Page 10 of The Nightmare Queen

“Felix dear.” Gods helpme…that voice.

Her annoyance cracks through the steady cadence. “There are two pieces of spoiled meat in my throne room,why?” She slowly slides hereyes to the man next to her. He looks bemused by her appearance despite the blood pooling beneath her.

She’s a disaster, I can’t stop staring.

When he doesn’t answer I take that as my cue and step up to introduce myself, “Excuse me, your Highness if I may-”

“You may not” she says as she hops off the dais. In a startling quick succession of movements she now is directly in front of me, playing with a dagger between her fingers -where she pulled that from I’ve no idea- “Felix. Who, or rather,whatare they?” Her head cocks at me, the dagger tip now poised against my throat. She’s holding it casually, like it’s an extension of her and not a weapon.

Felix looks up at the ceiling, his stance not much different from a tired father dealing with a rowdy toddler instead of a councilman addressing his queen. “Highness, this is His Majesty Prince Rorin of Vellar and his…lackey.” Shock shoots through Will and I at Felix’s knowledge of who we are. “They requested to portal here, you denied them, and it would seem they came anyway.” His voice is monotonous as she sheaths her dagger back into a hidden pocket against her ribs.

Noted, the tiny queen comes with sharp toys.

“Hmm.” She tilts her head, considering us. “They said you were desperate to meet me. But you don’t look desperate to me.” Her thin bronzed fingers lift towards my face, her sharp fingernails ghosting down my jaw line. She spins on her heel, ascends the steps to her throne and plops down into her seat. The still wet substance on her clothes squelches against the stone.

It’s now or never, or I risk losing our one chance at an ally.My conscience reminds me.

“Queen Eveera,” She lifts her eyes to look me at me directly. I bet just about anyone would piss themselves under her leveled stare.

I wait for her objection, but it doesn’t come, so I continue on. “We have a…situation, on our hands, one I am sure you are aware of as it is fast approaching your doors.” I pause searching her face for any indication she knows what I am talking about but she gives me nothing. “For years, King Baelor of Hadar, has waged a mass genocide on the outer kingdoms. The kingdoms of Mellant and Peverell have already fallen. The King of Evendell however has made a deal with him. Despite that, they still decline under his siege.” Both hers and Felix’s expressions remain still.

“The Kingdom of Vellar has been keeping him at bay but we won’t survive much longer before his Guards overrun our borders.” With a steady foot, I take a step closer to her. “My father thinks continuing to squander away our resources on these petty skirmishes will deter Hadar’s Guards from invading. When all it will do is weaken us until they have no one left to block their way.” I loose a heavy sigh. “Baelor is greedy, he won’t stop at just our kingdom. If he succeeds in felling EvendellandVellar then the Obsidian Kingdom will be next.” I take another step towards her. Looking me up and down, she uncoils herself. Her position on the dais leaving her higher than me. “I am desperate. I promise you.”

“Tsk tsk tsk. And what exactly are you desperate for, Vellaran?” She’s circling me like a predator stalking its prey, the glint of something in her hands before cool metal brushes against my throat.That’s twice now she’s had me at her blade.

I tilt my stare down. Such a mesmerizing sight she is. In my court, if she approached me in this manner, she would be apprehended immediately and tried for threatening the heir to the throne. Alas, we are not in my court and so here I stand with a blade to my throat -again.Great.

Maybe Will was right to think this was a terribleidea.

“I have done research on you, your Highness. You have an extensive army made up of lethally trained men and women. Those are numbers we could only dream of having.” I try to appeal to her, complimenting her armies, boosting her superiority complex. “Rumors would suggest you even have different creatures under your employ…Serpentes’, Oriks, and Shifters.” Her lips purse in contemplation. “My formal request is that your military forces join ours in common cause against King Baelor and Hadar’s Guards. This fight isn’t just one against my kingdom. As I said he will come for yours as well.”

She stands still next to me, the dagger pointed at my throat unwavering. “I see.” She lowers her weapon. Backing up towards Will, her head bobs up and down, assessing him. He tenses under her scrutiny.

“You see?” I ask, hearing the irritation now present in my voice.

“That’s what I said isn’t it?” She rolls her eyes as she circles Will. “This seems all very advantageous for you. But I don’t see how this will benefit me.” She sits down, crossing her legs on the ground, and stares up at Will. “Does it speak?” She asks, looking at me. Will, in all the years he has been my companion, has never lost the battle between propriety and rudeness. Especially not in the presence of royals - myself not included. In the span of five minutes Obsidian’s Queen has plucked at every band of my man’s restraint.

The muscle in his jaw feathers his teeth clenching together. “I speak, your Highness, I just don’t see my need to interject between your conversation with his Majesty at this time.” He keeps his stare ahead not meeting her gaze. Propriety won out it seems.

Her jaw drops as she gets back up to her feet, those golden eyes glinting with something. “Fascinating. Felix dear, did you hear that? It speaks!” She exclaims.

“I heard, YourHighness.”

Will turns his head, his eyes pleading with me to step in and end this.

“Time is not in our favor. Not with the resources dwindling as quickly as they are. To repeat myself, at this rate we won’t survive another season and then Baelor and his Guard will be right at your doorstep.” I rest my hand on her arm. A forward move maybe but I hope it appeals to her better nature, if shehasa better nature.

Her gaze drops immediately to my hand on her bicep. She takes it, grabbing onto my fingers and removing my grip as if repulsed.

“No.”

No.Just one word and yet it slices through me like a sword.No.

I see a beat of relief mixed with disappointment pass over Will’s face.

“Excuse me, did you just say ‘No’?” The grip on what little patience I had has long since passed now. No was always a possibility, Will wouldn’t shut up about it, but to still hear the word was another story.

“Do I need to spell it out for you? Here you go - N. O.” Her attention switches to picking out the blood - that is now drying on her scalp - out of her hair strands.

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