“Lorna, Baltin citizens have an extremely hard time conceiving. Tell me, what happens when our entire race disappears because we thought we were too evolved tominglewith others?”
“More experiments can be conducted. Our scientists should use humans as specimens and—”
“You fool. Humans—at least some of them—are descended from our own ancestors.” An extreme urge to throttle her eats at me, yet I quell it.She’s only spouting prejudice and drivel based on what she’s been taught.
Her glance sharpens on me and her lips compress. “That’s impossible.”
I lift a shoulder, tiring of the conversation. “I have the proof, and so do the Henokans. Humans are our long-lost cousins, established with the first probes sent out.”
“Even if that were true, I’d never side with them. You had the entire planet ready for the taking, yet you gave up everything for one girl.”
“I gave it up because I’m sick of the bloodshed, the suffering. We have no right to exterminate an entire race of sentient beings and take their planet just because we needed a new home. Even the Henokans don’t do such barbaric things.” I shake my head. “My mother was the epitome of the corruption of our government, and I’m not sorry she’s gone.”
I did love her, but after the torture she put Tilly through, what little love I had shriveled and died.
“I don’t care what you say. If I could choose again, I’d pick her side once more.” She spits on the floor, near the toe of my boot.
“Well, she’s dead. I’m not. Looks like you chose wrong. I tire of this pointless conversation.” I raise a hand. As much as I’d like to strangle the life out of her to watch her gasp her way to a slow death, I can’t. Not because she’s female, but because she’s only a guard who’s gotten caught up in a rebellion my mother coerced.
But Lornadidhurt Tilly with the spear. I will not—cannot—let her go.
“Have you no mercy for your own people, Your Majesty?” She straightens to her full height, shoulders straight, back rigid.
“Mercy? Would you have had mercy on my wife—your queen?” I grab the bars and meet her stare.
With a swallow, she licks her lips. “No.”
“So, your will overrides that of your King’s.” How easy it is for me to fall into the old life I’ve tried so hard to leave behind. Even after death, I can’t escape the trappings of royal blood and duty.
Imagine how much worse it’ll be if I go to Mars, and someone discovers who I am.This thought should worry me more, but it doesn’t. I’ll do what I must.
“I...I ask for a second chance. Perhaps I could learn to accept—”
“What is the punishment for treason?”
She clenches her jaw. “Death.”
Nodding, I raise my other hand. “You asked for mercy, and that’s what you’ll have.” A thick line of electricity shoots from my palm, greedily streaking to her chest.
As it enters, her muscles contract and her eyes bulge. The bluish-purple light crawls across her skin like electrified worms. She’s dead before hitting the floor.
A small snort sounds from behind me.
Slowly, I turn on my heel, my gaze landing on Silarrian.
Knowing he was behind me the whole time, I made sure he had a great view.
“That’syour mercy, oh mighty Averon?” His upper lip curls.
“Yes.” I give him my most wicked smile. “Compared to what I’m going to do to you, her death was downright pleasant.”
The fear flashing in his eyes eases a bit of that shame in my heart.I’m sorry, Tilly, but these are still my people, and I’m still their ruler...their judge.
Silarrian releases a tremulous laugh. “You think I’m scared of you, welp? You’re even frailer than I remember. Humans have made you soft, biddable, and stupid.”
“Maybe.” His insinuation of weakness hits home, yet I’m not about to let him know how much it bothers me. “Or maybe a human has shown me what it means to love and sacrifice, to protect those who deserve it.”
Even if what I’m about to do tonight makes her hate me forever.
