“Go to hell.”
“Enough. This can all be over with if you hand the stones to me,” Gabby crooned. “Give Elijah and I the Crystals you have, and we’ll set your mate free. No charges, no execution. He’ll be free to go. All you have to do is give me the stones.”
I nearly considered it. Ethan’s life was priceless. I couldn’t sacrifice him, not even for something as precious as the Crystals of Harmony.
But this had been Gabby’s plan all along. To use Ethan to get to the Crystals. Ethan would never forgive me if I gave those stones to Gabby. We had to keep them in our grasp. It was the only thing giving us an edge over the king and queen.
“I’m not telling you where those Crystals are,” I said, and I crossed my arms. “You can try to intimidate me, but I refuse to play your games. You’ll kill Ethan the moment the stones are in your hands. If you’re asking for something from me, all you’re gonna get are jack and shit.”
“You stubborn, filthy immigrant,” Gabby raged. “Why don’t you go back to your own country, and stop fucking up mine?”
“Thisismy country. Thisismy home. And I’m not going to let you destroy it.”
“That’s a cute little threat,” Gabby snarled. “I don’t believe you have the stomach to back it up.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” I hissed as I took a step closer to Gabby. The desk was the only thing separating us— if I got any closer, I was sure I’d strangle her. “You think you have all this power over me, but you’re running out of options. Any attempt to ruin me now only makes you look bad in the public eye. You’re not as popular as you were before that little video got out.”
Gabby’s eyes flashed, and I took a deep breath. “And if you kill Ethan— you’re going to see wrath from me like never before. I’ve got powerful magic— you know it. Ethan’s life is the only thing in the balance that’s keeping me contained. If he’s gone, I won’t give a shit anymore. I won’t compromise. And I won’t stop. I’ll use every moment after he’s dead to take you down and make it as slow and painful as possible. If you don’t want me as an enemy, you certainly don’t want to be at the receiving end of my vengeance.”
Gabby’s lips formed into a snarl. “This was your last chance to make peace, Sosna. I don’t need you to hand over the stones. It’ll only be a matter of time before I find them. Once I do, I’ll take them for myself.”
I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “Do it. Or try. What else can you take from me that I love? You already have everything I care about. He’s in chains.”
Gabby’s eyes narrowed— like the words I’d said had caused an idea to start forming in her sick, twisted little head.
I didn’t allow her to speak another word. I whirled on my heel and walked out.
“Are you okay?” Odette asked. My friends were huddled in the hallway— Arthur, my mother and Vara were in line to start getting seats.
“I’m fine. Just had to get my daily dose of the Bitch Queen,” I growled. I hardly cared if a reporter overheard. Print that, assholes.
“What did Gabby want?” Theo asked, dropping his voice.
“You already know,” I whispered. “Ethan’s life for the stones. I told her to fuck off.”
“That’s gonna piss Eli up a rope,” Stefan grumbled.
“We don’t have a choice. We can’t give up those stones,” I argued.
Theo glanced over his shoulder. “The trial’s about to start. We should get seated.”
Stefan’s parents, Miroslava and Jonathan Slasky, were waiting in line with my mother. They’d shown up for support, as both of them considered Ethan a son. But once we got to the door to the courtroom, a guard stepped in front of us.
“Excuse me, but only high-born fae are permitted to watch the trial proceedings within the courtroom,” the guard said. “As fae oflower birth, most of you must wait outside.”
His eyes were on me, but I wasn’t fooled. This jackass had been ordered by Elijah not to let anyone in who might be Ethan’s friends. It had nothing to do with birthright.
But then Miroslave drew herself up. “I am the daughter of King Benevir, the last dragon monarch who won the King’s Contest, who ruled before King Lycus. By name and title, I am still Grand Duchess Miroslava of Malovia, and a part of the royal court,” Miroslava snapped. “You can’t forbid me from bringing anyone I wish into this courtroom. As a princess of the fae, I certify that these are my guests, anddemandyou let us through.”
The guard gave a sullen bow and stepped aside. “Yes, your majesty.”
Bastard still glared at us as we took our seats in a long bench placed at the front of the courtroom. It wasn’t like any court room I’d ever been in before— in the center of the room was a metal chair, with shackles for the wrists and ankles. My magic could tell from here it was infused with noxite. Long benches surrounded the chair in a circle, so the crowd could observe as judgement was passed upon the defendant.
A large stand at the front of the room held eighteen seats, for all sixteen members of the Circle, and for the king and queen. Because this was a trial for treason, and not a simple court case, all the members of the Malovian government were required to attend. It was scary and imposing. Place was damn solemn if I’d ever seen one. Beside the judging stand was a small pulpit. For witnesses, I assumed.
“Well done, Mom,” Stefan praised. “Why didn’t you enter the King’s Contest? You could’ve bossed around anyone you wanted. if you were queen.”
Miroslava waved her hand. “Growing up a princess was difficult enough. I had no wish to enter the King’s Contest, and my mate had little interest in politics.”
