Page 40 of These Violent Delights

Startled, the Beast Queen gasped, “What—?”

But Lady Divine was relentless.She twisted the blade with a wicked grin, aiming for maximum damage.“Surprise!”she taunted.

The Beast Queen's eyes filled with a mix of rage and disbelief as she crumpled to the ground.The battlefield seemed to pause for a moment, the shock of the Beast Queen's fall rippling through her forces.Thrilled with her success, Lady Divine stood over her fallen foe and smirked.“Game over, loser.”

There was a shocked pause as everyone realized what had happened.As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, Lady Divine looked down at the Beast Queen's lifeless body, feeling a rush of triumph, completely unapologetic for her actions.This victory was hers, and she had no regrets.

The crowd, a mix of loyalists and rebels, watched in awe and trepidation.Lady Divine's eyes sparkled with ambition as she raised her arms, ready to proclaim herself queen.She had planned for this moment, with a whole speech prepared.

But just as the words were about to leave her lips, a sharp pain pierced her back.Her eyes widened in shock as she felt the cold steel of a dagger.The crowd gasped, and a murmur of confusion spread through the ranks.Lady Divine staggered as she tried to turn and face her attacker.

The unknown assailant, cloaked in shadows, withdrew the blade and disappeared into the chaos.Lady Divine fell to her knees, clutching her wound, her moment shattered.The crowd erupted into panic, unsure of what to do or who to follow.

Chaos spread among the cult members, who had finally had enough of their leaders' treacherous ways.In a frenzy, they turned on each other, killing anyone in their path.The goblins seized the opportunity, wiping out any of the fleeing cult members they could find.

“Don't let them escape!”Ozzy roared, spurring his battle ram in pursuit.

Meanwhile, Zelda was on the roof, guzzling water.She was parched!All around her, the gargoyles flew, celebrating their victory.They finally settled like oversized birds on the walls, preening with satisfaction.

The flock leader landed on the wall in front of her and greeted her with a squawk.He tilted his head to look at her out of one bird-like eye and then began to clean his stone scales.Like the others, he was covered in gore.

“Thank you, and welcome home,” she said with gratitude.She took a piece of jerky out of her pocket and began to take stock.She was in the yard, deep in after-battle details, when she was interrupted by cries of, “Look there!Look out!”

Olly, barely clinging to consciousness, crash-landed his kite outside the castle, overturning the basket and dumping him out.Guards rushed to his aid, and Zelda hurried out, sensing trouble.

“What happened?What news?”one of the guards demanded as he helped the battered young man to stand.

Olly weaved, and the guard steadied him so he could report.“Ozzy...surrounded...cult...outnumbered...he’s in trouble...”

“Outnumbered!Where is he?”Zelda looked around, realizing that Ozzy and most of the army had disappeared in pursuit of the enemy.

Blood dripped from Olly’s wounds as he struggled to speak.He nodded in the direction he’d come from.“There were more of them.Lots.”

Zelda’s expression hardened, her mind racing with the implications of the mage’s message.They didn’t have enough men.

She turned to her guards, issuing commands.“Clear a path in front of the castle.”

“How wide?”the guard asked, not questioning the order.

“Wide,” she snapped, her mind racing.She looked at Olly.“You did well.”She looked at the guard supporting him.“Take him to the healers.”

She headed to the great hall.The gargoyles wouldn’t go after Ozzy.They only protected their castle home.

“My lady!Ozzy needs reinforcements now!”Quill said, dogging her heels.

“I’m on it,” she said, pausing in the great hall.

“But...”

“Shut up,” she ordered him, and closed her eyes.What she planned had never been done.That just meant she’d be the first, she told herself fiercely.

At first, the castle resisted.

“Move,” she whispered.

It ignored her.She wanted the impossible.

Zelda ground her teeth.“I am a daughter of legends.You.Will.Move.”

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