Page 9 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

“Yes. But believe me, we would need a group of powerful fae or hybrids.”

Frustration bit at me with sharp teeth. All of this was for nothing. The time I’d lost, theriskI’d taken… worthless.

Pelysian released me, shaking his head. “The barrier has fallen, Your Majesty.”

My breath caught. “Jamic?”

“Safe.”

My chest lightened, until it felt as if I might float away. The hybrid heir had somehow managed to keep my son safe, while also dealing Sabium a blow he would not forget.

Perhaps she was even more of a threat than I had first anticipated.

“According to reports, Jamic helped bring the barrier down himself,” Pelysian said.

Pride roared through me. My son was powerful. It didn’t matter that Sabium had forced that stolen power into him. That power was nowhis. And clearly, he knew how to wield it. While he had made the wise choice to ally with the hybrid heir to prevent Sabium from receiving that power, it was a temporary alliance.

The moment I came for him, we would work together.

“And what of the amulet?” I demanded.

“If you are truly determined to risk your life, we need the book you saw the king take from the castle that day.Thatwill turn the tide in this war.”

My heart raced. I’d known that book was important simply by the way Sabium kept it so close. “How will itturn the tide?”

“The book is a grimoire filled with ancient knowledge and dark magic. It is this grimoire that has allowed Sabium to lie and manipulate with such ease.”

I fought to keep my expression blank. This whole time, I had imagined Pelysian asmytool. The toolIwas dispatching to complete various tasks that would help me achieve my revenge.

Instead, he was keeping things from me. He likely knew exactly what that book did and why it was so important. And he hadn’t told me.

I silently seethed as he pressed closer to the wall, peering out at the guards. Perhaps Pelysian’s usefulness had come to an end. I could use him as a distraction, ensure he was killed, and make my escape.

But if theydidn’tkill him and chose to torture him instead, I wouldn’t be able to return to the castle to find that book.

Could I even return, after the way I’d escaped? Perhaps if I convinced the guards I’d lost consciousness in that market. Maybe a kindly merchant had healed me? I would only need to be in the castle for a short amount of time while I searched for this grimoire.

I froze. Was I truly contemplating such a thing?

Yes.

Jamic was free, but Sabium would still kill him if he could. He’d said as much.

And if you find the grimoire, you’ll be as powerful as Sabium. This continent will bow toyou.

It was a heady thought. Everything Sabium had achieved, the power he had amassed, the creatures he had leashed…

All of it could be mine.

Together, Jamic and I could rule this continent. And one day, we could turn our sights to other kingdoms in distant lands.

I would make the territory Sabium had ruled seem paltry in comparison.Iwould be the one who was ageless. And he would just be dead. My lips curled at the thought, and the expression felt strange. It had been so, so long since I’d genuinely smiled.

“Nelia is here,” Pelysian whispered.

My muscles locked up. I’d ordered Nelia to leave.

Craning my neck around Pelysian’s huge shoulder, I caught sight of a bush rustling within the forest above our heads.

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