Page 205 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

The look she gave me was chilling. But the grief had left her face. In its place was a kind of remote coldness. An expression that made goose bumps rise on my skin.

Clutching her hourglass, she froze time for Regner and only Regner.

No one spoke as Prisca crossed the space between them. I barely breathed.

Her face was drawn and pale, tears still drying on her cheeks. But her eyes were filled with icy wrath.

She released her hold on time just as she pulled her sword.

Regner’s eyes widened.

And Prisca buried that sword in his chest.

He choked, his expression uncomprehending. And slowly, his face began to change. His nose lengthened, his eyes turned a dusky blue, his cheeks slimmed. Those were the features he would have had if he hadn’t killed and replaced the boys he’d pretended were his own.

My eyes found Jamic. He stared uncomprehendingly at Regner. As if his mind couldn’t reconcile what he was seeing.

Regner dropped to the ground. Lifeless.

And just like that, the Eprothan king was dead.

Prisca turned and walked away, her eyes filled with anguish and despair.

Asinia still clutched the orb, even in death. Demos had curled up next to her, and he snarled at us as we approached.

When he looked at me, I shivered.

Daharak stepped up next to me. “I know when a man wants to kill someone, and I suggest you get on my ship sooner rather than later.”

I nodded. “Glad you’re alive.”

“You too. Sorry about your friend.”

This time, I didn’t deny that Asinia had been a friend. A deep, dark hole was opening up inside my chest.

Prisca sat next to Asinia and took her hand. Her face was as lifeless as Regner’s.

And then the orb began to glow once more.

“It’s heating up!” Tibris said.

Lorian snatched Prisca and hauled her away, ignoring her struggles. Herne grabbed Tibris, who cursed at him but allowed him to pull him several feet from Asinia’s body.

Demos didn’t move. His sister screamed for him, and he still didn’t move.

Daharak tensed. “Purehearted,” she laughed, but it was bitter. “Perhaps the gods are the ones who decide such things.”

What did she—

The light flared, until several people cried out. I slammed my eyes closed.

And when I opened them again, Demos was holding Asinia’s body and rocking once more.

Only this time, she was holding him back. Her eyes slid open, and I caught sight of somethingmorewithin them.

And then it was gone. “Please tell me Regner is dead,” she said.

Prisca was immediately by her side. “You’re in so much trouble.”

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