“I remember arguing with Odessa about shutting down the training grounds…and then nothing but blackness and—pain.”
Her words have Mathilda blanching. “Gods,” she whispers, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “That was years ago.”
“How can she not remember anything? We all saw her, didn’t we?” Mina’s voice trembles as she rubs a hand down her arm.
I drum my fingers on the round tabletop in the council room. After we managed to get the shackles off Luna, we brought her back into the Great Hall, where she’s currently being treated by a healer in the dining room. She had already scarfed down an entire plate of roast lamb and was devouring the next one when we made our way to the council room to discuss what the hell had just happened.
I stare at the map of my realm painted across the council room wall. The four islands are close in proximity, but appear vastly different. The capital island has towering mountain peaks and a sprawling main city. Then there’s Olundy with its rolling green hills and ocean-side cliffs. I’ve never been to Scota or Ishtar. But from the looks of it, Ishtar is arid deserts, and Scota is mountains, fjords, and forests. Lachlansettles his large hand upon mine, stalling my constant drumming against the wood. My eyes cut apologetically to his before I clear my throat.
“Who’s saying we even saw her?” My shoulders shrug, and I slouch further down in the red velvet chair.
“What do ye mean?” Lachlan’s hand slips off mine and rests beside it on top of the table.
My eyes dart around the table to see the equally confused faces of my friends. I sit up straighter in my seat. “Uh, isn’t it obvious? Odessa wasn’t Odessa. What if that other body you found was another imposter impersonating Luna? You guys didn’t seem to be close with her before. You probably didn’t even notice.”
Mathilda’s head whips to Mina’s as a strangled sound makes its way out of her. Shit, they hadn’t realized that.
“She’s not wrong,” Tane grumbles as he nods. “None of us really knew her at all. She’s much older than we are.”
Evander nods, and his eyes flare brightly. But my mind starts spinning with the new information. If Luna is way older than the rest of them, she might know something about the war, or the other realms, or even how they stopped magic.
I try to stifle the hope stirring in my veins. This might be another dead end. “How much older?” My voice is barely louder than a whisper.
“Older than your mother was.” Luna’s voice is like frostbite, burning its way over my skin. She stands rigidly at the door, her emaciated body made apparent by the burgundy dress that hangs off her, exposing ribs that pierce through her pale skin. Despite the abysmal state of her body, her eyes are ablaze with a fire that would be more commonly seen on warriors cutting through their enemies on the battlefield.
There’s a tapping of racing footsteps down the hall before the flustered face of the healer appears behind her. “I wasn’t done with my examination!” she squeaks out between pants.But Luna waves her off and strides with feline grace to the table, sliding into a seat. “You’re done.”
“But—”
“I said you are done.” Her voice spears across the room with lethal intent, but the storm in her gaze is what silences the healer, who casts pleading eyes in my direction. I look at Luna’s wrapped wrists and nod, dismissing her. The healer sighs and bows before scurrying off the way she came.
If I’m being honest, Luna terrifies me. She’s like a wraith of stormy violence. Her very presence is menacing in a way that witches are portrayed in fairy tales. But witches get a bad rap. Not all of them are that way. And I hope Luna isn’t.
“Are you sure that’s the wisest decision?” Evander’s voice comes out much smoother than my voice would have been addressing her in such a way.
Her gaze sweeps around the table before settling onto his smirking face. Her lip curls in disgust as she speaks, “If my assumptions are correct, we are currently standing on the precipice of war. We have been infiltrated by the enemy, our magic is dwindling, and we are cut off from our allies. And you want me to sit in the dining room having my wrists wrapped by a healer who wouldn’t know the correct herbs for a burn from a contraceptive tonic?”
The room is so deathly quiet that my heaved sigh seems loud.
“And how did you come by these assumptions?”
“Well, you sit where your mother—and your aunt once sat. There are remnants of a corpse nailed to the throne room, nice touch by the way,” her eyes glow with delight, “and my wrists aren’t healing on their own.” She scans me up and down, and I feel the weight of her assessment deep into my bones.
I feel small and insignificant, not at all like the queen I felt like hours ago.
“Can ye help us?” Lachlan’s familiar voice breaks the weight of her stare, and I release the breath I’d been holding.
“Obviously.” Her answer is cold and cruel. “What have you learned so far?” Her eyes flick back to mine, but I’m prepared this time to weather the storm.
“We found a makeshift tunnel from Julius and Odessa’s room with a bunch of books and equipment that appeared to have been used for experiments. From there, we found the tunnel that led to you.”
The gray in her eyes turns molten silver. “And have you removed the things from that room?” She phrases it like a question, but the order in her tone is not easily overlooked.
“No.” Her authoritative tone has sparked an ember within me.I am the queen.And I’ve worked my ass off to get here. “We were a bit preoccupied pulling you from the altar you were shackled to.”
The room plummets into frigid iciness.
Lachlan shifts in his chair, angling his body closer to mine. Tane and Mina’s eyes dart back and forth between Luna and me. But Mathilda and Evander share similar looks of smug satisfaction at the sarcasm dripping from my words.
