Page 11 of The Nightmare Queen

“What is wrong with you?” The question slips out before I can stop it. “You’d let a tyrant continue, let two more kingdoms fall? Risk losing your own in the process? Do so many lives at stake mean so little to you, your Highness?” I’ve resorted to yelling at her it seems.

She turns to her councilman. “Felix.”

He nods. “Of course.” His arms wave out to Will and I. “I can show you both to your quarters. You must be exhausted from the outer lands.”He descends the dais, motioning for us to follow him. Eveera offers us a sarcastic wave without looking back up.

“I’m sorry. But,” I spin in place and walk back towards her wagging my finger, “no. You can’t just say no without fully hearing me out.” She stares at me, a smirk playing on her lips. She wants a challenge, a game?Fine, I can do that. “You denied our request to portal here, but allowed us at the gates.” My fists ball up. “You kept us waiting for gods know how long, parade around covered in gods know what, just todismiss us?Your attitude is one that would have your pretty little head in most places. Queen or not.” All I can see is red at this point. She is the ONE chance I have left to save my own kingdom and she rejected my request in a matter of ten minutes.

My last hope dashed inten minutes.

“But we aren’t anywhere else are we? So unfortunately my ‘pretty little head’ will stay seated right between my shoulders. Thehorror.” She mock pouts in my direction.

“You, you, YOU!” I step forward. My feet are moving before my mind can stop me. I’m completely out of control and crossing too many lines. She sits there watching my fit with a stupid grin on her face.

“Me, me, ME.” She taunts and magic flares in my palms.

Will’s voice sounds behind me. “Rorin, back off. She’s said her piece today and we need to rest.” He steps onto the first step grabbing at my wrist, but I stay rooted in place.

“No, Will.” My finger makes contact with her sternum as if to grind my point in, “we trekked for six fucking days. All the while, I had to listen to your complaining ass through those damn monster infested woods. We had one chance to convince her that this is worth her time. The least she can do is sit and have a proper negotiation with us.” I look between the two of them.

“Rorin, you are out of…” he stops, voice trailing off. I turn my head to look at him but, his pupils are blown wide. Righting myself, my eyes follow where his were drawn. Everything has gone deathly still. Eveera starts to laugh quietly, that stupid smile turning feral.

“You shouldn’t have touched me.” We both look down to where my finger is still pressed against her. “It upsets her.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.

“Her?” Will and I both say at the same time, as a pair of large golden eyes appear out of the cave mouth behind the throne and a black dragon’s head moves into view directly behind the queen.

Ohfuck.

Eveera

This is always my favorite part. Vada, as deadly as she looks, won’t make a move unless I give her the directive. Not that they know that. But scaring them shitless is just as fun to me as watching her rip someone a part. The princeling will think twice before getting so bold a second time.

“He touches you again and it’ll be a bonfire.”she speaks down the bond while growling audibly for everyone. The fear spikes into his companion’s eyes, his name slipping from my mind.I’ll call you Mousy,I think. Much to my dismay, the prince looks less afraid and more awestruck.

“I’ll handle it.”I tell her.

She huffs a hot roll of steam, clacking her teeth in warning before retreating until once again only the glow of her eyes are visible. “Fine. You’ve made your point for today. I will meet you both tomorrow morning in the courtyard. You wish to converse andnegotiatethen meet me there and we’ll talk. Felix,” He looks expectantly at me, “handle the rest of this for me.” I step past the prince forcing him to drop his hand from my sternum.

The blood has begun to dry on my skin and I smell like a butcher shop. “Thank you.” His companion says quietly.

Cute, I say to myself.Let them think this will get them what they want.I turn, smiling pleasantly, “oh andprinceling,” he bristles at the nickname, “touch me again and I’ll have to portal your ashes back to Vellar.”

My feet carry me down the rest of the steps. “You can touch me but I can’t touch you, huh?” He asks from over my shoulder. I ignore him.

Once out the door I slip into one of the passageways cutting through the castle and go straight to my bedroom. My shower calls to me the moment I am in the room. It was quick work removing the sticky clothes and hopping under the stream. My head falls back against the wall, rivulets of water tinge pink as they roll down my skin.Bleeding gods, this day.

KNOCK KNOCK!

If I have to entertain another person today….“I’m in the showerrrrr.” I groan turning the faucet off. My hands are fumbling my hair up into a towel on the top of my head when I whip open the left side door to my bedroom. “What?!” I snap.

Felix’s face is stunned for a moment, before his eyes avert towards the ceiling. “The Prince and his companion are settled in at the end of this wing. I have Maxwell and Orem guarding their rooms.” My hands move to pull the hem of my nightdress down a little more.

“Felix.” He keeps his eyes fixed on the ceiling.Snap! Snap!“Felix. You can look down now.” His head slowly lowers warily, both shoulders slouching in relief when he notices the dress is appropriately covering my body.

I walk across the room and crawl into my bed, the mattress sinking underneath my weight while Felix stands at the foot. “How long am I playing host for?” I ask.

“Six days.” He replies and I groan audibly. “You have avoided these sorts of interactions for ten years Evie. There was bound to be a time when someone would come knocking on our doors sooner rather than later.” He moves around the bed tucking my hand in between his.

I hate it. The softness of it too much, too overwhelming.

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