A Queen This Fierce and Deadly (Kingdom of Lies)

12 PRISCA

We stayed at the camp for three days before packing up and traveling toward Thobirea. Rekja and Thora had left two days earlier to meet with his generals in a bid to shore up their defenses. But it seemed it was only a matter of time before Regner continued moving south, farther into Gromalia.

Daharak lost twenty ships to skyrions that had been deployed after her before Lorian had killed them. I could practically feel her fury dripping from the terse words of her messages. But she’d also kept my aunt alive, and for that, I would be forever thankful. She wasn’t happy about meeting us in Rekja’s castle, but she understood the need for a strategic conclave.

A day into our own travels east, I finally received a message from Madinia. The thought of her lying in the forest somewhere, dead by an iron guard’s blade… I hadn’t been able to stand it. I’d sunk into a denial so complete, that even if someone had told me she truly had perished, I don’t know if I ever would have accepted it.

She’d led a group of hybrids to safety but had fallen unconscious and butted heads with an “overbearing healer who needed to learn her place.” When she’d finally left the gathering hybrids at the beginning of the Asric Pass, she’d begun working her way south through Eprotha, carefully staying clear of Regner’s soldiers.

I scribbled a quick message back, letting her know she should meet us in Thobirea.

Tears rolled silently down my cheeks as I watched the pigeon dart into the sky. Lorian wiped them away with his thumb, then leaned down, rubbing his nose gently against mine. “It would take more than Regner’s iron guards to kill Madinia,” he murmured wryly.

I shook my head. “Don’t jest. She’s fast and strong, but she was traveling with a group of hybrids. And we’ve still heard nothing from Vicer.”

“It’ll likely take him some time to come to terms with the attack,” Rythos said from his horse. We’d stopped to eat, and Lorian handed me up to my own horse before mounting his own.

“It wasn’t his fault,” I said.

“No,” Marth said. He was healed but tired easily, and as the shadows grew longer, he slumped in his saddle, leaning forward in a way that made it clear we would need to stop soon. Rythos wasn’t speaking to him—still livid about the way he had taken the knife for him. But Lorian had told me to let them discuss it when they needed to.

“It was Stillcrest’s fault,” Rythos said, not looking at Marth. “But Vicer will still wonder every day for the rest of his life if the hybrids who died were worth her free will.”

The thought was a depressing one. Just let him be alive. Alive and miserable is fine for now, just as long as he is breathing.

Lorian was growing increasingly quiet and refused to speak about the incident at the camp. I’d attempted to talk to him over the past few days, but he’d shut down. It had shaken him. I’d known that much by the dazed look in his eyes in that clearing.

Perhaps he’d just been…spooked. Perhaps his mind had simply struggled to accept that we were no longer in danger. But even now, while we were traveling, he continued to turn his head, as if he could hear something even the other fae could not. This was no longer about feeling watched. Something had changed.

The days were long. By the time we began approaching the Gromalian capital, any semblance of a cheerful mood had deserted us.

We stopped one final time on our way to the castle, and I stood by the river after filling my waterskin. A hand clamped down on my shoulder, spinning me. I let out a surprised yelp, almost falling into the river, my hand sliding down for my knife. But it was Lorian who’d grabbed me. Lorian, who was edging me back along the river, his sword in his hand.

An ambush this close to the capital? Where were Rythos and the others?

Darting to the side, I drew my own sword. And stared.

Lorian stood, teeth clenched, realization dawning in his eyes.

There was no one there.

But he was still looking at something. A strange, uneasy feeling took up residence in my gut.

“What is it, Lorian?”

He opened his mouth, and I sheathed my sword. “Don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

Lorian sheathed his own sword and turned to face me. His expression was stony, his eyes distant. And I knew what he was doing.

“I know you think I can’t handle it—”

“Stop.” He was clutching my arms in a moment. “That’s not it, and you know it. I didn’t want to worry you. But you’re already worried. And I’m…concerned.”

He was more than concerned. I could still see the restrained panic in his eyes. But the fact that he was allowing me to see it meant more than I could have explained.

“What’s happening, Lorian?”

“I…” He set his jaw. “I think I’m seeing the dead.”

I stared at him. Of all the things I’d thought he might say, that was nowhere on the list.

