Page 70 of Madness of Her Mages

I gaped at her. “So your parents...”

“Deserved to die.” Her eyes sharpened to blade points. “As did my mates’ parents.”

“Oh,” I breathed, unsure what to say, and I wondered if Felicity’s heart had also been killed during the Crimson Tide, if she’d had a heart at all.

“Shirina doesn’t think family should be killed,” Malvolia said while giving me a side-eyed glare, “even when they betray you, hence the reason her parents still live though the Lords Inferni had them in their sights.”

I bristled at the insult. “My parents weren’t trying to betray me.”

My aunt looked at me as if I’d sprouted wings. “They were about to steal your memories.”

“To keep me safe,” I argued, though my argument felt flat even to my own ears. It was wrong of them to try to steal my memories, but Malvolia made me feel compelled to defend them.

Nikkos swore, tensing beside me when Malvolia set down her cup and rose from her seat.

“Do you know the greatest threat to a queen’s sovereignty?” she asked me, her features darkening as a black cloud of smoke rose from her skin.

Spine stiffening, I refused to be intimidated. “No.”

“Not her enemies, but her own weakness,” Felicity blurted, her words ringing with disgust as she pinned me with a glare. “In your case, it’s your compassion.”

Malvolia turned on Felicity, her eyes lighting with what looked like pride. “Wise words, Cousin.”

“Thank you, My Queen.” Felicity splayed a hand across her chest and batted her lashes. “I learned from the best.”

“I’m of the opposite mind,” I said while taking a slow sip of tea. “Compassion shows strength of character.”

Felicity let out a burst of laughter that sounded like the screech of a dying dragon. “Compassion is for the weak and it’s what gets you killed.”

I arched a brow while casually setting my teacup on a nearby table. “Does it?”

She leered at me from beneath her lashes. “Yes.”

Folding my hands in my lap, I looked her over as if she was no better than a bug to be crushed beneath my slipper. “Suppose I used my siren voice on you now and bade you to slit your own throat? Is that the lack of compassion you wish to see from me?”

She jerked back, and her mates stiffened. “You’ve no need to do that since I haven’t betrayed you.”

“Not yet, you haven’t,” I answered coolly.

“Girls, girls, that’s enough.” Malvolia threw out her hands, scowling at both of us. “I will not tolerate such animosity at my own court when I have enough to contend with from outside forces. Now apologize to each other and make up.”

“I’m sorry, Cousin.” Felicity smiled sweetly while flashing eye daggers at me.If the queen wasn’t here,Felicity’s voice rang loud and clear in my head though her lips didn’t move,I’d summon a rain cloud over that bitch’s head.

Geoffrey’s growled words came next, ringing through my mind like a gong.She will pay for threatening you.

Good.Felicity grabbed Geoffrey’s hand while glaring at me. When?

Tonight.Steffan’s rumble reverberated in my mind.We’ll invite them to drink with us and spike their wine with defluxio.

Felicity’s grating laughter burrowed into my senses like thousands of spiders were crawling across my skin.They’ll be glued to their chamber pots for days.

Geoffery licked his lips while glaring at me.Excellent.

I gave them all blank stares, pretending as if I hadn’t listened in on their personal conversation. They thought they were projecting only to each other, but they had no knowledge of my secret magical ability. I had a vague recollection that defluxio was an herb my mother had kept on hand to relieve constipation.‘Only a pinch,’ she would say, ‘or else you’ll be stuck in the outhouse for days.’ I had a sickening feeling Felicity and her mates would put much more than a pinch in our drinks tonight.

Malvolia gave me a pointed look. “Shirina, it’s your turn to apologize.”

I stiffened at her command. No way was I apologizing to that bitch. I waved toward Felicity with a sneer. “Her apology was insincere.”

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