Kassandra does not just draw upon her root magic. No, she layers her Illusions on top of it. When the water colt tosses his head, the mane swishes.
She continues, “When she gives birth in four months, that silver colt shall be yours. It will be the first silver stallion that the House of Illusion gifts away, and we gladly gift it to you.”
The king’s eyes spark. “Oh? Well now, count me a lucky male.”
A soft chuckle through the crowd. I catch the small step Dominik takes forward. Kassandra levels her brother with a glance.
“Yes,” she says, flicking her hand.
The colt springs to life, galloping up and down the throne room, false hooves clacking against real tiles. The High Fae gasp and stumble back as the water creature flies past them.
Kassandra twirls a pointed finger in the air.
From the back of the gallery, the horse breaks into a full sprint. Galloping and galloping, he rushes past the mare, which whinnies,and Jeremee places a hand on her muzzle. The water colt speeds toward the dais.
The king shifts, a hand going to his side. It’s then that I spot the weapon of the House of Reign on his belt. The Golden Whip.
Please don’t react,I think.Not yet.
“Do not fear,” Kassandra coos as the colt rushes up from behind.
He flies toward the king, and she holds up a hand. The Illusion halts, then crystallizes into an ice sculpture.
“Would you like to pet him?” she asks.
As he reaches forward, the horse shatters, and thousands of shards pool on the ground at his feet. Kassandra stiffens, the king raising a brow. Behind them, Dominik tuts.
“Cute,” he says. “Now, let us continue with our night.”
Kassandra purses her lips, gaze narrowing. “Cover your eyes, brother.” She looks to the king. “Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?”
“What?” both males say.
My heart thuds.What the planes is she up to?
“Diamonds or pearls, Your Magnificence?” My mistress gestures to the glittering gems skimming her body.
The king pauses. “Diamonds.”
An interesting choice. Diamonds are the lesser jewel—there are so many of them—but then again, they are the hardest gemstone in Amyria.
“I knew you were a male of practicality,” Kassandra says.
Diamonds begin plucking off her lingerie, the spider silk stringing them together falling away from her body like strands of hair.
“For fuck’s sake…” Dominik glances away.
I gawk as a year of work is deconstructed. The jewels float off her body, the pearls scattering across the floor. For several moments, the diamonds just hover in the air like raindrops captured in time. Kassandra breathes, sweat beading her upper lip. The diamonds swirl in the air.
“An unbreakable reign deserves an unbreakable weapon.”
The gemstones glow, twist, form a giant lump that spins and spins as it elongates. A shape emerges, the bottom half sculpting into a hilt. A sparkling dagger.
Kassandra has forged a dagger out of diamonds.
“For you, Your Magnificence,” she says, swaying.
She floats the weapon toward the king. He watches it, puzzled, but reaches forward. His hand grips the handle, plucking the object from the air itself.
