Page 7 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

The most powerful fae on this continent was watching his mate fade by the day. And the strain of it was obvious in the white knuckles of his fists, the wild, unhinged gleam I’d seen in the single glimpse I’d had of his eyes, the sharp metallic tang in the air—as if lightningwas about to spear into the cabin.

“Do you need a moment to pull yourself together?” I asked.

“Careful.” The word was a low croon. Clearly, my attempt at levity had failed.

“Prisca would—”

“There are many things Prisca would do if she were awake. She is not.”

And I was finished cowering. Straightening my spine, I lifted my head, relief flowing through me as I found him watching Prisca once more.

“What is it you want?”

That gaze slid to mine again. It wasburning. My stomach churned. With Prisca unconscious, we at least needed Lorian to keep his sanity.

“What is wrong with you?” I demanded.

A shadow stole over his face. “Nothing. I need to release some power. That is all.” His eyes returned to Prisca, as if it had physically pained him to look away for even this long. “Vicer has not replied to Galon’s message. He was due to return by now. We need to know the current status of the hybrids—both at that camp, and those who will travel toward the Asric Pass.”

And he wanted me to go.

I thought about it. I traveled quickly, I was powerful, and if Vicer was in trouble, I felt confident that I could help him. Besides, as much as I would prefer to stay close to the ship that would take me to my new life, such thoughts were useless if we risked losing this war and any chance of a future.

“I’ll go.”

Lorian nodded. This was the cold mercenary Prisca had likely first met. How she’d fallen in love with him, I would never understand. But my own gaze drifted back to Prisca. She was so fucking pale.

“She’s going to be fine,” I said. This was not how it ended. Not for Prisca, and not for us. I knew that, deep in my bones.

Because if I was wrong…

“I know.” Lorian spoke the words with full confidence, as if he would accept nothing less. But that sharp, metallic scent had filled the air once more.

Swallowing back the useless words on the tip of my tongue, I walked out.

2

The Queen

I clawed at the hand covering my mouth. Another hand pinched the skin beneath my ribs, and I bucked.

“Shh.”

That voice was familiar.

I let out a grunt, and the hand tightened. “You made a mistake coming here, Your Majesty. I suggest you pray to whichever gods you favor that we will live through this.”

Pelysian allowed me to turn my head just enough to meet his gaze. His eyes were hard, and something in my chest relaxed as they left my own, lingering instead on the thousands of monsters chained within the mine. For the first time since I’d known him, his face drained of color, terror tightening his features.

“We are leaving,” he whispered. “Now.”

Slowly, as if he couldn’t trust me not to scream and get both of us killed, he removed his hand from my mouth. I gave him the look his actions deserved.

He ignored me, jerking his head and gesturing for me to follow. But I still wanted that amulet. When I hesitated, he bared his teeth in a way that made it clear he wouldcarry me out if he felt he needed to.

Once, I’d thought him a loyal subject. Now, Pelysian knew neither of us could afford for the other to be caught. And he was treating me accordingly.

I didn’t like it.

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