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“Guards! Guards! Help me!” Emiranda shouted.
The new room was a plush sitting area with floral couches and a lit fireplace. A fire iron and other tools sat in their holder next to it, soot covering its sharp point. The curtains were drawn so that the flames provided the only flickering light throughout.
The main door sat to their right. Any instant, Odette expected soldiers to burst through.
It jolted, and shouts of alarm came, but nobody entered. She blinked, realizing Rothbart’s power must be holding it shut, allowing her time to finish her deed. Emiranda paled, having realized the same thing. She stood across the room, her long gown billowing around her. That would hinder her movements. For the first time, Odette was grateful for the lightweight dress she wore.
“Now Odette. We spoke about this. You… you said that your mother taught you to go with the person who has the most to offer.”
Odette advanced on the false queen. That was true. It was one of the many beliefs that had been imposed on her to turn her into a killer.
“I am not my mother.”
The words were said, and a feeling of release rushed over her. Odette was her own creature. From now on, she defined herself on her own terms. Not a killer. Not an assassin.
Someone who protected. She had killed Bash to protect his family. Tonight, she would take a life, but it was only to save an innocent. Rothbart’s sister. The true queen.
Emiranda raised her hands, backing away from Odette’s approach. “I-I can deliver you from the swan curse. How about that? I will have my s-son swear to you a vow of undying love and you’ll be free. You can even have him. Marry him. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
“You can give me only one thing.”
Emiranda’s shoulders slumped, looking relieved. “Anything.”
“Zoya’s life.”
Usually by now Odette was trembling, rethinking everything, but not this time. This time, her path was clear. The culprit of so much blood and death lay before her. If Zoya died, nobody would have the ability to strip Emiranda of her power. Tonight Odette was justice.
The other woman’s eyes grew wide and her face became ghostly pale. She screamed and raced away, but her foot caught on her long skirts and she fell to the floor.
“I am innocent,” Emiranda gasped.
“You’re anything but innocent.”
Rothbart’s parents lying dead in their room, Helga and her husband burned alive, Zoya the life slowly leeching out of her.Theywere innocent. The queen was a murderer and even though Odette didn’t want to kill anyone, she would do what must be done to protect.
She shot forward. In an instant she swiped her blade across the other woman’s throat. A quick death, a merciful death. Emiranda lay on the floor as crimson spilled out over her dress.
When her eyes grew glassy, Odette reached out and shut them.
“Long live the queen.”
The main door to the room burst open and soldiers and sorcerers poured into the space. The magic wielders looked worn, like it took a lot out of them to break through Rothbart’s magic. They all ground to a halt.
“What is going on? Mother!” Torsten pushed to the front of the gathering and froze when he beheld his mother dead at Odette’s feet.
He took in her blood covered feet, the crimson blade still in her grasp.
Horror and disbelief warred for domination on the prince’s face. “Odette? What is…” Understanding crossed his face, and he pressed a hand to his forehead, his blue eyes glazed. “Everything that Rothbart said about you is true.”
“Yes.”
“You killed my mother.”
“I did.”
Fury sparked in Torsten’s movements. He thrust a finger at Odette. “Sorcerers, kill that woman.”
The wielders of magic raised their hands. There was no chance to run. No escape.
