I gasped.
Niniane’s head—complete with crown and blood that trailed off the wood of the table and down on to the floor in an insidiousdrip-drip-dripping sound. Her eyes were wide with terror and madness, and they stared at the figure that stared back.
Belshazzar took a step forward. In the dark of the cave, his face looked wrecked with emotions I couldn’t name. “Gwen…”
Slowly, the figure turned its head, neck unsteady, hands shaking, posture wobbling.
But it was Gwynnore.
“Gwen,” Bel said again.
“Bel…” Her voice was scratchy and unclear.
The king took another step toward his woman. “Gwynnore, are you—”
The queen wasn’t at the table anymore
She had Belshazzar in her grasp, his neck exposed, and her teeth in his vein.
Chapter Twenty-Six
GWYNNORE
Queen Niniane’s deadbrown eyes stared into mine.
My chin rested on my folded arms while I sat at a murdered royal’s table. This was an odd twist to my horrible day, but it wasn’t wholly unwanted. I smiled at the dead queen, and I said, “Do you know you have a booger in your nose, Queen Niniane? What an embarrassing way to die.”
She gazed back, not commenting.
I analyzed her severed neck with my hazy vision. The slice had been clean, almost analytical in its precision, a killer who’d had plenty of practice. I had chosen well with my delusion, the very best assassin, even in my dreams.
“Mr. Delusion got you good,” I whispered. “I bet it didn’t even hurt it was so fast. It’s a perfect kill.”
Queen Niniane wasn’t talkative right now.
“At least your hair still looks good,” I added. “There’s not one piece of hair missing from your bun, although it’s slightly splattered with blood now. A decent washing will clean that right up. Don’t you fret your…head…over that.”
I snickered at my own funny.
I ran my gaze over her face. She was a beauty.
But, damn, her eyes were creepy like this.
Wide.Unblinking.
I sighed, then rasped, “I think it’s time for me to take a Rest, Queen Niniane. I am surely losing my mind. What do you think?”
Only screams could be heard in the distance.
Mr. Delusion was busy out there.
I closed my eyes, unable to keep them open.
The scent of blood wafted in the air heavily.
If only it were closer. I sighed again.
Then I might be able to partake.
