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The ramparts. We stood at the top of an open fortified stone tower overlooking the palace. Down stone steps to each side, the wide ramparts continued, lining a vast fortified wall.
Why a palace like this one, underground and concealed, would ever evenneedramparts was beyond me, but there we were.
Around us stood a group of astonished royal guards, their mouths agape as they glanced nervously between myself and the queen.
“Queen Regent,” said one bold soul stepping forward, a tentative smile on her face. “If we may assist you both, merely say the word. News has spread quickly of the new empress...”
The word was a death sentence.
Sephone parted her lovely lips and roared.
But instead of sound, a silent mist emerged from her mouth, swirling and billowing towards the group of guards.
I pushed myself to my feet, backing quickly away until I felt the edge of the cold stone parapet. Shaking I gripped the top of the low wall, watching as a deadly fog engulfed the guards.
As the mist seeped into their lungs, agonized cries filled the air. They fell, clutching at their throats and convulsing, faces contorted in anguish.
The Queen Regent turned to me as the last of the guards twitched behind her, eyes rolled back in his head.
“Nicely done,” I commented, hiding my shaking hands behind my back. “Avriel only had green spit. I prefer the mist. Much more subtle.”
A chill smile curled upon Sephone’s lips.
“So, Draven wasn’t the only one to get married, was he?” I said, stalling for time. “You and Avriel decided to use the grail, too. How incredibly romantic. Except, you know, he’s dead, so... What now?”
Sephone snarled.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to play out for you, was it?” I said, with false sympathy. “You told Avriel you’d share power in every way, I suppose. And then down the line? When he conveniently died a few years after becoming emperor? Let me guess, there’s another caveat for that?”
Sephone glared and took one step forward. On second thought, I didn’t really want her to open her mouth again. Not after what I’d just seen.
“I have powers of my own you know,” I said hastily.
“Elemental magic,” she said disdainfully. “But can you fly, I wonder?”
She lifted her hands and behind me the stones began to drip with acid and crumble into dust.
I suddenly felt much less secure.
“Get the fuck away from my wife, Sephone.”
I looked up to see Crescent and Draven had appeared across the battlement. They were not alone. Nightclaw stood just behind Crescent. The exmoor’s teeth were bared, sharp feline fangs protruding as he stared at Sephone with the eyes of a predator.
“I’m not your fucking wife, Draven,” I shouted.
This was ridiculous. Was I really going to fight with this man before falling to my death?
“I hate you.” The words shot out before I could stop them. “I trusted you. I could have died. Do you even fucking care?”
Draven stopped in his tracks, his eyes darting between me and Sephone.
“I stood in for you so that you could rule,” I went on. “And for what? So you could hide in the background and avoid the danger?”
His face hardened. “In all the time that you’ve known me, have I ever tried to avoid danger, Morgan?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really know you at all. That’s what I’ve realized.” I laughed. “Husband? It’s a joke, right? This is all lunacy. We can’t possibly be married.” I shook my head. “I was right about you all along. From the very start, I was right.”
“I assure you, it’s no joke,” he said, taking another step forward. “And you were only right about some parts. You know this already.”
