“I don’t know what it is that youthinkyou know,but—”
“It is not a matter of what I think to be true, but what is true by blood. And that is that Kai was not King Jameson’s son,” I stated.
“And how do you know of such things, little Elianna?” she hissed.
My lip curled into a snarl once more. “The realm always knows. Every vine that sways from a willow tree, every root that runs deep into the soil, and every creature that roams above it…possess the power of knowing.”
Her eyes leisurely roamed up and down my body before meeting my stare again. “And who would father a child of the queen if not the king?”
My brow rose, and this time, it was my turn to smirk at the knowledge I held. “Perhaps the menacing, personal guard she kept so close all these years?”
She scoffed, pretending to be disgusted, but something resembling rage-induced hurt flashed across her eyes. “That is quite an accusation.” Her voice was deceptively sweet.
“One that holds truth,” I bit out.
“Lia, her tone has changed,” Jace warned, and I peeked over at him as the veins in his neck throbbed from continuing to hold himself back at my order.
“I know. Don’t move.The shadows are swirling at her feet and I don’t know if they can harm us.”
I could feel his temper slipping as he reluctantly obeyed.
“Well then,Elianna,” she spoke my name with venom, one somehow more poisonous than she had my entire life. “Let me make this as clear as possible foryou…”
My heartbeat quickened again as I watched her eyes dart back and forth between me and Jace.
She stepped up to me, putting her ruby-painted lips to my ear as she whispered her threats. “You will surrender your life to me, and I will forgive your merry little band of rebels for their treason.”
“Lia!” Jace shouted, but I blocked it out, praying he remained where he stood. Pure agonizing panic rattled our tether from him.
“The humans, well, they will continue to be hunted into extinction. That is, unless they would prefer to offer themselves as slaves, declaring fae as the superior race of the realm once and for all.”
An evil, breathy laugh left my husband. “Go to hell, you fae bitch.”
Her face twisted into something horrific at his words, so I quickly brought her attention back to me.
“My people want freedom from your wickedness, not to offer themselves into a lifetime of servitude to you.”
Idina laughed wickedly while shaking her head. She took a step back to get a better look at me, attempting to make me feel small beneath her stare. “Well, then, Elianna, whenyourpeople, as you have claimed them to be, all meet their end, you will have no one to blame but yourself. This includes the pet that warms your bed.”
A growl rumbled through my chest as she threatened my mate, and I took a step to the side, blocking his body from her once more.
“Lia,” Jace growled.
“Stay back,” I ordered through my mind.
“Honestly, Elianna, what kind of ruler takes away the choices of her kingdom’s people?” She winked at me. “Perhaps we are more alike than we wish to admit.”
“We arenothingalike, and I know my people would rather fight for a chance at true freedom than be forced into slavery. Make no mistake, Idina, any chains you place upon their wrists…I willshatterthem.”
She watched my speech with a menacing grin. “You will do well to remember this when you discover what we have gifted you during our little chat this evening. It is a pity that it appears you’re not there.”
“Lia, what does that mean?”
She leaned into me once more, a shiver working its way up my spine at her proximity. “It poses the question…is one life worth more than another? Is your life worth more than the millions that will die?” She took a step back and then another, creating a short distance between us.
“I have made that choice now, not once, but twice,” she admitted, and my eyes flared. “For the reckless decisions made by two foolish fae had threatened my family’s plans for the realm and its superior race, so they had to be dealt with.” She paused for a moment. “And my only regret is that you were not there when I slit your mother’s throat, for I would have done the same to you.”
My jaw dropped, heart nearly coming to a screeching halt in my chest as my surroundings evaporated. Time ceased as my vision skipped red and went straight to a blinding haze of black.
