Page 93 of What did you do?

How did I always manage to get myself into more and more trouble?

“It’s fine. You should go. Make sure Tarani is okay,” I said softly, still unable to find my voice.

“I suggest you listen, or your fate will be the same as hers,” Saracen said from behind the large desk.

Eli’s gaze volleyed between the two of us before he gave a small nod and walked toward the door. He stopped at its threshold. “Do not hurt her, or you will regret it, Mother,” he stated, not unkindly.

Her white gown rustled as she stood. Her beautiful orange-and-black wings fluttered dangerously.

“Do you think it wise to threaten me, Son?” she challenged.

It felt like even the air in the room stilled.

Eli’s gaze hardened. “I’m not threatening you, Mother. I have tied myself to Calypso. Unless you wish to kill me as well, you will not harm her,” he said matter-of-factly.

“I don’t believe you. You would never be so reckless. Look what she’s done!” Saracen’s voice began to grow.

Eli nodded respectfully to his mother and me before stepping out of the room, apparently at ease that he had secured our safety.

The queen gave a nod behind Eli, and the guards filed out behind him.

A prickle of unease tickled my neck—I didn’t like that they had followed him. Something about it was wrong.

The last sentry left, and the doors closed, locking the silence back in place.

“Clever,” Saracen crooned.

“I thought I killed him,” I said flatly. “I stabbed him between the wings. He was in a lifeless ball on the dirt when I left.”

“Clever of you to bond yourself to the dark prince and tie yourself to the prince of light… Who could hurt you now?” she singsonged, ignoring my previous statement.

“Neither one of those were my choice!” I shouted, feeling the anger rise up.

The queen’s eyes dropped to the tips of my fingers, where they had started turning black as lines of smoke caressed my knuckles.

She fluttered her wings in an annoyed fashion, pushing the smoke away from her.

“You have two choices now,” she stated, still focusing on my hands. “You will either reattempt your task of loyalty and finish the job, or you will be sent to Malvar with the other traitors, where you will pay with eternal suffering for your lies and betrayal. Commander Von is in charge over there. You remember him of course.”

Shudders wracked my body hearing his name again. “No,” I replied softly.

“No?” She squinted until her pretty face looked like a raisin.

“That’s right—no. Had you actually wanted me to succeed and complete my hit on Mendax, you would have told me what I was stepping into. Empower me as an official Seelie right now, and I will doanythingyou ask of me, Saracen.”

She stared at me a moment before sitting back down at her desk. Her crinkled-up expression softened slightly under the glow of the ceiling.

“No oneunderstands the ease with which one can fall in love with the Unseelie royals like I do,” she said. Widening her arms in a stretch, she let a bit of tension roll off her shoulders, tucking her wings away as she looked around the room, as if checking forsomeone. “You, my dear, will never have the title of a Seelie royal now. Even as a child, you were too devious for your own good. I think it’s time you learned some things about our relationship, for after today, I will neversee you again.”

No.

No. Don’t panic and do something stupid. Things could still change. Whatever it is can always change. I can still become a Seelie royal. I can marry Eli.

I was filtering my thoughts and actions so microscopically, it was like time stood still for a moment, like some other version of me was watching.

Fiercely needing comfort, my fingers trembled around my sister’s ashes.

“I was madly in love with Mendax’s father,” the queen continued.

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