Page 79 of Queen of War and Ruin

Lilias lies motionless across the stones of the balcony, her dress and hair spread out beneath her.

King Malrik stands above her. With a sword. Pointed at her throat.

“She’s not dead,” Malrik says. “Not yet. Not if you behave.”

My daggers make a hollow metal clang as they hit the ground. Slowly, I lift my hands above my head.

“That’s better,” Malrik says. “Now, Zarek. Listen to the nice man’s offer.”

“He’s not a man,” I growl.

Varitan raises a pale eyebrow. He looks at Lilias, then back to me.

“Interesting,” he says again.

Malrik turns to the elf.

“You sure you want him?” Malrik asks, gesturing at me like I’m a hog in the marketplace.

“I’m sure,” Varitan replies.

Malrik frowns. For a long moment, neither of them speak. I stare at Lilias, my heart racing, my eyes burning. Slowly, very slowly, her chest rises and falls.

Not dead. I cling to the slow rise and fall of her chest like a drowning man clinging to the wreckage of his ship. She’s breathing. She’s not dead. Not yet.

“He murdered my son,” Malrik finally says.

“I am aware of that,” Varitan answers.

“Well, he has to answer for it,” Malrik replies. “Publicly.”

Varitan tilts his head to the side. “Look at it this way,” he says. “What’s more useful to your majesty? A corpse to display in your courtyard, or an even stronger weapon to wield against your enemies?”

Below the balcony, someone begins to sob. It’s high and loud, almost indistinguishable from screaming.

“Hells,” Malrik says with a frown. “I suppose torture’s as good a story as execution. We can do something for the crowds, right?”

Varitan gives him a cold smile. “It would be my pleasure,” he says.

Malrik shrugs. And just like that, my fate is decided.

“And the woman?” Malrik asks, as if the thought just occurred to him.

My breath stops.

“He’s in love with her,” Malrik continues, turning to me with a strange gleam in his eyes. “Aren’t you, snake?”

I can’t speak. The world seems frozen, pressed behind glass.

“She lied to him, betrayed him,” Malrik continues. “And still, she’s got that idiot by the balls.”

He shakes his head; once again, I’ve disappointed the king of Vsenrog.

Weak, my mind whispers. Always so weak.

“So much for the snake of Vsenrog,” Malrik says.

Varitan makes a noise in his throat that suggests he finds this entire conversation rather dull.