She may have learned that being nasty gives her away.
Hard to be any nastier than Naveer.
If only we’d seen what was happening with Lore’s mother. Would we have been able to drive Prager out before she killed Erisandra?
The chatter around us abruptly ceased and all eyes lifted to the staircase where Queen Naveer descended, her violet sikeen gown flowing around her legs. Her expression revealed nothing, but her eyes swept over us with predatory gleam.
Guards braced near the walls watched her descent raptly.
When she reached the main level, she came to a stop.
I wonder where Laphira is.I’d feel better if I saw her. Saw the pendant even more.
Otherwise occupied, perhaps.
She and her mother appear to go everywhere together.
“We’ll get started.” Queen Naveer’s voice snapped through the room, and I returned my attention to her. Her smirk told us she knew she held all the power and was eager to use it. “Pay attention.” Her gaze pinned the group of whispering women likeinsects to cork and they visibly shrank. “I will not repeat myself.” With utter silence around her, no one dared to flinch. She gifted us a smile that was much too slick to hold warmth. “Crystalline plants grow outside in a vast garden my family has carefully cultivated for many generations.”
“We get to enterthatgarden?” someone brave asked behind us.
Naveer blinked and a thud rang out. A glance over my shoulder showed a woman dressed in a pale green gown lying on the floor, her skin drained of all color. Not dead. Her chest still rose and fell. But something vital had been pulled from her.
Queen Naveer looked more radiant than moments before, holding a subtle glow to her skin that hadn't been there when she descended the stairs. Another woman knelt beside the fallen one and fanned her face, but I suspected it might be too late.
She's feeding,Lore's voice carried disgust.Small sips when someone defies her, but she needs the competitions for the real feast. Willing deaths give her far more power than these forced drains.
Miserable creature.
Who must be put down like anything else that’s gone rabid.That dark edge had crept into his voice, the one I remember most from Lorant. Hearing it made heat flare through me.
Don’t do that,I said.
Do what in particular, wife?
Talk in a way that makes me want to drag you to our bedroom.How could I even be thinking of something like that when a woman lay near death not far away?
Because I might soon lose him, and I was eager to make as many memories as I could.
He frowned.If I want to drag you to our bedroom, I don’t need to speak in any particular way. Tell me what you mean.
Never mind.
When we’ve just gotten started?he drawled.“What if I back you into that wall and kiss you until you forget everything but my name?”His voice turned molten.“Would you still think about Naveer then?”
I almost wanted to dare him to do it.
The queen cleared her throat and every head in the room snapped in her direction. “Seek a silver frostwilla blossom and harvest it. Remember, it must be brought to me intact and still gleaming. Broken stems and crushed petals will result in…” She heaved a dramatic sigh. “I adore these plants. Do not harm them. When you bring it to me, I’ll give you the second token.” Her gaze narrowed on us. “This challenge will not be as simple as the first, so do beware.”
With that, the queen pivoted and strode into the parlor behind her. The doors slammed shut hard enough to make the panels shudder.
People fled the foyer, some out the front door, others taking the two halls on either side of the staircase that led to the back of the building.
We were soon alone.
Should we look for Dorion or go after a frostwilla?I asked.
Why don’t you look for Dorion, and I’ll collect the frostwilla?He didn’t meet my eye.
