Page 80 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

Finally, she was calling him Regner. Was it because he was now hunting for her?

“What happened?”

“I attempted to steal Regner’s grimoire. Alcandre betrayed me.” One hand buried itself in her dress. “You don’t seem surprised.”

“You taught those women everything they knew.”

“The rest of them are dead.”

She’d said it to shock both me and Madinia. Andit worked. My eyes stung, and Lorian wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Next to us, Madinia let out a small, broken sound. But I was watching Kaliera, and while her words might have hurt us, they hurt her too.

Still, I’d learned enough about this woman to know that didn’t mean she would change a single decision she’d made. Even if those decisions had led to their deaths.

“I want to see my son,” she said.

I wasn’t surprised by her demand, but I squared my shoulders. “He’s currently busy.”

“You will allow me to see him.” Her voice was imperious, the tone insisting she would accept no argument. It wasn’t unlike Madinia’s tone when she was in a mood. Of course, this was the woman she had learned such behavior from.

“He’s not here. Unlike his mother, who is only interested in saving her own skin, Jamic will use his power to save innocents whenever he can.”

She didn’t bother denying my accusation. But her lips tightened. “When will he return?”

“Soon.”

Kaliera’s eyes glittered. “I know where the last amulet is.”

I forced my expression to remain neutral, even as my heart began to race. “And?”

“And I know how to get to it.”

“How?”

“I went searching for it. Before I attempted to steal the grimoire. But I was unable to retrieve it.” Her tone was neutral, but I caught the flicker of fury in her eyes.

“How convenient,” Lorian rumbled. He’d pinned herwith a hard stare.

He had a point. The queen had allegedly attempted to find the two artifacts we needed the most. She’d found neither and had instead turned up here empty-handed.

“It is in the same place he has been breeding his monsters. A mine named Lyrishade.”

Now, my heart began beating faster. If Regner kept his monsters there, we could kill them at the same time as we stole the amulet.

“Tell us what you know.”

“As soon as I see my son.”

I laughed. Kaliera’s nostrils flared, and I took a single step closer to her. “Let me be clear. We do not trust you. How do we know Regner did not send you here with this story? Even if he truly did turn on you, this may be the way you decide to reach his inner circle once more. I’m not risking my people on your word.”

She opened her mouth, and I shook my head. “You will see your son as soon as we have the amulet and I know for sure our people aren’t going to end up trapped.”

“You’ll tell us every detail, or I’ll make sure your son dies,” Madinia said. “I could probably make it look like an accident. Jamic likes me, you know. He thinks we’re friends.”

I hid my wince. Madinia didn’t make idle threats. But of all of us, she was the one Jamic trusted the most— especially after she’d saved his life.

She wouldn’t. I couldn’t believe she would kill someone who thought of her as a friend. Not in cold blood.

But Kaliera certainly seemed to think she would. She stared at Madinia for a long moment.

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