“The winter queen is dead!” I said, my voice was loud, strong, and brimming with fury. “As is the dark fae, and soon Luca will be also. I am the interim winter queen until I find a replacement, which means you all have a choice to make. Fight me and die … or pledge your allegiance and I’ll let you go home to live in a new, kinder winter realm.”
The men and women froze, most with hardened looks, but there were more than a few who looked relieved to hear of their queen’s death. I’m sure they felt it, the same way shifters did, and my confirmation was enough for them to truly believe it. Those soldiers fell to their knees, like the weight of their relief was so much they literally couldn’t stand anymore. Heads fell into hands, and cries and sobs started to echo around. The winter fae still standing looked at each other, like they were trying to find a leader, like they needed someone to tell them what to do. One of the men near the front line had more decorative clothing, with large jewels inlaid along his cloak. He looked, and held himself, like a commander, or someone of great importance.
He did not hesitate. “Yield to the queen,” the commander ordered. This time no one hesitated. These were a browbeaten people, used to having their will stripped from them.
I nodded. “My army is waiting in the basement for my command. If you make one move against me or my people, I won’t hesitate to kill all of you.”
The commander nodded, laying down his sword.
I turned to Kade. “I’m going to see if I can figure out how to trade a life for a life.”
He grinned at me and straightened, arms crossed over his chest. “I will keep an eye on our people, make sure the fae don’t decide they have a little more warring in them.”
I stood on tiptoes, and he still had to lower his head so our lips could touch.
I love you,we both whispered through our bond at the same time.
He let me go. Turning back to the room, his body shifted into his half bear, growing larger and even more powerful. My wolf howled in my chest, as she always did when Kade stood like that. So strong. So solid.
As I walked away, I marveled at the way he let me go, barely even a sliver of worry in our bond. I loved Kade with every part of my being; he was my other heart, my soul mate, but one of the reasons I adored him so much was that he respected me as an equal. He respected my power, my position as queen. Who would have thought that a king and queen could coexist withso little ego between them? Especially for two alpha animals. Our bond was a miracle, and I needed to thank the gods for it every single day.
But first … I needed to rid myself of one parent, and free another.
As I was striding toward the stone room, a familiar energy hit me. My throat got tight as the white wolf bounded into sight. Finn and I stopped and stared at each other for many long moments, drinking each other in. We had never been separated so much as we had since I took the crown. So many things keeping us apart. So many fights and battles. It was only as I stood there, his familiar presence before me, that I truly realized how much I needed him. How much I missed him.
I missed you too, Ari. May we never be parted again.
I ran for him as fast as I could, diving the last few feet to wrap my arms around the giant beast — a beast I loved more than life. The soul of my wolf inside rose up and collided with the soul of our familiar. Finn and I lifted our heads back and howled together, a long, happy sound. A sound of pack.
When we had sated our bond — for the moment — I rose and said to him, “I’m ready … to free my mother … to punish Luca. I know I can do this.”
I heard a chuckle from my left. I turned to find Calista and Baladar standing there. “Nice to see my years of affirmation training has not left you.”
I didn’t reply, choosing instead to cross the few feet between us and throw my arms around her. “I’ve been looking for you,” Calista said into the side of my face. “I needed to see with my own eyes that you were okay. Kade told us where you were.”
Clearly our army had arrived, and I knew now that the fae would never turn on us. They were too outnumbered.
I pulled back to see her face better. “I remember everything you’ve taught me. I’m just going now to finish the job.” Another one of her lessons: finish what you start.
She gave me a pat on the arm and then Baladar bowed his head. With a wave, the pair turned and returned the way they had come.
I turned in the opposite direction, Finn at my side. We entered the mecca stone room to see that Violet had magically confined Luca up against the mecca stone, his hands bound by purple bands of magic. It seemed to be overwhelming him.
He was awake and furious.
“I should have killed you when I had the chance,” he spat at Violet.
Those words sent surges of white hot anger through me. He was one of Violet’s tormenters. Something I had forgotten whilst trying to repress what my best friend had gone through.
Violet glared at him with hatred. He had been instrumental in causing her great suffering in the Winter Court. I wanted her here to bear witness.
I crouched down to meet his eyes. “Did you ever love her?”
His eyes sharpened. “Who?” I could tell he really had no idea who I was talking about, which was an answer in itself.
Me, the Red Queen’s voice filtered into the room, and unlike last time, the weakness was not obvious.
Lucas’s face went slack, losing all color as his body trembled a little. He looked left and right as if trying to see where she was speaking from. I was pretty sure he was muttering the word “Impossible,” but I couldn’t quite hear him. Leaning forward, I placed one hand on the crystal, taking care not to touch him. I focused my energy there, magnifying the Red Queen’s essence until she was a transparent projection standing before him.
