Sira stumbles back. “Kill her,” she snarls. “Kill your mate.”
The more this new command beats against my willpower, the more it lessens her other commands. Do not harm her.
“Kill her? Keep the witch alive? Or do not harm you? What is your command, Mother?” I snarl. “Because you can only holdone, and I could kill Rosalina in the same sweep of fire that would devour you.”
My mother’s lip trembles.
“Choose.” Flames grow at my feet, lighting every inky space of this cursed tower in green.
Sira finds her back flat against the wall.
“Choose, Mother,” I growl.
“Y-you…” she gasps. “You will not harm me.”
“Pity,” I say.
With a snap of my fingers, Vespera erupts into a pillar of ash, the smoke turning a sickly blue gray as her rotten corpse burns.
I look down at my mother. “Kneel before me.”
Her eyes widen in indignation. “Iam your queen. You should kneel beforeme.”
I raise a dark brow. “Is that a command? By all means, change it.”
Her breath is raspy, fury near unkept, but inch by inch, Sira drops to her knees.
I regard her for a moment before turning to my mate. Then I scoop Rosalina into my arms. She’s barely conscious. I hiss through my teeth.I will have vengeance for this.
With heavy steps, I carry her toward the door, her little goblin attendant scurrying at my feet. I pause and look back over at my mother. She’s still on the floor.
Good.
“If you lay a hand on her again, Mother, I fear nothing in this world could keep the green flame from burning through your pitiful fae bargain and consuming you.”
22
Rosalina
Asharp stab of pain shoots through me, and I squeeze my eyesshut. The mirror. Green flames…
The Prince of Thorns.
A hand brushes the hair from my brow. The scent of lavender sweeps over me, and I shift over sheets that are so soft, they feel like water flowing over my body. My whole being feels relaxed, as if some primal part of me knows I’m safe.
Blinking open my eyes, I see the Prince of Thorns leaning over my bed, his unnatural green stare fixed on me.
No, I’m not safe. An illusion of a memory.
This isn’t my bed. It’s his. He brought me to his chambers.
Caspian holds my gaze, then slides a hand down my neck. “Your heart’s beating so fast.” He says it like a question. “When did you break out of the spell?”
“I—”
“You can’t lie to me, Rosalina.” He pulls his hand away and stands.
“When I saw Dayton.”
