Page 126 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

“I am. When I saw you get in that water, I wanted to strangle you myself.” He tightened his hand a little, then released me.

And just like that, all relaxation disappeared.

“You’re welcome,” I snapped.

“Thank you,” Demos said gravely. “Please don’t ever do that again.”

“I won’t.”

It was quite unlikely we would ever be in a situation that involved a dark lake, a fae amulet, and vicious, deadly serpent creatures.

Demos narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth.

Someone let out a string of curses, and we both turned.

Gwynara lifted her head, tears running down her face.

“It’s not the real amulet,” she said, her voice cracking. “It’s a fake.”

21

Prisca

“Cousin,” Zathrian said, that wide grin never leaving his face as he ran his gaze over me. “Was this disguise truly supposed to work?” His gaze drifted to Lorian, and I stepped closer to him, noting the way Lorian’s ears had already begun to turn pointed, the way his cheekbones were beginning to sharpen. But something that might have been surprise flickered across Zathrian’s face when he spotted Kaliera.

“No,” I said. “I merely wanted to visit. And something told me you wouldn’t allow us to stroll through the gates otherwise.”

Eadric snarled. “Kill them.”

Crossbows were suddenly pointed at us from all directions. Lightning cracked the sky as Lorian tensed in response.

My mind suddenly threw me back to that moment outside Lesdryn, when Regner’s men had pointed crossbows of their own at us. Lorian had made them very, very sorry.

Orivan held up a hand. “This is not the way of our people,” he said to Zathrian. “If you were to kill the only other heir to the hybrid throne without a fair fight, things would not go well for you. In fact, I wouldwager that you would find it very difficult to convince these regiments to march beneath your flag.”

“You are a traitor. And you will lose your head for this,” Eadric vowed. But most of the guards dropped their crossbows and swords at Orivan’s words, many of them staring intently at me. Zathrian’s grin turned tense around the edges.

“Cousin,” I said. “I challenge you.”

“Youchallengeme?” he laughed. “And am I to believe that the fae bastards next to you won’t become involved the moment it looks like you’re about to die?”

I smiled at him. “Lorian, Marth, Galon,” I said, never taking my eyes off Eadric’s, “this is the man who killed Cavis.”

Three feral snarls sounded behind me. “I challenge you,” they said in unison.

Movement beside me. Lorian was slowly turning his head. Galon rolled his eyes, waving a hand. “Fine.”

Marth had gone still, and his gaze was stuck to Lorian’s.

“He’s mine,” Marth said.

“I don’t think so.”

Eadric’s eyes glittered, as if this was all just too much fun. But tense lines bracketed his eyes as two of the most powerful fae in existence jostled for the pleasure of killing him.

He’d been more than happy to torture me and Cavis when we were chained. When we were imprisoned.

Lorian leaned over and murmured something to Marth. Marth stiffened. But after a long, tense moment, he nodded.

---