“It started with voices,” he said. “Strange words hissing in my ear. They turned to threats. And then I was seeing soldiers charging at me. Humans, mostly. They were so vivid…they’re still so realistic, it’s difficult to determine what is real and what isn’t. And then I realized that many of those soldiers were covered in blood, the walking wounded. And some of them shouldn’t have been able to walk at all, let alone handle a sword. I think…I think they’re some of the people I’ve killed.”

His expression changed into something I almost didn’t recognize. “Do you ever think about it, wildcat? Just how many people I’ve killed? The lives ended? The families missing loved ones?”

I buried my hands in his shirt, as if I could keep him here with me. As if the action could prevent him from lingering on the past.

“No,” I said. “Not anymore. You’ve saved a lot of lives too.”

Lorian just shook his head. “Thousands, Prisca. And already, the ones I’ve seen have begun to talk to me.”

A hot ache burned through my chest, working its way up to lodge in my throat. “What do they say?”

“Threats, mostly. The voices seem to happen more often, almost like the sound of leaves rustling in the trees—a constant noise in the background of my life. But the visions come suddenly. So suddenly, that I’m not sure what’s real and what isn’t.”

“We’ll fix this,” I said. “We’ll find a way to make it stop.”

He gave me a faint smile. “I heard Cavis. He was the one who warned us of the soldier attacking Rythos.”

I broke his hold on me and reached up to twine my arms around his neck, searching for a reply.

“I’m not losing my mind,” he said.

“I don’t think you are.”

He lifted his head, green eyes searching mine. Some of the tension disappeared from his face. “I appreciate your faith in me. Truthfully, it feels as if my sanity is trickling away, drop by drop.”

I didn’t want him to give me that look, so filled with love and trust. Because my grandmother’s voice was playing through my mind.

“In the unlikely event that you don’t join us in the afterlife, there will be consequences. Grave consequences. You think you know what it is to suffer. You will live with the repercussions of this choice for the rest of your life.”

I stared up at the man I loved more than anything or anyone. And my throat was suddenly so thick, I couldn’t breathe.

“Wildcat, I promise I’ll get better. I’ll stop reacting like this. I’ll learn what is real and what isn’t.” Lorian’s voice was a low growl, tinged with desperation. He cupped my face, and I realized the color had likely drained from it.

“It’s…it’s not that. I think this might be some of the consequences from the way I…”

“Brought me back.”

I nodded, my eyes stinging. “You died, Lorian. You might not remember it…” He stared at me, and I realized he did remember some of it.

“This… The gods know I would find it worse for you to suffer. To watch you deal with the repercussions of my choice.” I dropped my gaze. I couldn’t even look at him.

Lorian’s hand slid to my chin, holding tight until my eyes met his once more. “I would take any consequences to be here with you. Any repercussions. Any punishment. Anything. You think I wouldn’t make the same choice a million times, even knowing the outcome? I would let my brother shatter me with his magic every day for the rest of my life as long as I got to see you in those moments before my death.”

Taking my hand, he pressed a kiss to my knuckles. “Now, let’s go.”

Approaching the city gates was a completely different experience compared to the last few times we’d traveled here. This time, the guards were clearly expecting us, and they bowed low, instantly allowing us to pass.

Which was a good thing since I still couldn’t access my power.

I strained, searching for it constantly. But at this point, I had to accept that it likely wasn’t coming back. I had angered the gods and depleted not just my own power, but a piece of my mother’s and grandmother’s souls.

Panic writhed through my gut like a deadly snake. Who would follow the hybrid heir if they learned the time power she wielded no longer existed?

“Prisca.” Lorian’s voice was soft, and I arranged my expression into something neutral. We were already approaching the castle.

Our welcome was similar to the one we’d received at the city gates, and I studied the statues in the courtyard as one of the stable hands took my horse. It felt as if it were only yesterday that Rekja and I had stood here, his father still alive and unwilling to help us. I’d threatened Rekja then. Threatened him with Thora. And then I’d ensured the Eprothan ambassador had seen us together, close enough to give value to the rumors we’d started. Then, I’d thought those were some of the worst things I could do. I’d had no idea just what lengths I would go to for my people.

Now, Rekja’s father was dead. He’d killed him—and I was partly responsible.

Several servants leaped forward, greeting us as if we were old friends and leading us to the same rooms we’d stayed in last time.

“We have others who will be arriving soon,” I said. “My aunt Telean, Daharak Rostamir—”

“Oh, we know.” One of the women smiled. “His Majesty has instructed us to prepare rooms for all of your friends and allies. And Madinia Farrow arrived just a few hours ago.”

