Page 20
“Commands changed that night.”
My mother’s mouth tightened. “Yes. I suppose the raids changed many things. And I suppose I am changing them all again. For now, no one is to touch the melder. Not until we determine if the woman has committed crimes worthy of death.”
“Crafting soul bones is not enough?” Virki fumed.
“For all I know, she was forced. I plan to find out before I rule on her fate. Now, leave me and the prince. I have much to say to my son regarding his…conduct.”
With a touch of reluctance, the council slowly made their way out of the chamber, closing the heavy doors at their backs.
Elisabet leaned forward, her voice sharp as broken steel. “If you continue to threaten your own folk, I will not have the power to defend what you have done any longer.”
I pressed a hand to my chest and mouthed, Me? Eyes narrowed, I pointed back to her, shaking my head, and formed the word You.
Her jaw tightened when she leaned closer. “You do not know what I have done for you and your precious melder.”
Gods, I’d had enough.
The fury, the betrayal, the seasons of silent hatred for a fate I did not choose bled to the surface. Frigid shadows spilled from every pore. Flames from sconces on the walls dimmed to dripping ink on rotted wood.
The last sight was my mother’s wide eyes before my darkness swallowed her whole and I lost myself.
8
Skul Drek
Where was my melder?
Want. Need. Desire. Mine. Now, where was my melder?
In the shadows, the line of a molten tether shimmered and led to somewhere in the distance. Golden heat tied us, bound us. She brightened the night and guided me home.
Alive. Fierce.
I took a step forward. I wanted to see my melder.
“What have you done?”
A frigid wash of unease rippled over my senses, drawing me to look back to the darkness, away from the golden bond.
Ah. The queenie.
My former captor was on her knees, a brilliant shade of gold tinged in crimson surrounding her.
I lowered to one knee, and billows of darkness pulsed until cold walls faded to nothing but night. Anger, hate, pain—all of it thickened the shadows here, where souls lived.
The queenie lifted her eyes, bright as starlight, and studied every edge of every feature before speaking.
“Why am I here?”
Why, indeed?
Shadows blotted out most thoughts. Instinct reigned here. But I could recall why I dragged her soul to meet mine. “It is time for you to converse with the monster you created.” Arms open at my sides, I allowed the queenie to take in her masterpiece. “Soul Render.”
“I never desired to use my craft on my own family. Certainly not twice.”
Twice. Why did the word settle heavy like rotted logs in my shadowed mind? I am he, we are we. Still, shared thoughts beyond the shadows were trying, at times, to draw to the surface. Then, I grinned. “Ah, yes. Long live the king. Your first creature.”
The queenie’s eyes shed two golden tears onto the glow of her cheeks. “Do you think I wanted to rend my husband’s soul?”
