Page 57 of Mistress of Hours

Without tearing her gaze from Evienne, Aldith replied, “Nothing but traitorous delusions, dearest, I’m sure.”

If Aldith continued to play the fool, Evienne knew she would have to strike her down and become Ichorna’s villain in the process. It was something she was prepared to do.

Sylvain stepped forward from the crowd then, moving with grace toward the front of the hushed room.

“Your Majesty, I have never known our High Sangviere to harbor delusions. I would not dismiss her so lightly.”

The crowd began to murmur at Sylvain’s declaration. Even he did not usually dare to speak so publicly against the queen. Aldith’s placid expression hardened into cold anger at her brother’s defiance.

“I will unbind Queen Léhiona and you will all see for yourselves Queen Aldith’s deception!” Evienne spoke surely, taking another step forward. Despite her body’s protests, shewould have to put another facet of her Contrapensae magic to the test tonight.

“Guards! Remove her!”

Evienne’s magic lashed out of her; it came as naturally to her as breathing, though she didn’t consciously understand what she was doing. Her power bore down on the dark magic binding Léhiona, rending it, forcing the dark magic wound into that black band around her finger to disintegrate bit by bit.

Léhiona screamed and doubled over as the magic was torn from her, and Aldith leapt up to take her wife’s hand. When she realized what was happening, though, it was too late. Léhiona’s scream halted as quickly as it had begun, and she darted her gaze to Evienne.

Evienne nodded to her friend, emotion nearly overwhelming her as she realized Léhiona was free for the first time in ten years. Tears streamed down Léhiona’s face—she knew, too.

The moment Léhiona began to shift, unbound, time slowed to an ethereal drip. Her magic shimmered and her graceful human form dissolved. Out of an opalescent mist, a jewel-toned luna moth the size of a raven materialized, each beat of its massive wings an eternity.

Seconds slipped back into place, and Evienne heard sounds of awe rise from the crowd around her at Léhiona’s second form. She fluttered down from the dais, and Evienne extended a hand toward her. Léhiona came to rest on Evienne’s finger as she said, “This is proof of my condemnation. Bear witness to your wife’s oppression and answer for your crimes, Aldith of Ichorna.”

Sylvain rushed to Evienne’s side as she spoke, offering his hand to Léhiona. She fluttered over to him, and he stared at her in awe, running a finger over her downy wing. She was so beautiful it nearly took Evienne’s breath away.

Dominique’s strident laughter cut across the soft murmurs of the crowd as she slithered toward the dais from wherever shehad been hiding. Evienne’s exhausted body tensed at the sound of Dominique’s voice. She addressed Aldith with open derision.

“You imbecile, how could you think you could contain her? I bet her Tuanadair friends are halfway home by now. You should have killed her when you had the chance and fixed your spell, but you can’t do anything right can you,your majesty?”

Aldith stood frozen, her jaw slack at Dominique’s words. Evienne and Sylvain watched, both on edge and ready to protect Léhiona. Sylvain was no great Sangviere, but he had some basic defensive training. Léhiona was now perched on his shoulder, her wings flitting nervously.

“Nothing to say for yourself?” Dominique asked before turning to address the crowd.

“The truth is, my friends, your queen does not have the strength to do what must be done to ensure our progress—to solidify Ichorna’s greatness, our place in this world. Aldith had one task to carry out to ensure Ichorna’s needs were met for her lifetime, and she put her own desires above the needs of her country. That little Tuanadair wife of hers was supposed to give us access to power for decades, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it right—didn’t want to hurt her as much. Take me as your ruler instead, and I will not suffer anyone to stand in the way of our dreams! I will not stand for imperfections or weakness or sentiment!”

The crowd inhaled a collective gasp at her words, and before Dominique could even turn back to Aldith, she lurched, her body seizing. Evienne glanced at Aldith, who now had a trickle of blood running down her wrist. She had used another of those cursed vials of another’s blood to perform her Valsang.Evienne watched as Aldith took hold of Dominique’s body and held it at her mercy.

A few people in the crowd screamed as the sound of snapping bones echoed through the hall. Dominique’s arms and legs nowbent at unnatural angles. She shouldn’t be standing, but Aldith’s grip on her kept her upright. She had no control of her body now. She couldn’t even scream.

“You disloyal, grasping,traitor!” Aldith screamed, and a trickle of blood ran down from Dominique’s nose to her chin. She did not look afraid. She stared back at Aldith with hatred in her eyes.Evienne made no move to interfere; if these two wished to destroy each other, she would gladly let them.

Aldith didn’t let Dominique go, clenching her hand into a fist around the blood and broken glass in her palm. A sickening crack sounded, and a mist of blood sprayed where Dominique’s body had been.

Chapter Forty-Five

Chaos broke outin the hall. A few people ran, screaming, from the room. Some were sick where they stood. Most looked to each other, unsure of what to do. Despite the confusion, everyone invariably stayed clear of the space in front of the dais where Evienne still stood, facing down Aldith with Sylvain by her side and Léhiona, in her shifted moth form on his shoulder.

“You,” Evienne said, pointing at Aldith. “I will teach you to regret what you have done.”

Evienne’s body cried out in protest as she shifted on her feet, her heart clenching. She knew she had pushed her magic too far, but there was no other choice. If she gave her life for this, so be it. At least Orion was safe.

Several other Sangviere rushed into the room then, looking a bit unsure. They hesitantly gathered into a formation behind Aldith. Everyone stilled then—the tension in the room was razor-sharp.

Evienne heard the rustle of clothing to her left, and turned to see Cecelia elbowing her way through the gaping nobles.

“Evi, what’s going on?” She made to run toward where Evienne and Sylvain stood, but Aldith bent to swipe her hand through the spray of Dominique’s blood that now covered half the dais. Evienne realized what was happening too late.

The next moment, Cecelia lurched to a stop and Sylvain tensed where he stood. Aldith laughed cruelly, her right hand held out and splayed wide, shaking with effort.

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