I let out a shaky laugh. Madinia was finally safe.

Marth muttered something and stalked away. Lorian was staring at a spot by the window, his expression haunted.

“I think we’ll take some time to freshen up.” I attempted a smile. As much as I wanted to see Madinia immediately, I wouldn’t leave Lorian with that look in his eyes.

“Of course, Your Majesty… Only…”

I took pity on her. “What is it?”

“Regner’s queen.” Her nose crinkled and was brought under control immediately.

“She’s here?”

“Yes, she arrived yesterday. His Majesty said you would likely wish to speak to her at your convenience, so she is currently under strict guard. But I believe she has somehow heard of your arrival and…”

I sighed. “I can only imagine how demanding she is being. I’ll see her as soon as I’ve changed out of my traveling clothes.”

Kaliera would, after all, sniff out any hint of weakness.

Lorian stepped up next to me. The color had returned to his face, but my instincts screamed at me. Which of the dead were torturing him now?

“I’ll come with you,” he said to me. “First, I want to speak to Rekja.”

If Lorian wanted to speak to Rekja alone, it wouldn’t be about war strategy. He would never enter those discussions without my input.

As curious as I was, I was more desperate to bathe properly for the first time in days.

I pondered Kaliera as I bathed. There were only two reasons she would be here. Either she’d decided to work with Regner to infiltrate us, or he had discovered just how duplicitous she truly was. If it was the first reason, I felt relatively confident we could keep her from learning anything crucial. If it was the second, I couldn’t understand how she could possibly still be alive.

By the time the water grew cold and I’d forced myself out of the tub, Lorian had returned. His gaze was a caress as I stepped into the room, a silk robe clinging to my damp skin.

He’d also found somewhere to bathe and change, and I allowed myself to wander closer, until he snatched me up and attacked my mouth with a fierce need I hadn’t expected.

I sank into him, my head whirling as all thoughts and reason disappeared. It wasn’t just my head that was whirling—the room was moving around me because he’d picked me up and was stalking toward the bed.

I yanked my head back.

“I don’t think so. As much as I enjoy the thought of Kaliera waiting for us, I’d be too…distracted.”

He gave me a wicked grin. “I bet I could convince you to change your mind.”

I’d bet he could too.

I hesitated. We hadn’t had enough time together while we were traveling, and I missed him. Missed being close. I was incredibly tempted to try to lock out the world.

But Lorian was already switching course, placing me on my feet and practically dragging me toward the closet.

“Let’s get this over with,” he growled.

My core ached with the same frustration, and I pulled on the first dress I saw, found some shoes with a low heel, and followed Lorian out the door.

“I need to ask one of the maids where they’ve stashed her.” Lorian took my hand.

“You’re back,” a cold, irritated voice said.

I whipped my head to face the door so quickly, I gave myself a headache.

Madinia wore leather leggings, a white men’s shirt, and a dark scowl. But she was alive.

Her eyes met mine, and she gave a faint smile at whatever she saw on my face. Some of the ire left her expression.

I didn’t attempt to hug her. Something about the stiff way she stood made it clear she wouldn’t welcome any affection. Not that she was the kind of person who welcomed it most other times.

“You’re alive.” I kept my tone light, placing my hands on my hips. Next to me, Lorian gave her a nod. But I knew him well enough to see the hint of relief in his eyes. If only because he knew we needed her power.

She just nodded. “You’re going to see her.”

“Yes.”

“She’s been asking for me. But I wanted to wait for you.”

I couldn’t blame her. Kaliera had a way of getting inside your head—especially when you weren’t at your best. And it was clear from the strain in Madinia’s eyes that she wasn’t even close to her best.

“Well then, let’s see what she has to say.”

She fell into step on my other side. “I know where she’s staying.”

It turned out, Kaliera’s rooms were disturbingly close to our own, although Rekja had thankfully stationed two guards on the door. They straightened as Lorian approached, the guard on the left casting a wary glance at his pointed ears.

I raised my eyebrow, and when his eyes met mine, his cheeks heated.

Lorian and the others had ceased using their glamour, for the most part. Everyone knew they weren’t human, and as I’d commented recently, if we truly wanted peace when this war ended, humans would need to get used to working and living with the fae.

