I smile slowly at her. “Thank you.”
Then I’m running again, taking the secret entrance into the castle. I skid into the hallway of the palace, and anyone who dares to get in my way is met with a wall of fire that fills me with more satisfaction than I’ve had in eons. I strut down the halls of the castle, past my bedchamber where I last saw Ellynne’s dead body and… I pause for a moment, my heart filling with sorrow before I’m reminded of the corrupt bastard that tried to control me. I glance down at my wrist—the conduit is gone, destroyed along with the shackles that once held me.
With the gleeful realization of how limitless I am, I sprint across the castle, scorching anyone who stands in my path. Shrieks follow me as I climb the winding stairs of the tower. I shove the double doors of the council chamber, and they fly open, hitting the stone walls with a loudbang.
Iywan lurches out of his seat at the head of the table. He has the audacity to still be wearing his advisor pin.
“Your Highness,” he says, and there’s not just surprise in his voice but fear.
Good.
I snarl as I advance on him, my footsteps heavy, my power pulsating and tugging on me as my ire rises again.
Briony jumps to her feet and backs away from the table as others rise from where they sit. Everyone stares, time stretching out for several beats.
“Briony, the princess needs healing,” Iywan says.
My head snaps toward Briony, and she drops down to her knees, placing her hands against the tiled floor and lowering her forehead between. She glances up at me from her groveling posture, meeting my gaze steadily.
“I am your humble servant, Enchantress,” she says.
A grin stretches across my face.Enchantress, I like the sound of that.
“Carys, stand down.” Iywan speaks in a commanding tone that carries across the chamber. He’s clutching a metal wristband around his own wrist—an exact match to the one I once wore.
I raise my brows at him, then the corner of my lips tugs up again. Itsksoftly and raise my bare wrist for him to see. “Bad news, Iywan… no conduit.” I wink, and delicious terror sinks into him. I can almosttasteit.
I hold my palms up, black and orange flames dancing across my skin. Gasps fill the room, and Councilor Belhan dares to make a run for it. I blast fire into his round face, and he goes down screaming and clawing at his head. More energy surges inside me. Red hot.
Burn them all.
I turn to Briony. “Run.”
Without hesitation, she scampers off.
I draw in a breath, and, like the breaking of a dam, I unleash my flames on all the councilors. Iywan backs away while his accomplices burn around him. Their screams echo through the chamber, fueling my energy. I walk through the fire, extinguishing a path to get to Iywan. The flames reanimate behind me.
Iywan stands with his back flush against the wall as though he could phase right through it.
While the chamber burns, I press my forearm against Iywan’s chest, shadowfire binding his arms to his torso. He roars in agony, and I lift the dagger to my lips. “Shh…”
Mouthwatering fear radiates off his loathsome body.
“You wanted to release the Enchantress Queen, didn’t you?” I hear myself ask. I tilt my head at him as he cowers. “Well, here I am.”
The pungent scent of urine fills my nose and, oh how delectable retribution is. I dig the dagger into the fabric beneath his advisor’s pinand rip it right off. The pin clatters to the ground and his face drops down to it for a moment.
“Now, you arenothing,” I say with vehemence. “Any last words?”
His throat bobs and tears brim. “Please—” he says. “I can be of use to you.”
I scoff.
“I’m not the man you’re looking for. I’m only second-in-command of the Zenith.”
The flames are closing in around us and the screams of the councilors have subsided. Iywan’s heart is beating so loudly that I canhearit.
“Who’s the leader of the Zenith?”
