Is Tanya here?” I ask. “And do you have somewhere everyone can sleep?” I ask, looking at John. “We aren’t sure what we are going to do yet, or where we will go—”

“We?” Tatiana interrupts. “You plan to leave and go where they go?” She points her finger behind me to Max’s people.

“I know the wolves won’t be comfortable having everyone here, but for now, I am asking that they stay, have some food, and regroup.” I glance over at John, who simply nods and turns back to his wolves.

“We will make room.”

“We?” Tatiana asks again.

“They don’t know this land. I do. Not all of it, but they need to rebuild. This is all new to them.”

“Viper will not be happy. You have to speak to the king first before you take over more land,” Tatiana says.

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