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I had heard every word, the truth of the darkness finally coming to full light. She had always been responsible for the evil sneaking about in the corners, waiting to strike. I had simply been too naïve and blind to see it.
I laughed hollowly, advancing on her, my anger making me forget that I was one and she was four—four of who knew how many more lurking around, waiting for orders.
“Cut the act, Stralia,” I hissed. “I heard you. You would poison my child—Cade’s child? That’s treason!”
I stepped over the threshold, a blast of late summer air touching my face, but I couldn’t shake the ice water in my veins, the steel in her crystalline eyes unmistakable now as we stood face to face. How had I never seen the malice before? Had she been that good at hiding it, or had I merely not wanted to admit it?
Her mouth twisted into a sneer, the faux meekness fading as she stepped toward me, no fear upon her face. “You should never have been with his child in the first place. The child you carry is an abomination.”
“You’re an abomination!” I roared, my eyes flashing. “He doesn’t want you, Stralia. Cade is mated to me. You should have been banished the minute I returned here, but I felt sorry for you.”
Her leer grew, alarming me, and suddenly, I realized I was surrounded by her group, Coraline directly behind me.
“Step back,” I ordered her, but Stralia held the cook’s gaze and shook her head.
“Don’t move, Coraline. This happens. Tonight. The loyalists will remain as we discussed. The rest will perish.”
“The King will not like this, Stralia—” the male again started to mutter, but she raised a hand, and he immediately began to choke, even as Stralia’s eyes remained on me.
I tried not to stare at him, but his sputtering, blue complexion was difficult to ignore, even as Stralia’s clear eyes fixated on me.
“They are either with us, or against us,” Stralia said, her words oddly monotone. “There is no middle ground, no fear of Cade. I will deal with the King, as I always have. He is mine. He belongs to me, and this kingdom is mine.”
I started to shake my head vehemently.
“No—” I said, but Stralia anticipated my resistance, and with her other hand, she moved to silence me in the same way as her own companion.
The wind knocked from my lungs, air sucking out of me in a flash.
“Coraline, get the plan into action. Now,” Stralia hissed as the head chef stood, gawping at the sight.
But Stralia had sorely underestimated both my powers and my desire to protect my child, myself, and the kingdom I had sworn vows to keep safe. She had no idea the rage she had just unlocked in me with her unprovoked actions.
Before anyone could respond to Stralia or react to her command, I darted my eyes upward to the clear, black night above.
“Luna?!”
Maywin’s panicked call sent more goosebumps over my paralyzed body.
“Start with her,” Stralia told Coraline, and I conjured all the forces within me, unable to do anything but call on my powers of the weather to distract the evil fae from harming my friend.
An unexpected crack of thunder forced Coraline’s eyes upward, and I mentally willed Maywin to run, but more voices joined her.
“What is happening here?” an unfamiliar male called out.
“They’re hurting the Queen!” Maywin screamed. “Stop them!”
Still unable to move, I closed my eyes, summoning the elements to my benefit. Rain, wind, and snow consumed the summer night, fueling the confusion as more bodies spilled around me. Eventually, Stralia’s hold on me loosened when she was given little choice but to regain control of her confounded followers.
“GET THEM!” she roared. “Don’t just stand there! Get them all!”
I produced a bolt of lightning as one of her treasonous faeries leaped onto a protective guard, striking him down, another streak taking out an attack on Maywin. It was confusing trying to figure out who was on my side and who sided with Stralia, the pouring rain not helping our cause, but I needed the distraction to create some semblance of order.
“Gather the servants and bring them to safety!” I yelled at Jasper when I found the guard. “They’re unarmed, and Stralia will kill them if they’re not with her!”
“You must be secured!” he panted, trying to hold me back, but I wouldn’t stop until Stralia had been contained.
“Just take care of the servants—all of them!”
