“You are a horrible ruler. They will never love you as they had Father.”
She reached out and took my chin between her fingers as she took a step toward me. “It has never been their love or admiration that I desired. While that may gift you loyalty in their hearts, it does not give you their support in war. Do you know what does?” She released my chin and stepped back once more. “Fear. Fear is the heart of what keeps them loyal to me now. Betray the crown, and your life is forfeit.”
“I have never been more embarrassed to call you my mother,” I whispered as my heart raced at the words she spoke so freely.
“Embarrassment aside, it’s something you cannot change. I am a part of you, my dear, and you would not be here without me.”
The room went silent for a few moments as the tension escalated.
“Now, where were we before this all took a turn?” my mother asked the room.
“You were to have her tell you all that Elianna has planned, Your Majesty,” Kellan answered from where he now stood at the bottom of the dais.
My teeth clenched as my eyes locked on him.
“Ah, yes, tell us, Avery. What does little Elianna have planned for her extravagant reclaim of her throne?”
“I will never,” I spat. “There is nothing you can ever do or say that will make me betray her. I would sooner die!”
“Enough with the dramatics, Avery.” She rolled her eyes. “Now, I will give you one more chance to speak it freely, and if you do, you will no longer be considered a prisoner of the crown. Make us force it out of you and back to the dungeons you go.”
“What makes you think you could force such things from me?” I took a step toward her, and I was surprised when she matched it by taking one back. I leaned into her. “Are you going to have Callius take a whip to my back like you had with her?” I whispered viciously.
Her lip curled at her lover’s name, and hurt flashed across her eyes. “Well, she made sure to claim her revenge on him, didn’t she?”
I tilted my head to the side in confusion. Lia hadn’t told me that Callius was killed in their attack. Not that I would care, but it was odd it wasn’t mentioned unless he succumbed to Nox’s flames like many others.
Kellan took a few rapid steps forward. “My queen, let’s get the information out of her before she can distract you further. She’s only prolonging giving us the information.”
I glared at him beneath furrowed brows—the sudden change in direction from him made me think he was hiding something.
My mother's eyes roamed over me. “Very well. You wish to do this the hard way, it seems.” She turned and stalked to the throne. “Azenna, do what you must.”
The High Witch’s eyes instantly began to glow their deadly crimson hue. “Meritsas Lokoi.”
The words she hissed slammed into me, filling my veins with ice, freezing my body where I stood as her eyes bore into me. I sucked in a sharp breath as it felt as if my body was turning into stone. My breathing quickened as fear worked its way through me, but I began struggling as the rapid movements of my chest were even forced to slow.
“Is it ready?” my mother asked her, and she received a subtle nod in response as Azenna locked me beneath her spell.
“My darling daughter, I have been informed that this spell works by forcing the truth out of you. You no longer have the ability to run from me or withhold informationregarding my enemies. You will spill their secrets bare before us, and you will not have a choice.”
My panic started to suffocate me.
“Don’t fight it,” my mother pleaded. “I don’t wish to cause harm to my only daughter.”
I tried to roll my eyes, but they remained frozen in place, staring directly at her.
“Now tell me, does Elianna have a plan of attack?”
I remained silent. The ice in my veins somehow grew colder at my lack of response, working its way through me. My body betrayed me and forced a small squeal of pain from my lips.
“I told you not to fight it. It will force its way out of you.”
She was right; the words were at the edge of my tongue, and I bit down on it to keep them in.
“Your daughter is strong-willed,” Azenna spoke from where she remained.
“Then break her spirit,” my mother demanded, and my eyes flared in horror.
