“Oh, brother.” A wicked smile grows on her lips. “Let Mother try to fuck with Thyra now.”
An hour later, we exit Cassia’s quarters, moving on foot this time.
Every step we take carries us closer to the inevitable confrontation with Mother.
Before we left, I replenished my iron dagger supplies, choosing two from Cassia’s armory, but only after promising to return them.
Now, Thyra steps ahead of me while Cassia stays at my side.
The circlet clanks softly between Thyra and me, no longer a threat now that she’s wearing Lethian silver. The dress is fabled to have been spun from the finest but strongest metal, mimicking chain-mail, a protection Thyra wears over nearly every inch of her body, even up into her hair.
The circlet has become an added safeguard now, connecting Thyra to me. Anyone who tries to separate us will risk being mauled by its triggered teeth.
A multitude of winding corridors connects each tower in the Constellation. My throne room sits at the center, although I’m rarely there because Mother has commandeered the surrounding rooms.
At this time of the morning, we’ll find her in the vast hall nearest to my throne room, where she likes to entertain herself.
Thyra’s footsteps are more self-assured than she has appeared since I first swept her into my arms and flew away with her.
If I hadn’t already glimpsed her fierce nature, I’d think the dress had given her confidence, but no.
I’m certain the gown merely opened a door through which she has chosen to step.
If I didn’t know Galla as the most cunning fae in the kingdom, I might even feel hope right now, but hope is for fools.
Thyra’s first encounter with Mother could break her, and I’ll do everything I can to prevent that.
A step ahead of me, Thyra pauses at an intersection of corridors and gives me a questioning glance.
“Walk to the right,” I say. “This next corridor will let out into a small chamber. Beyond that is Mother’s hall. When we reach the doors into the hall, approach them ahead of me but stay to my left so that when they open, only I will be visible at first.” I turn to my sister now. “Cassia?—”
“I’ll stand on your right.”
“Good.” Then to Thyra, I add, “Wait for me to tap your shoulder. I’ll make sure it’s safe before you step inside.”
Cassia grimaces. “One time, Mother put wild dogs on chains long enough to reach the door and attack anyone whoentered. She stayed safe on the other side of the room, of course. She was particularly bored that day.”
Thyra’s expression doesn’t change. Quietly determined. “My presence in the Iron Kingdom is certain to have provided Galla Vividari with enough excitement that she won’t need wild animals.”
Thyra sweeps to the right, her steps purposeful, her skirt billowing behind her, her posture every bit as fucking regal as the silver she’s wearing.
We pass through the corridor quickly, and then she steps into the chamber beyond it.
The door into Mother’s hall is open enough that I judge I’ll be able to see inside as I get closer.
As soon as we appear in the chamber, the guard standing to the left of the door jolts forward as if he would announce us, but I hold my hand up to stop him.
He freezes, poised on his front foot, before he lowers himself into a brief kneel. Quickly straightening, he returns to his original position. He won’t want to incur Mother’s wrath, but I’m certain he would prefer not to be thrown into an iron pit. That’s the least of the punishments he could suffer for disobeying me.
Thyra slows her steps as she keeps to my left, faltering a little when Mother’s screaming voice shrieks from within the hall.
“How could you?”
I give the chain a gentle tug, stopping Thyra where she will remain concealed from Mother, but I now have a clear view of the hall through the gap in the door.
Toward the center of the room, Mother has Rohan on his knees. His leather armor is in pieces, scattered across the floor, and his tunic is torn open at the back.
Mother clutches a whip, its leather straps drippingwith blood, while fresh cuts blossom across Rohan’s exposed shoulder blades and spine.
