Page 117 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

Renit’s power hadn’t been able to touch his eyes. Relief warred with worry inside me. Those eyes would make it more difficult for us to get close to my cousin. But knowing I would be able to see Lorian next to me…

It helped.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, wildcat.”

It was Lorian’s voice too. Something in my chest unlocked, and I could suddenly breathe properly. Now that I was looking at him, I could see his cheekbones were still too sharp to fit Regner’s face, his jaw too wide.

“Your disguise will be relatively easy, Prisca,” Galon said. “Regner does, after all, travel with servants. You’ll stay a few steps behind the rest of us until we’re close enough to strike.”

After that, things moved quickly. Someone found a uniform that looked just like the one Tibris had worn while working in Regner’s castle. I pulled it on, scraping my dark hair into a bun and burying it beneath a maroon hat.

We weren’t attempting to fool Zathrian or Eadric, I reminded myself over and over. All we needed to do was get past the hybrid guards and into the camp. Our disguise only had to be good enough to last for a few minutes. Enough time for our ship to dock.

Only moments passed before I was standing on the deck of Regner’s ship as we approached the Cursed City. Someone had ordered Kaliera to join us, and she stood in full view of anyone who could see our ship. She wasn’t happy that Conreth had taken Jamic with him once more.But I was pleased they were separated. According to Marth, Jamic had defended his mother’s actions when we were in Thobirea.

“She has already suffered more in her life than most would suffer in several lifetimes,” he’d said. “Few could truly blame her for grasping at whatever power she could. For trying to control anything that could make her own life a little easier.”

In reality, many, many people could blame her for exactly that. And Jamic’s defense of his mother was concerning enough that all of us had agreed to keep them apart.

It was natural for him to want to see the good in Kaliera. Unfortunately, she would destroy any good inhimif she could.

The ship rolled beneath me, and I grabbed the rigging, turning my attention to the dock in the distance. Zathrian had been busy rebuilding it, but it was already falling apart in places, wooden beams straining against gravity—likely thanks to our grandmother’s curse, which continued to prevent anyone from building on this land.

“The hags must be working with Regner and Zathrian,” Galon said as we approached. It was strange seeing him in Eprothan colors. “They hold the remains of this city, and they wouldn’t allow Zathrian to build his camp directly outside it without some bargain in place.”

Marth’s lip curled. “It’s a good thing Rythos isn’t here to see this. He’d befriend the bitches and create chaos like they’d never seen. On second thought…it’s a shame he couldn’t attend this little meeting.”

Guards converged on the dock as we approached.The captain roared orders, his voice carrying over the wind as he stood at the ship’s wheel.

I studied the faces of the guards below us, ready to order our retreat if necessary.

But while many of them stared at Lorian and Kaliera, those glances were fearful and rage-filled…not suspicious.

This was good news. If the hybrids here hated Regner, it would be easier to convince them to march with us.

A crewman with the agility of a cat perched at the bow of our ship, casting a thick hemp rope toward the dockhands below. They caught it with ease, securing it swiftly to one of the wobbling bollards.

By now, messengers would be taking the news of Regner’s arrival to my cousin. Since he’d spent so much time with the human king, I had no doubt Zathrian would immediately see through Lorian’s disguise. That was expected. We simply needed to get close enough to him to strike.

My palms turned damp. I stood a few footspans behind Lorian since Regner wouldn’t surround himself with servants unless he needed something. His shoulders tensed slightly, and he smoothly launched into motion, strolling down the gangway.

Fuck.

Lorian was attempting to tamp down his natural fae grace. But it was like watching a leopard imitate a sheep. Galon let out a string of quiet curses, realizing the problem, and managed to walk more like a human. Kaliera shot me a scathing look, lifted her head, and walked down after him.

Unfortunately, Marth could have been walking alonga tree limb for how gracefully he strolled. Clearly, he hadn’t recognized any problem at all. He was too busy sweeping his gaze over the guards, searching for threats.

A soldier approached, walking with the stiff formality of the highly ranked. His gaze slid over Lorian’s and met mine as I trailed after them, making a point of stumbling on the ramp like the human I wasn’t. As if I could somehow make up for the fae grace he’d just witnessed. He pressed his lips together.

“Your Majesty.” He bowed to Lorian. “My name is Orivan.”

His eyes slid over to me again, and I shuddered with relief. Blynth and Tymriel had assured me he was sympathetic to our cause, but there had always been the chance we were walking into a trap.

Orivan nodded at my unspoken question. “I will take you to the hybrid heir,” he said loudly. “He will wish to receive you immediately.”

“I suggest you focus on walking like a human,” he said under his breath, and Marth glanced bemusedly at his feet, as if wondering how exactly he was supposed to achievethat.

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