Page 128 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“Yes, bring it here.” I rummaged through it, looking for the one thing that could save us from the horde of soldiers descending upon the tiny cabin.

My pulse raced with anticipation as I pulled the Scepter of the Dead from the bag.

‘It is time,’ the Morrigan’s voice hissed in my head. ‘Bind your blood to me and let me unleash my army upon these mortals.’ Excitement radiated through her ancient voice.

Calling Little Death to my hand, I pricked my finger. A drop of blood pooled on its tip.

“Tell your soldiers no innocents are to be harmed. Only soldiers and royalty.”

‘Once you touch your blood to my scepter, the army is yours to command.’

“What are you doing?” Tharan said, his face a mix of confusion and horror.

The sound of soldiers rattled the cabin as they encircled us.

“Come out! By order of the king. We may let you live.”

I looked at Lucius.

A single tear fell down his pale cheek.

The sound of the soldiers banging their weapons against the stone cabin rang in my ears.

I looked around at the men. Just a few months ago, they were strangers to me. A pressure built behind my eyes. I knew what I had to do—the only way to save the ones I loved. I failed them so many times before. My father, my sister, Caiden; I would not fail them again.

My eyes flicked to where Caiden stood, bracing himself against the door, fighting the exhaustion.

I swallowed hard. It was time for me to leave the Traitorous Queen behind and become the Queen of the Dead.

Setting torches to the tin roof, the soldiers hoped to burn us alive. Thick black smoke blotted out the light from the candles and filled our lungs.

Rubbing my bloodied finger on the scepter, I brought the goddess to life.

‘Release me,’ the Morrigan cried. A blast of cold air flooded through the windows and doors, extinguishing the flames.

“Save us!” I yelled. “I release you. Come to my aid.”

Gripping the scepter tightly, the magic seeped into my bones, binding itself to me. I gasped for air. A chill gripped my body, slowly growing more intense with each passing moment. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. The color drained from my skin as my bones became brittle.

Phantom soldiers rose from the floor, creating a barrier between the cabin and the Highland army.

Tharan scooped me up, carrying me out the front door, where Brutus Strong paced on his dappled gray gelding. His men stared dead-eyed at the ghost army before them.

“We aren’t afraid of ghosts. Are we men?”

The men beat their chests with their fists in a sign of courage.

“Let us go, and none of your men will die,” I said in a voice conjured by the Morrigan herself.Once again, I found my body being controlled by someone else. At least this time, it was my decision. My choice.

Brutus only laughed harder. “You think these apparitions will protect you? You and your friends are nothing but ants waiting to be squashed.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Kill them, and let’s be done with it.”

Plumes of black smoke rose with the red dawn as the castle burned behind us.

This would not be my ending.

As the soldiers moved closer, I raised the scepter high above my head. “Destroy them.”

The scepter took its payment. I gasped for air as life seeped out of me and into the relic.

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