“Liora!” I screamed, watching my handmaiden stand in front of the other servants. She glanced back at me as her white hood fell away; the golden rings around her eyes glowed.
“Do not fear, my queen,” she said. “I'll be safe.”
“No, you won't!” She had no weapon and there were too many villagers.
One darted forward, fist raised. Liora threw up her arm, blocking the attack. Taking the assailant’s arm, she twisted it, turning him around and shoving him out of the way, the move quick and fast.
I blinked and she was on to another one.
My handmaiden could fight.
The guard tugged me out of the crowd. Someone yanked on my dress, ripping the tulle. I fell to the ground as two fae with horns protruding out of their brows and pointy teeth sprang at me.
Their muddy-colored skin and claws raked against me, tearing my dress. Another guard came forward, taking his blade and stabbing it through the fae.
A massive black panther appeared out of nowhere, growling at them, bigger and more terrifying than anything I'd ever witnessed. The image of it wavered for a second and I glimpsed Gideon, his eyes bright, his hand out.
Was he creating the beast?
The guard lifted me up. Something knocked me in the head. Blood trickled into my eye. I wanted to lash out to protect myself, but after my power acted so wildly in the grove, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to control it here, and I was not going to hurt these people, no matter what they did.
They weren't to blame for their hatred.
A portal opened. The castle glimmered in the distance and the guards dragged me through the crowd, Gideon and Liora and any remaining guards blocking me from view. The guard pulled my arm and we ran into the portal, three more covering our retreat.
When we arrived, they shouted, “The queen has been attacked! The queen has been attacked!”
Kane stood at the entrance of the castle, speaking with the Master of Coin. He turned around, his gaze landing on me. His amber eyes glowed and he stomped forward, black blades protruding from his palms. “Who did this?”
The guard released me and I fell to my knees, shaking.
Kane kneeled in front of me. The blade in his right hand disappeared as he took my chin and turned my head, examining whatever wound appeared on my forehead.
He wiped a piece of rotten fruit off the side of my face.
His skin rippled, pale flesh replaced with scales. “Who. Did. This?”
The question ended in a roar as he started transforming.
He pulled away as talons replaced fingers, and his bodyelongated. Spikes trailed down his head. Shadows seeped out of his skin, now a scaly dark red.
“The villagers attacked her," my guard said. “Our men and Lord Gideon are taking care of them.”
Fully dragon, Kane roared, “They will die.”
“No,” I screamed, launching myself in front of him. “Kane, please!”
He swung his giant head toward me. “You expect me to allow this insult?”
His guttural voice sent a wave of panic through me.
“They attacked the queen,myqueen.”
My heart did a strange thump at the way he saidmy queen, as if I actually mattered to him. “They're frightened of me, but they will hate me more if you retaliate.”
He roared, and streams of black mist poured out into the unsuspecting trees. They disintegrated under his breath.
Walking forward, meeting his gaze, I hoped that the breath weapon wouldn't land on me next. I held out a hand. “I'm okay. What I need is for my king to stay his hand. Let your guards handle the attackers. Not everyone deserves your wrath. They're hungry. The children…” I held a hand to my chest. “They're scared. Please, Kane. No more death. No more bloodshed.”
