Page 31 of Queens Will Play

I shrugged. “I don’t know, to be honest. If she can, let her. I’ll do my duty and uphold this post, but I’m not going to do so if it means sacrificing friends and family.”

“And you wanted me to talk reason into her?”

“I was hoping you could make her see reason, yes. She’s running scared. She blames the approach of Desanguas, but I feel it’s deeper than that.” I paused. Raven Mother had flinched—ever so slightly—when I mentioned Desanguas’s name.

“She has reason to fear. And so do you. Anyone who stands with the shadow—the twilight and night that cloak motives and movement—they are a target of the Demon Lord’s. He seeks to supplant or convert all who work within his realm. The night offers him cover, and the shadows cloak his deeds.” Raven Mother thought for a moment. “I will talk with her,” she said. “But you must be prepared for her rejection. And if so, you must plan your next move.”

Relieved, I nodded. “Of course. But if you could ask her to leave Vanzir alone, to allow him to see his child. That’s all he wants.”

“I will ask,” Raven Mother said. “But I cannot promise results.”

“Thank you,” I said. After a moment, I added, “So how is the Black Unicorn?”

“So, you approach a tricky subject? Not afraid, not afraid to ask Raven Mother?” Raven Mother laughed. It was almost a caw.

I glanced at Bran, who simply rolled his eyes and remained silent.

Raven Mother continued. “The Black Unicorn grows into his name. He’s remembered his lives, and soon will regain the place held vacant for him. We are…reacquainting ourselves yet once again. Thrice have I waited for his return. Each time I’ve sworn not again, and yet, always again, I return to his side.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I never…it wasn’t my choice,” I said. “I hope you know that.”

“Aye, girl. I know, know, know.” Raven Mother looked around. “Find your kingdom, you did, but now you seem unhappy. The Moon led you out of joy, did she?”

Raven Mother had wanted me to come live with her in Darkynwyrd at one point. She had long been jealous of the Moon Mother who held my heart. Why, I wasn’t sure, but it had been a constant tension between us.

“The Hags of Fate often have other plans for us,” I said. “I would not have chosen this path if given the option, but apparently, this is my fate. I do my duty. My sisters and I were bound to the fate of this world from the day we were born. We were all singled out for various honors, though I don’t think any of us wanted more than a simple, happy life.”

Raven Mother looked over at her son and back at me, as though she were about to say something. After a moment, she said, “And so the Demon Prince comes your way?”

I glanced up at her—even sitting, she was far taller than me. “Demon prince? I thought he was a Demon Lord.”

“Two things can be true at one time,” Raven Mother said.

Bran spoke up. “I thought you knew. Desanguas’s father is the king of Sarenthal—a city in the Sub-Realms.”

I slowly shook my head. “No. I wasn’t aware of that.” I wasn’t even sure if Carter knew, but I could run it past him when I went to see him in the afternoon. “Hey, do either of you have any experience with an astral creature that feels like an octopus and feeds on life energy?”

Bran scrunched up the side of his mouth, looking puzzled. “That came out of left field.”

“A friend’s having problems with a creature like that. It’s not a demon, though at first I thought it might be a karsetti demon. If you think of such a creature, text me?” I glanced at my phone. “I’m sorry to be a bad hostess, but I have an appointment coming up.”

“No worries,” Bran said.

“No worries,” Raven Mother repeated. “Hustle now, young queen—and in your haste, do not overlook details. Dangers abound in this world. I will talk with Aeval and suss out the situation with a bird’s-eye view.” She stood.

I stood and held out my hand. She took it, her taloned fingers curling around mine. Her nails were as black as her lips. She squeezed.

“We will talk again soon, Camille, we shall, we shall. It’s a good thing, it is, to rekindle our friendship.” And with that, she began to glow.

All too familiar with what was coming next, I closed my eyes and turned away. A bright flash filled the room. When I opened my eyes again, a large raven was winging out of the door that Bran had opened.

He turned back to me. “Camille…be cautious. I’m worried. The spirit seal’s giving off an energy I haven’t felt since we went up against Shadow Wing. Trouble is coming. Don’t ignore the warnings.”

“I won’t,” I said. The Keraastar diamond had been awake and active the past few days, pulsing with a quiet, steady beat. “Good to talk to you again,” I said. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t. And I can guarantee my mother will be visiting you regularly. The two of you have a bond I’ve never understood, and though it was stretched, it seems to have recovered. She likes you, you know,” he added. “I think she looks on you like a daughter…or a daughter-in-law.”

“Best not to mention the latter around Smoky,” I said. “Trillian and Morio would brush it aside but…”