Queen Alienor remained frozen, her pale face an emotionless mask as the last remnants of her legacy, her only son, was hauled away.
I turned to face her at last. Woman to woman. Queen to queen. I’d seen the videos. I knew exactly who had murdered my mother. “She trusted you.” We both knew exactly who I was talking about.
Alienor scoffed. “Madallaine was weak and stupid. She wanted to join the Coalition. Send our best soldiers off to fight their war. Our women to fuck their fighters. Breed with them. Such a waste.”
“The Coalition is all that stands between you and integration by the Hive.” Commander Zeus’s voice sounded ten times calmer than I felt. I wanted to punch her. Kick her. Scream. Stomp on her head. Violence swelled within me as I played the image of my mother bleeding out on the floor—Alienor standing above her—over and over in my mind. I’d only watched it twice, but the images were tattooed onto my brain. Vivid. Horrific.
Sad.
“For twenty-five years I’ve ruled this planet. The Hive do not bother us. The Silver Scions do not raid our ships. The Legions of Rogue 5 do not steal our goods or take our people. Do you know why that is?”
I walked to stand a few paces in front of her, grateful for the strong-armed Prillon warriors holding her in place. “Why is that, Alienor?”
“Because I saved us all. I work with them, not against them. Insuri is rich and prosperous. Our people lack for nothing. Our men don’t die in battle on distant moons, and our young women aren’t forced to breed with beasts.” Her gaze drifted to Warlord Stohn on the last word. His soft growl proof that he heard her.
Fucking bitch. And she was wrong. So wrong. I’d learned much the last few days, first with the Natosi family’s help and history books, then my new AI friend’s access to vast amounts of knowledge. I knew far more about this planet and its history than Alienor suspected. And I knew about her. What she’d done. The way she’d lined her own pockets and made the people,my people, suffer.
“You are a liar and a fraud. Some of our people starve, when S-Gen technology could feed them. We pollute our air and water when the Coalition offers free, clean energy. You grew rich, Alienor. Not the people. Our citizens are watched and catalogued like stock animals. Monitored. Controlled. You are evil and an oppressor. And your reign is over.”
“Your mother was weak and stupid. You’re just like her.”
Oh no, she didn’t. I was so done with this bitch.
I nodded at the two guards. “Release her.”
“Excuse me?” One of the Prillons looked confused.
Addan protested. “Paige, what are you?—”
“Release. Her.” It was an order. From a queen.
The two Prillons released her arms and took half a step back.
Good enough.
I walked forward and slammed my fist into Alienor’s arrogant, condescending, evil, ugly fucking face.
She staggered back. The Prillon guards’ reflexes were fast enough to catch her, but I watched with extreme satisfaction asthey let my dear cousin fall onto her ass on the floor. Blood poured from her nose, dripping on her royal gown. I walked to stand over her and yanked her crown, my mother’s crown, off her head.
Like my mother, she bled.
Unlike my mother, she’d live. Maybe for a very long time. Maybe not. I thought for sure I’d have her executed. Now I wasn’t sure. Seemed to me death would be the easy way out.
I glanced at Addan and gave a slight nod. “Do I have a dungeon?” Why hadn’t I asked Hermione about that?
“Indeed, Princess, you do.” He ordered several of our guards to take her away.
When she was gone, Commander Zeus stepped forward, his voice calm and clear. “Your Highness, I believe all of the traitors have been taken away. The queen… the former queen, and the prince have been secured. Justice will be served, both on this planet and in a series of Coalition tribunals. Is there anything else you require of the Coalition at this time?”
I turned to Addan. His dark eyes met mine, still filled with that same unwavering focus. But there was something else there now—love. He was mine. I didn’t have to question it. Or deny it.
I could now embrace it. And him.
“Yes,” I said, letting a smile tug at the corners of my lips. “I’d like you to stay. I’d like you to witness my bonding ceremony.” I looked up at Addan. “That is what it’s called, right?”
Addan froze, his expression unreadable. “Paige,” he began, his voice rough.
“I can claim you now, can’t I?” I asked, taking a step closer to him. “As my Resonant?”
