Page 163 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

“What are they saying?” I asked Lorian as we led our horses through a particularly muddy section of path.

He was silent for a long moment. Because he wanted to protect me, I reminded myself. And yet, we didn’t have the luxury of sparing anyone’s feelings, especially my own.

“Lorian. I need to know.”

“Galon’s handling it, wildcat.”

“I can tell you what they’re saying,” Kaliera said scornfully.

Turning, I glanced over my shoulder. She sat on her horse, which was currently being led by a soldier. Previs, I think his name was.

Lorian made a warning sound in his throat. Kaliera either didn’t hear it or chose not to heed it.

“They’re saying you’re cursed. That the gods are punishing us for following you,” she announced, her voice loud enough that it would have carried through the first few lines of soldiers behind us.

“You’re not following,” Marth said. “You’reaprisoner.” He looked at me. “You sure you don’t want me to kill her?”

Previs tensed. Ah. She had gotten to him. I should have expected that. Next to Marth, Galon’s gaze lingered on the soldier. He’d noticed too.

“No,” I said. “We promised Jamic we wouldn’t.” A reminder of the son she claimed to love so much. The son currently with Lorian’s brother.

Yet Kaliera gave me a smug smile. Water dripped down her face. “Why exactly are we following you?” She glanced over her shoulder to where Zathrian was leading his own horse, the heavy manacles on his wrists clinking against the chain between them. “After all,” Kaliera said, raising her voice until she was almost yelling, “you no longer even have access to your power.”

Zathrian’s eyes met mine. And he smiled.

The sight of it set my teeth on edge. Hot fury roared through me. Perhaps I’d only imagined that voice screaming at me not to kill him. Already, the decision was proving to be a mistake.

His smile disappeared.

We were traveling beneath a shallow outcrop in an effort to avoid the worst of the rain. And it allowed me to hear the whispers that broke out among the soldiers marching in the front lines. Those whispers turned to murmurs.

Lorian had moved a few footspans ahead, checking the path for any slips or blockages. But a moment later, he was suddenly next to me, his movement so fast, I jolted, startling my poor horse.

Galon soothed my horse, murmuring to her as Lorianlooked at Kaliera. I glanced over my shoulder and found the fae everyone had known as the Bloodthirsty Prince. His cheekbones looked sharper, his ears more pointed, and his eyes burned with barely restrained wrath.

Kaliera froze. Her skin slowly drained of color, and a fine tremble shuddered through her as she stared her death in the face.

Lorian’s gaze turned from her, flickering warningly over the soldiers in the front lines.

They went silent.

But it was too late. I had no doubt Kaliera’s words were making their way back through our army.

“Previs, switch with Reon,” Galon ordered.

The soldier nodded immediately. But he gave Kaliera one last glance as he turned.

Galon’s eyes lingered on him.

“We need to keep moving,” I said. I should have accounted for Kaliera’s poison. Should have ordered that only the most experienced, loyal soldiers were to interact with her.

Lorian leaned forward, ignoring the eyes on us as he placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. Shockingly, my eyes burned.

I was just tired. That’s all it was.

But as we continued marching toward our friends and families, who even now might be dying beneath Regner’s onslaught…

The insidious thought played over and over in my mind.

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