Slaide, who was finally looking at Hazel.He knew. He knew she was alive, and he knew exactly where he was taking me.But she couldn’t decide if she wanted to hug him or kill him.
“And you, my dear,” she crooned to Slaide, “You have a lot of nerve showing your face within my sanctuary. However, since you’ve delivered to me my long-lost daughter and heir, I at least owe you my thanks. So, thank you. Guards,” she paused, leveling a murderous gaze at Slaide, “execute him and toss his body back to those dogs across the Border. Let it serve as a warning: the Moonwater Coven does not forgive the transgressions against our kind. The Cailleach will rise again.”
Slaide was prodded in the back with a spear tip, forcing him to bend over further.
Too fast. This was all happening too fast.
A tall, broad-shouldered figure appeared as if out of thin air, their hooded cloak hiding their identity. But Hazel didn’t need to know their name to know why they’d arrived. No, the gleaming executioner’s axe told her plenty.
The cloaked figure stalked toward them, an Aetherial reaper from Hel, axe resting on their shoulder too casually.
Hazel’s eyes darted from the executioner to Slaide to the Queen, chest heaving as panic gripped her. Mori’s grip tightened slightly on her arm, as though sensing Hazel’s unrest.
“You can’t!” Hazel pushed away from the Queen and pulled free from Mori, who attempted to restrain her, baring her teeth. But Hazel dove atop Slaide, putting herself between him and the executioner’s blade.
“Slaide saved me from the darkest pits of Hel by pulling me out of that dungeon. He didn’t kill me, though he could haveplenty of times. Instead, he rescued me from the mad King. Not to mention he savedyou!That’s right, I know all about your little escape from Ravenhold. You wouldn’t have made it out if not for him.” A few gasps went up in the gathered crowd.
“I don’t owe that beast anything. He slaughters our kind without end. Theybredhim to destroy us. Did he tell you that bit? He’s no more than an animal. A hunting dog. So what if he brought me one alive this time? I saidthank you. I owe him nothing beyond that,” the Queen snarled.
Hazel did not roll over. This woman held no power over her, mother or no. “I know exactly who and what he is, and I have moved past it. Slaide Elias is more than the High King’s witch hunter. He’s a slave just as much as you were. He has earned my trust, and I owe him my life several times over. So, if you’re going to execute him, you might as well execute me, too.” Hazel was feral. Her eyes glowed almost gold with rage as she hovered protectively over Slaide.
“Don’t be ridiculous, child. He’s ananimal,” the Queen repeated. “If he’s kept you alive this long, it’s more likely that he’s getting something from you in return.” Her gaze raked over Hazel accusingly.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to suggest, but?—”
Aisling waved her hand in dismissal. “Save the dramatics for someone else. He is what he is. I don’t care if you warmed his bed or he yours. After all, heispretty to look at. But that changes nothing.”
The Queen and Hazel locked eyes. Silence passed between them, tension mounting to an uncomfortable level. Two women, each fierce in their own regard, refusing to budge. Below her, Hazel could feel Slaide’s shallow, tentative breathing, his anticipation palpable.
In the end, it was the Queen who broke first. With a huff that saidthis is far from over, she called her guards. “Changeof plans. Take him back. Dump him across the Border and let the rutting Raven King come down from his perch to retrieve his trash.”
The guards nodded wordlessly and took their leave, a dejected Slaide walking between the four of them.
“You can’t mean to send him back there,” Hazel interrupted.
“I can, and I do. You don’t make the rules around here, Princess.” She made a shooing motion at the court and her queensguard, who Hazel had completely overlooked. They blended into shadows.
Shadows.
She could not let Slaide be taken away.
“Do not mourn the half breed, Rhiannon. It is unbecoming of a princess to pine after a monster.”
Hazel whirled on her. “I’m not pining. And the only monster here is you!” she spat. “You cannot turn him back over to Aeos. They’ll kill him for what he’s done. You owe him a life debt!”
“And Ididn’tkill him. I’m having him removed from here in one piece. Life debt fulfilled. What someone else does with him does not affect my end of the deal. Now, I understand this is all quite a shock. I’ll have Mori take you to your rooms to cool down.” With that, Queen Aisling turned on her heels, her deep purple cloak billowing behind her, leaving Mori to wrangle Hazel back to her own quarters.
Though she had calmeddown on the outside, her inner turmoil raged on, rocked by a sense of betrayal. And by someone claiming to be her own kin, no less. Her soul was a tempestof emotion, and she wanted nothing more than to unleash her anger on everyone around her. But she kept ahold of it, knowing she couldn’t help Slaide if she blew her top now.
And shewouldrescue Slaide, no matter the cost.
A sharp whistle came from outside the tent, catching Mori’s attention.
“I’ll be right back, Princess.” She bowed, backing out of the tent.
Hazel nodded, though she couldn’t care less whether Mori came back or if they left her there to rot. To her dismay, Mori did, in fact, return momentarily.
She poked her head in between the tent flaps. “Princess, there’s someone here who would like to see you. May she come in?”
