Page 189 of Crown of Darkness
“Stop it!” I rise, casting the goblet aside with a splash. “Stop it. He’s done nothing wrong.”
“He will tell me the truth,” Adaia says coldly, curling her fingers into claws. “I am hisqueen, and he will answer me or he will die.”
Edain hits the carpet, clutching at his throat and thrashing. His wild eyes find me, and there’s a look there that slays me to the core—
“I took it!” I yell. “Itook your fucking crown!”
The words ring in the sudden silence.
But Edain rolls to his hands and knees, gasping for breath as if whatever held him immobile has now released.
I don’t regret a thing. I never did and I never will. And I can’t believe that I said the words, because she willkillme.
But maybe there is some sense of freedom. I don’t have to pretend anymore. I don’t have to lie. I don’t have to swallow my own poison.
I am free.
“Why?” she whispers, but there’s no shock in her voice. She knew.
And then she turns to me, and I know she’s not asking why I took the crown.
“I gave you everything,” she whispers, drawing herself up as I back away. “I nurtured you, raised you above your sister, let you at my breast like an asp….”
“You took her from me.” The truth spills from my lips in a whisper. “You poisoned us against each other. You tore us apart.”
“I gave you a choice. Only one of you could be my heir—”
“We werechildren! I loved my sister!”
“She was a lying, treacherous child who betrayed us all—"
“You forced her into the Prince of Evernight’s arms!” I yell. “And you cannot even see the role you played in all of this! Vi ran away because of you!” A helpless laugh breaks through me. “And she’s happy, Mother. She’s finally escaped your poison, and perhaps she is all the better for it.” I push closer. “You want to know why I took your crown? Forlove, Mother. Because no matter how hard you have tried, you have never quite been able to destroy that which beats in my heart. I love my sister. I would do anything for my sister. And I hope she is happy and free and that she will never see you again—”
The slap almost drives me off my feet. I stagger into the table and knock the entire platter of strawberries to the floor. The clang of it ringing on the marble tiles is enough to set my teeth on edge, but I force myself to straighten. Force myself to tilt my chin and stare her in the eye.
“Kill me and you lose your court,” I tell her. “They will see your lack of power as if it is a mortal weakness. You can’t even control your own family. Your daughtershateyou.” The urge to laugh is almost destructive. “But the court lovesme. I’ve spent years cultivating my alliances, as you taught me. The people cheer when I ride through the streets and curse you when you do. The only reason you have been able to hold on to your crown in the past ten years is because I have been there to sway their opinion. I have begged your people to listen to their queen, and I have counselled your lords to put away their steel when you strike at one of their own.” I step closer to her. “Without me, Mother, you are alone. And you are weak. And you are hated. So punish me as you like, but with Evernight at your throat and Stormlight snapping at your heels, you’re surrounded by enemies. Don’t make another one within your own court.”
“You little slut.”
I tense, prepared for the flaying lash of her magic—
But it never comes. Edain grabs my mother’s arm, holding her power back. Their eyes meet, and I can see the moment where she decides to turn all her fury and rage upon him. “Youdare?”
“If you kill her, then you lose the north.”
It steals my mother’s breath.
And mine too.
What is he doing?
Why would he dare confront her in such a mood?
But he’s not the one she turns upon. She captures my face, the prick of her jeweled claws biting through my skin. “Don’t ever think you have outplayed me. Do you think I wouldn’t dare raise a hand against my precious child?” My mother straightens. “Guards!”
The doors bang open.
A half dozen of my mother’s guards enter, garbed in gold-plated armor.
