Page 27 of Spells of Shadow and Blood

“Queen Donika!”

“The king died with no heirs. On this day, a new queen is born!”

Among the cheering and revelry, I caught Annikin’s gaze.

There was one more problem we needed to take care of before we couldtrulycelebrate.

But try as I might, I couldn’t find him. I searched the palace, searched the whole of Akra, but he had simply…disappeared.

Alastir had vanished into thin air.

SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD

Ihad used every spell in my arsenal in those following years, but Alastir had completely vanished. I wasn’t one to let go of a grudge, and I had made it my mission to find him and kill him. He had seen right through me, and he was a threat to my rule. He had likely known what I had planned, though it hadn’t saved Osiris’ life in the end.

If I could sway him to my side, he would be aninvaluableweapon. He had the sight gifted from the mother. I could know the outcome of every battle. I could see the events of my reign before they happened.

But if I couldn’t sway him to my side…I would need to kill him.

There was no other way.

I sat atop the throne in the newly renovated throne room. I had picked out every furnishing down to the black-and-white checkered floor and the blood red drapes that hung from everywindow. The throne itself was plush, the color of blood once it had dried.

“My Queen, a visitor for you,” Corian said, entering the throne room. He bowed deep at the waist.

I raised a brow at him. “Let them in.”

Corian had climbed the ranks almost as quickly as I had when I had enlisted in Osiris’ service. He proved himself to be far more valuable than someone who could simply lead my army, though. He belonged at my side.

He had the dream walking sight, and a head for potions. He had ambitions almost as great as mine. And the best part? He didn’t thirst for the throne. He was ambitious for knowledge and for enough power to be important…but not rule. He was happy to be by my side, my little lapdog.

When the figure appeared at the entryway of the throne room, I had to stop myself from gasping. I hadn’t ever expected to see him again, let alone here, in the castle.

Zion strode forward exuding confidence, a smirk across his face, his hand on the button of his delicate coat jacket. He appeared…changed since I had last seen him. There was a confidence in his step that I didn’t remember from my childhood. He had always been tender with me.

But that wasn’t the man who stood before me now. When I had left Siraleth, I had thought him broken. Soft. Crippled by the guilt and sorrow that he bore in his heart. But the man before me was one of power and elegance. A smile played on his lips—his eyes narrowed in an assessing gaze. He had a lot of nerve to show up here.

He had helped Annelise to lead a resistance against me. He was brave to set foot inmythrone room, knowing that it would be the last steps he would ever take. That the only outcome would be his death.

I sat on my throne, watching him stride toward me. He fell to his knee on the marbled floor before me, his hand placed over his heart as he bent his head in respect.

“My Queen, it is an honor.”

His greeting…surprised me. I wasn’t sure what I had been expecting…but it wasn’t this.

“Zion.” At the sound of his name, he rose, facing me. He clasped his hands together behind his back in a sign of deference.

“What brings you here, father?” I hadn’t called him that in a long, long time. I dug my nails into the plush armrest, trying my hardest to keep my composure. I had to admit his sudden appearance had…rattled me.

“A father can’t simply visit his daughter?” he asked, raising a brow of his own.

I let a long moment of silence pass between us before I inclined my head. “Not when she is queen.”

“Forgive me, My Queen. I only wanted to see how you fared. If you had requirement of my services.”

“Your services?” I asked, a humorless laugh escaping my lips and my tone rising an octave. “Why would I have need of your services? Youbetrayedme. Led an army against King Osiris. You sided withAnnelise,” I reminded him.

He shook his head, his expression betraying nothing of how he felt. “A simple misunderstanding. I did not side with Annelise, but rather chose to remain at her side to understand what she had planned. How I might…infiltrate the resistance. To bring back the information to you, of course.”

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