With my amulet destroyed, the Codex out of reach, and all my allies down for the count, this is my only shot.
Goddess, it’s a crazy plan. A legion of demons is the last thing I need to deal with right now.
But like an evil king once said—like ten minutes ago, actually—sometimes a ruler must make an unholy alliance in order to achieve a greater end.
“I’ll cast the magic!” I shout now, a surge of renewed hope blasting through the pain in my skull. “Make it stop hurting, and I’ll cast the magic.”
Verrick flicks his wrist again, and just like that, the pain is gone.
The crown, unfortunately, is not.
I suck in a ragged breath, blinking away the stars dancing before my eyes.
My gargoyles come into focus once more.
Hang on, boys. I’m coming.
“Why are they stillalive?” Verrick demands.
“I need to say the spell,” I bite back. “Sorry, pops. I can’t just break into people’s heads and wreak havoc. That’s not how my magic works. So if we’re going to rule the realms together, you’d better start getting used to it.”
Annoyance pinches his face, but my declaration seems to mollify him. He takes a step back, motioning for the Archmage to get to his feet.
You’re next, you washed-up shadow magic shithead…
“You may begin,” Verrick says.
I take a deep breath. Let the words of the spell come to me. Open myself fully to the power of the dark-fae magic coursing through my blood.
The blood that’s foretold to bring the world down.
As quickly and stealthily as I can, I reach up and drag my palm across the blade, making a deep gash. I close my fist around it, feeling the blood warm my skin.
Then, I cast my first spell as the Queen of Wintermoon, Daughter of Darkness, Bringer of Peace.
Bringer of hell.
Legions of hell, of darkness, of flame
I call on you now to honor the claim
Mine to control, mine to command
Bow to the Moon Blessed, queen of this land
I don’t even get a chance to repeat it before the deadly guillotine splinters around me, the blade dissolving.
Verrick is so shocked, it takes him several long beats to realize I tricked him.
He turns those wicked silver eyes on me, but I’m not afraid of him. Not anymore.
The words of the prophecy appear in my mind, pulsing with every beat of my heart.
A child conceived ’neath moon so bright
Born of the union of darkness and light
Blessed is the babe who inherits the crown
