Page 105 of The Flame King's Queen

My eyes narrow angrily. If that is its aim, it will never make me believe that. I don’t wish to speak of Zabriel, and so I ask, “Where did you come from?”

The lich makes a loft gesture toward the north. “From far across the mountains a thousand years ago, from a land where magic is everywhere, but I cannot be free. There are powerful sorcerers, too clever for me to possess. Dragonriders are so wonderfully weak and foolish.” It grins widely, showing Zabriel’s dragines. His eyes flicker a terrifying green.

“What do you want from me?”

“I thought that was obvious.”

“I’m spoken for.”

The lich throws back Zabriel’s head and laughs. “Not in that way, you stupid girl. I have watched you through Emmeric’s eyes for a long time. I felt you wake the dragonriders, and I knew I had to meet you. The Brethren were supposed to bring you to me. I’ve tested your magic and your fortitude, and they are…” It trails off with a dreamy smile. “Delicious. That is the only word. So like myself when I was still mortal, though it has been a long, long time.”

I have a sinking feeling about what the lich wants, and his next words confirm it.

It steps forward, green eyes burning, voice demanding. “I want to possess your body. Imustpossess your body. We will be together always.”

“So why haven’t you done it?”

Zabriel’s lip curls in disgust. “I am able to possess the weak-minded and use their bodies for a short time. It is different with mages. For our magic to meld, you must accept me willingly, or at least allow me to trick you into opening your mind to me.”

“I will never accept you willing,” I burst out. “Do you think all the death and destruction that I’ve witnessed by your hand has been nothing to me? Do you think I have not felt the utmost grief and anger toward you after seeing you kill my brother and mother so cruelly? That it didn’t rip my heart out day after day wrapping and burning the bodies of the hundreds of villagers you killed?”

The lich isn’t listening. It continues speaking in that uncanny, singsong voice. “Emmeric was growing tiresome. I thought he would survive a little longer while you grew into your power, and I could catch you unawares. Sorcerers always make arrogant, foolish mistakes—even me. You were able to spy on me after I gave you his amulet. You thought he wanted to protect that useless dragon, but it was you who needed protection. I wanted you to grow strong, and you have. Soon, under my guiding hand, you’ll be magnificent.”

The lich sketches his fingers through the air, and an image of me forms with blazing green eyes and a hard, cruel smile. Esmeral is curled around me with her teeth bared and similar green eyes. There’s no mercy or warmth in the image, only cold, cruel ambition. My skin crawls, and the image vanishes.

“I’m not a sorcerer. I’m a witch, and we don’t make arrogant, foolish mistakes, and neither can we be tempted by power that we haven’t earned. You won’t ever be able to possess me. I won’t open up to you willingly like Emmeric did, and if you’re standing here talking to me through Zabriel, it seems like you can’t force yourself into my mind either. So begone. Go away.Fuck off.” It’s satisfying to use coarse dragonrider language. It makes me feel like they’re all here with me, lending me their strength.

The lich’s evil smile widens. “Our magic is the same, little dragon queen. You are able to walk through the planes into other worlds almost as easily as me. I can give you power and teach you things you never dreamed were possible. I am the rightful ruler of Maledin, and I have been happy to rule from the shadows, but now I want to come into the light of day, and I am willing to share that position with you. Aren’t I generous?”

While it speaks nonsense, my eyes dart around, searching for something I can use as a weapon, or a way to make an escape. Where could I run even if I was able to flee?

“I understand that you have been frustrated about your position as an Omega,” it continues. “You’re worried about your daughter, who will certainly be an Omega. She should have as much power as the Alphas, shouldn’t she? I can see that both of you have the respect you deserve.” The lich looks down at Zabriel’s body and then back up at me. “This body has controlled you. Made you submit. He hurts you. Bites you. Makes you bleed. Don’t you hate him deep down for taking you away from your family and putting you on the throne? I know you fear him. All Alphas are tyrants.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I can see your face in his memories. All the times you looked at him in fear are burned on his soul.”

“That was before,” I cry, shaking my head. “That was such a long time ago. Zabriel knows I don’t fear him now. I love him.”

“Then why are his memories so bright and so easy for me to pick through? He thinks about your fear all the time. He doesn’t want you to be afraid. Allow me into your heart and mind, and you’ll never have to be afraid again. Hewantsthis for you. Together we will rule Maledin, and no harm will come to your mate. You can keep him as your plaything, and he can father as many children with you as you both desire. Our minds and magic will meld so beautifully. Even if you have doubts now, I promise you will not regret it later.”

He reaches his hand out to me, like a lover.

“Emmeric regretted accepting you.”

“That is a lie,” the lich seethes, dropping his hand.

“All the power you gave him didn’t make him stop protecting his dragon. Wanting an Omega. Craving someone or something to love him, despite everything that you’d made him do. You’re not as tempting as you think you are.”

“Shut up!” it shouts.

All the air is sucked out of my lungs. I wrap my hands around my throat as I feel myself choke. I can’t draw a breath, and my lungs begin to scream in agony. A moment later, the lich releases me, and I fall forward onto my hands, coughing.

“Look what you made me do,” it storms past me, pacing up and down. “I am offering you an equal partnership, something your cretin of a mate never could, and yet you are refusing me. Are you stubborn, or are you completely stupid? I warn you, Isavelle, nothing makes me more enraged than being thwarted. Emmeric was a useful host for many hundreds of years, but you and I could wield insurmountable power unlike either of us has ever known. I tried dragon soul cores to bolster my strength. The black and green dragon that belonged to the stupid little girl who Emmeric was infatuated with was an interesting source of power, for a time. I tried other dragon’s soul cores, but I have never liked dragon magic. It tastes greasy and sets my teeth on edge, unlike sweet and delicious human magic. The magic that is first and foremost in your veins, witch.”

I stare at the ground, panting while I catch my breath. Then I sit up and slowly get to my feet. “No matter what you offer me, I will never accept. I will do everything in my power to prevent you from taking the throne of Maledin and wreaking centuries more suffering on the people.”

The lich stares at me coldly for a long time. “Then you leave me no choice. Using this form, I will kill everyone you love, one by one, and make you watch. You remember what I did to your brother and mother? How much they suffered as razor-sharp vines grew through their bodies? Your sister’s and father’s sufferings will be a hundred times worse and last many weeks. I will kill your friends among the dragonriders and the wingrunners. You will not be able to hide the ones you love because your mate is giving me all their names and faces as we speak. Mother Linnea. Ravenna the witch. The stupid, lovelorn captain. I will slit your dragon’s throat in front of her offspring and drown them in her blood.”

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