I raise an eyebrow. “Mother and Karyl survived. They’ve been living among the witches this entire time. And, thanks to some brilliant magic, they saw what you did to Father. Saw what you did with your own two hands when Nevina was nowhere near you.”
The corners of Brahm’s eyes tighten, and his expression morphs from a sniveling idiot to a caged animal in a heartbeat. His lips peel off his teeth, and he raises his dagger, his sneer an ugly mask of narcissistic rage. “Fatherdeserved what he got, and so do you!” He slashes toward me.
I’m physically exhausted, but his movements are so slow and unpracticed, I easily step out of the way. The tip of his dagger sinks into the opposite edge of the desk, the weight of his blow carrying his body over it, and my sword comes down. Dawnbreaker’s Stygian steel easily severs his thin neck. His head drops, and his crown rolls like a coin on its edge. It clinks and clanks on its journey through the open door, where it hits the far wall and topples over onto its side.
I wipe my sword clean on the back of Brahm’s velvet tunic.
Voices and commotion come from below. My men have entered the castle and are searching every abandoned room, securing what is left of this crumbling stronghold. I hear them call my name, but I don’t answer. I have one more crown to collect, and I know just where to find it.
40
The Queen
Damien
Ithrow open the doors of the throne room to find Nevina at the end of the long royal hall, dressed in a pristine silver ball gown and sitting on my mother’s throne. My mother’s crown rests upon her head, gold spikes encrusted with dark stones.
If I’d never been to Earth, I wouldn’t notice how much this place resembles a medieval church, the ceiling pointed at the center, arched stained glass letting in moonlight that casts the hall in geometric colors. In human lexicon, she might be mistaken for an angel, the way she glows on high. But after everything, I expect that slight, stick-insect body of hers to breathe flies and locusts.
“Stop where you are,” she commands, tapping the base of her scepter on the stone floor. “Be aware, shade, the light around me will burn you. If you come any closer, I will strike you down with my magic.”
I unhook Brahm’s crown from my belt and throw it down the long aisle. “I have your father’s too, although I left it with my men. I suspect it’s in the latrine by now, covered in their shit.”
The bubble of light around her expands but doesn’t come close to reaching me. If she could strike me down where I stand, I’m sure she would. But she has to conserve her energy. Her red lips sneer, rippling speechless with her anger. “You filthy scum. You bastard smudge. Come closer and taste the sun.”
“Nah. I think I’ll wait here and watch you slowly starve to death. You can’t stay in that bubble forever, and there’s nowhere left for you to go.”
“You ignorant fool. A dark elf queen can sustain herself for a very long time. My people will come for me.”
“Your people are dead.”
She rolls her eyes incredulously.
“Not all of them, I grant you. Only the ones who tried to fight. Unlike you, we didn’t slaughter people in their homes or steal their children.”
“Oh, how noble of you. As if you don’t wear the blood of your enemies on your skin. Everything you’ve done since you returned to this world has been to win back what you lost. Every action taken in your own zest for power. You Hymirs are such hypocrites. Just like me, all you care about is this throne. You would kill your own brother to get it. You act all high-and-mighty, self-righteous, but you are just as bad as Brahm and me. We are the same.”
I chuckle. “I am nothing like you, Nevina.”
“No? How many citizens did you slaughter to stand before me now? And the next time there’s an uprising?How many more will you slay? You care nothing about life or about children. You care nothing for the will of the people. You think you’re a hero, but you are a tyrant, just like your father. You tell yourself a story about being different, about doing right by the people, but all kings cling to power, Damien. You are no exception.”
I nod. “You’re right.”
Her nostrils flare, and her lip curls in disgust.
“The Rivertoad king taught me the same lesson. It’s why I’ll be eliminating the monarchy and leading the kingdom toward a democracy.”
She laughs wickedly. “You must be joking. I’ve heard some wild ideas in my lifetime, but we both know the peopleneeda king and queen. They don’t know what’s best for them. If left to their own devices, they will all act in their own best interests and never agree on anything. The kingdom will fall into disrepair. The people need someone to tell them what to do.”
I shrug. “I guess we’re going to find out.”
She shakes her head, the idea clearly disgusting her.
I take a step toward her.
“Stay where you are! I’m warning you.”
A shadow moves behind her, the glint of a Stygian blade in her hand. I recognize that blade. It once belonged to Cassius. I smile when I see her, so happy that she’s made it. It is poetic justice that she should be the one to kill Nevina. I don’t look directly at her, just take another step forward.
