Page 146 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

“It wasn’t a perfect plan,” he ground out. “But if the elders had cooperated, I would have ensured they helped me get as many hybrids home as possible while Regner was distracted. As long as he thought I was allying withhim, he didn’t see me as a threat.”

“It wasn’t just the fae he would kill, though, was it? I would also conveniently end up dead, and so would Demos—ending anyone who could challenge you for the throne. And anyone who fought under our banner would die on this continent too.”

His mouth tightened. “Yes,” he conceded. “That was my plan.”

“Great.” Stepping back, I glanced around his tent. “I hope it was worth it.”

“You’re not listening, Nelayra,” he snarled when I backed up a step toward the entrance. And then he frowned. “Where is your power?”

The question was so unexpected, I barely hid my flinch. But his eyes widened.

I cleared my throat. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“My power allows me to feel time magic in order to…nullify it. And yet I never felt your power when you arrived…” The back of my neck itched at the way his voice trailed off.

“It’s gone.” There was no point in lying. My allies knew I couldn’t access my power. And soon every hybrid here would too.

“It’sgone?” He let out a choked sound somewhere between amusement and disgust.

“Yes. Likely because of what I did when…”

“When I helped kill your fae mate.”

“Yes.” I studied Zathrian’s face. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. Whatever it was, I didn’t find it.

He was silent for a long moment. “This was thebiggest logic flaw in Regner’s own lies, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“The idea that the gods could take our power—even if we offered it.”

I sat in the wooden chair next to the tent entrance. “I don’t understand.”

“The gods are bound by their own laws, just as we are.” He gave me another one of his disparaging looks. “Of course, since you were raised human, you only interacted with those with far more limited life-spans, which meant they were easily misled by Regner’s lies. But the gods can’t take that which they have given.”

He was playing with me. But some part of me couldn’t help but ask, “If the gods can’t take my power, then where did it go?”

“I didn’t say they can’t hide magic. They can, after all, play with us in all kinds of diabolical ways.” He raised his chained hands. “As this experience has already proven,” he said bitterly.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes,youare the true victim in this war. You’re saying the gods hid my magic from me?”

“I’m saying that is the most they could do. But that which can be hidden can also be found. Perhaps you didn’t truly want to find it. Or perhaps you just didn’t try hard enough.”

My stomach twisted, tiny spots appearing before my eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

He shrugged. “You don’t have to. But you know what I think? I think you woke up without your power, and you subconsciously latched on to that as the punishment the gods gave you for turning back time those few seconds.Some part of you was relieved at the thought that the loss of your power was your punishment. Because it meant your punishment wouldn’t involve losing anyone else you loved in this war.”

Bile crawled up my throat. Stumbling to my feet, I turned to go.

“Wait.”

I shook my head. Behind me, his words came faster.

“Yes, I might have gotten tangled in my own desperate need to rule. Yes, I may have almost cost you the man you love. And I’m sure you hate me for that. But you have to listen. For our people.” His voice was desperate now, cracking on the last word.

Slowly, I turned. “You have two minutes.”

And he began to speak.

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