Page 41 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

“And Lisveth?”

“These fools won’t survive what’s coming. I’mdoing them a favor.”

Cold rage swept through me. But I looked past her.

“Sabium, please.”

“Call me by my name, my love.”

I shuddered. “Regner.” The word was almost soundless, my voice hoarse. But he smiled.

This had all been a game to him. He’d allowed me to eat with Zathrian, to learn of his alliance, and to know exactly how the barrier had fallen. Then he’d used Alcandre to trap me.

And Lisveth.

Poor, sweet Lisveth.

Tears were streaming down Pelopia’s face. Caraceli was struggling in the guard’s arms. They knew they were about to die.

I inhaled, sharp and quick, shoring up my resolve.

I couldn’t help them.

My hands were moving before I understood what I was doing.

And I shoved Alcandre toward them, darting toward the door.

Sabium’s laugh rang out behind us.

“Where do you think you’re going,Your Majesty?” Tymedes taunted. “Our king allowed me the honor of finally killing you.”

I ran faster.

The guards outside my room frowned at me, confused. “He has gone mad,” I snapped. “Protect me!”

One of the guards pulled his sword. Ducking into my room, I panted for breath.

“Stand down!” Tymedes roared at the guards.

I hiccupped out a sob, lunging for my mirror. Tymedes’s huge bulk swept into the room, just footspans behind me.

“Face your fate.” Tymedes swung his sword, and I ducked, lunging into the mirror.

Tymedes’s palm hit the glass. Our eyes met for a single moment, and his sword slammed into the mirror behind me, shattering the glass.

Would I be trapped here, in the between place?

My scream was ripped from my lungs as I lunged for the light on the other side.

Pelysian’s mother turned, head angled, as if she had been expecting me.

And I dropped to my knees, staring at the black ruin of the mirror on this side.

Lisveth’s trembling lips flashed in front of my eyes. The foolish child hadn’t deserved such a fate. But women so rarely received what they deserved. And much would be sacrificed to kill Sabium.

Still, my stomach swam at the uselessness of it all. At the sheer waste. I hadn’t stolen the grimoire. All I had managed to accomplish was allowing Sabium to know exactly how I had plotted against him.

Pelopia and Caraceli were dead, as were the others. Alcandre would die too, and hopefully,herdeath would be long and painful. It was only a matter of time.

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