Page 64 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

“In my kingdom, if you kill the owners of a house, you get the house.” The queen smiled, revealing both rows of fangs. “But of course, I haven’t killed all the owners of Calera. Yet.”

Charis took two steps forward and gracefully perched on the edge of the cream-colored chair opposite Queen Bai’elsha. Running her hand over the smooth marble surface of the coffee table between them, she tapped a fingernail against the base of the heavy crystal candlesticks Lady Channing gave Mother for her last birthday. Had she already decided to betray Mother then?

Meeting Bai’elsha’s gaze, Charis said, “You won’t get what you want from King Alaric if you kill me.”

Bai’elsha’s smile widened. “You know nothing of my business with King Alaric. He’d prefer you to be alive when he arrives, but he’ll make do with the other heirs if necessary.” Her eyes sparked with malice. “Let’s see if it’s necessary.”

Charis’s stomach plunged. This was it. The moment where she either found a way out of this or died trying.

Cocking her head to the side, Bai’elsha studied Charis for a long moment. Charis crossed her legs as if nothing worried her and folded her hands in her lap. There was a faint ringing in her ears, and she had to remind herself to breathe.

“You are not scared?” Bai’elsha asked.

Charis was terrified. Heart pounding, mouth dry, palms damp. But showing her fear would gain her nothing.

“I do not cower before my enemies.” Charis waited a beat and then said with confidence, “Neither do you.”

The faster she could establish a connection between them, the faster she could shift the queen’s intentions.

“No, I do not.” Bai’elsha slid one taloned finger down the arm of Mother’s chair. “Your people are loyal to you.”

“As are yours to you.” Charis cocked her head as though studying Bai’elsha the way the Rakuuna queen watched her.

“I recently put to death two people who tried to sabotage my ships. Members of this silly, doomed rebellion. They pleaded not for their own lives, but for yours.” Bai’elsha’s mouth curved into a sneer.

Was the scorn in her voice because she didn’t respect a queen whose people spoke up on her behalf? Or was the sneer aimed at all Calerans?

“They understand that I’m of far more use to you alive.” And please, please let that be true.

“An enemy without usefulness is best killed quickly.” The queen rose to her feet, moving with startling quickness.

“I agree.” Charis stood as well, praying that her shaking knees would hold her. There was a scuffle from the people lined up against the wall, and Tal said something in a voice Charis barely recognized, but Charis didn’t look away from the Rakuuna queen.

Would Bai’elsha tear out her throat? Stab her in the heart? Or would she order one of her guards to do it?

Quickly she said, “I was never your enemy, Queen Bai’elsha. Why were you mine?”

Bai’elsha drew back as though startled, her watchful eyes flicking a glance toward the others against the wall before returning to Charis. “My people are dying. Without serpanicite, we will be gone in five years. Maybe less. What kind of queen would I be if I didn’t do what was necessary to save them?”

“Then why not schedule an audience with my mother and present your case? You could have asked for help—”

“We did!” The queen’s voice rose. “Your Lady Channing presented our request. It was denied.” She swept out a hand to encompass the room again. “And now this is mine.”

“Lady Channing did not tell me your people were dying, or that you needed a specific jewel from Montevallo to make medicine for them.” Charis kept her voice even, though everything inside her wanted to scream. “And you had already begun sinking our ships before she ever came to us with your offer. You set yourself up as our enemy, but if you’d simply told us the truth, we would have welcomed you as a friend.”

Bai’elsha leaped over the table to close the distance between them faster than Charis could blink. “You know nothing.”

The Rakuuna queen whipped her hand into the air and wrapped long, taloned fingers around Charis’s throat. Tal, Holland, and Reuben shouted in protest, and there was a brief skirmish as several Rakuuna guards rushed forward to keep them from getting to Charis.

Pain, sharp and biting, as the queen’s talons sank beneath Charis’s skin. She squeezed, and it was suddenly impossible to breathe. Charis’s hands flailed, searching for a weapon. Her fingers brushed against the glass candlestick, and she grabbed it.

“I trusted your Lady Channing,” the queen whispered against Charis’s ear. “And this is the result.”

Gray spots danced at the edge of Charis’s vision. Lifting the candlestick, she smashed it against the table’s edge and then thrust the broken shard she held into the queen.

Instantly, the Rakuuna let her go, her dry bones language spilling out of her as black blood poured from the wound on the back of her hand. Strong arms grabbed Charis from behind and the glass was yanked from her grasp.

Charis coughed as air flooded her lungs again, and then said quickly, “I could have stabbed you in the heart. I didn’t.”

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