Page 146 of Mage Massacres

“When the Kings and the Winters are dead and gone. When the world is to your liking. When the shifters have perished, the vampires burned... Will you be satisfied, or will you need more?”

“You—”

“Yes, yes,” I interrupted, waving my hand in a dismissive motion. “I know nothing. But let me enlighten you, Alric. I have and will always be more than you deserve. And while the raw magic of this land seeks its rightful owner, as long as this crown sits atop my head, it does still heed to my command.”

A globe of water formed around him, sucking him out of my realm as soon as I finished speaking. I wasn’t interested in remaining in his company any longer. I had preparations to make, prisoners to visit, and princesses to keep in line.

I checked my appearance in the mirror, cleaning my face before I left my chambers. I slammed the door, causing a flurry of movement in the corridors.

The servants paused to bow as I passed, but no one spoke a word, afraid of the punishment that came with distracting me. I glided into the dining hall, ready to eat a light breakfast and start the monotonous tasks of continuing to destroy the winter kingdom slowly.

I couldn’t wait for this frozen wasteland to tumble into irreparable chaos.

“Good morning, Mother.”

I cast a sidelong gaze at the eldest child of winter. “Chin up, Freya. You look terrible today.”

She smiled in a fake, placating way. I let it slide as I searched the empty seats at the table.

“Where is Tilly? She’s late.”

“She finished her breakfast and went to study. She waited for you. I told her to go.”

My attention strayed to Freya’s pristine attire. “That isn’t your place.”

“You were thirty minutes late,” she informed me, testing my patience with her attitude. “She had an etiquette class to attend.”

I snapped open the linen napkin, laying it across my lap. “Are we going to have a problem today?”

“Of course not, Mother,” she amended quickly. “What can I assist you with?”

I lifted my fork, delicately stabbing at my food. “We have visitors coming soon. Your brother has decided to bring his mate home.”

She didn’t react, eating in silence as she waited for permission to speak.

“Have you talked to him recently?”

“No, Mother.”

I hummed, wondering if I could get Vaughn to strike. How would he react to his dear sisters being held in the dungeon when he arrived home? Having three of the four winter children captured would make finding Ruby so much easier.

“Did you know he had a mate?” I inquired, prodding Freya to expose a new weakness.

“You’ve made it very clear that I’m not allowed to communicate with him,” she murmured. “I haven’t seen or spoken to him in years.”