The first step meant no longer hiding what they were. Hopefully, the humans who had been taught to fear the fae would see they were just…people. But it would take time.

The guard on the right nodded at us, leaning over to throw open the door. Lorian went first—a clear indication of how little he trusted the human queen.

Kaliera was wearing a green dress. It fell elegantly to the floor as she stepped toward us, her gaze scanning me from head to toe. I’d left my hair down, not even taking the time to dry it.

As usual, she looked perfect. Not a hair out of place. But her displeasure was evident in the thin line of her lips. The slight tightness around her eyes.

She studied Madinia, who stared blankly back at her. When Kaliera let out a tiny, dismissive snort, I thought she might burst into flames right there.

Lorian must have imagined the same, because he wedged his body between Madinia and Kaliera.

The queen smirked. “I met your cousin,” she said, returning her attention to me. “He said you turned back time.”

Her words took all of the air out of my lungs, as if someone had shoved their fist into my gut. She’d met Zathrian. It wasn’t surprising, considering I’d seen him working with Regner. But…it was strange. I’d never even had a conversation with the man, who was related to me by blood, and yet Kaliera had met him.

Still, I knew better than to let her see any kind of reaction.

I raised one eyebrow. “I met your general. He laid waste to an entire city.”

“Regner’s general,” she ground out.

Finally, she was calling him Regner. Was it because he was now hunting for her?

“What happened?”

“I attempted to steal Regner’s grimoire. Alcandre betrayed me.” One hand buried itself in her dress. “You don’t seem surprised.”

“You taught those women everything they knew.”

“The rest of them are dead.”

She’d said it to shock both me and Madinia. And it worked. My eyes stung, and Lorian wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Next to us, Madinia let out a small, broken sound. But I was watching Kaliera, and while her words might have hurt us, they hurt her too.

Still, I’d learned enough about this woman to know that didn’t mean she would change a single decision she’d made. Even if those decisions had led to their deaths.

“I want to see my son,” she said.

I wasn’t surprised by her demand, but I squared my shoulders. “He’s currently busy.”

“You will allow me to see him.” Her voice was imperious, the tone insisting she would accept no argument. It wasn’t unlike Madinia’s tone when she was in a mood. Of course, this was the woman she had learned such behavior from.

“He’s not here. Unlike his mother, who is only interested in saving her own skin, Jamic will use his power to save innocents whenever he can.”

She didn’t bother denying my accusation. But her lips tightened. “When will he return?”

“Soon.”

Kaliera’s eyes glittered. “I know where the last amulet is.”

I forced my expression to remain neutral, even as my heart began to race. “And?”

“And I know how to get to it.”

“How?”

“I went searching for it. Before I attempted to steal the grimoire. But I was unable to retrieve it.” Her tone was neutral, but I caught the flicker of fury in her eyes.

“How convenient,” Lorian rumbled. He’d pinned her with a hard stare.

He had a point. The queen had allegedly attempted to find the two artifacts we needed the most. She’d found neither and had instead turned up here empty-handed.

“It is in the same place he has been breeding his monsters. A mine named Lyrishade.”

Now, my heart began beating faster. If Regner kept his monsters there, we could kill them at the same time as we stole the amulet.

“Tell us what you know.”

“As soon as I see my son.”

I laughed. Kaliera’s nostrils flared, and I took a single step closer to her. “Let me be clear. We do not trust you. How do we know Regner did not send you here with this story? Even if he truly did turn on you, this may be the way you decide to reach his inner circle once more. I’m not risking my people on your word.”

She opened her mouth, and I shook my head. “You will see your son as soon as we have the amulet and I know for sure our people aren’t going to end up trapped.”

“You’ll tell us every detail, or I’ll make sure your son dies,” Madinia said. “I could probably make it look like an accident. Jamic likes me, you know. He thinks we’re friends.”

I hid my wince. Madinia didn’t make idle threats. But of all of us, she was the one Jamic trusted the most— especially after she’d saved his life.

She wouldn’t. I couldn’t believe she would kill someone who thought of her as a friend. Not in cold blood.

But Kaliera certainly seemed to think she would. She stared at Madinia for a long moment.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” she said. Finally, she’d lost some of her confidence—false as it might have been.

Some part of me almost felt sorry for her. It didn’t feel good to deny anyone access to their family or to allow Madinia to threaten their lives. But I knew what it was to lose the people I loved now. And I would never risk those people based on Kaliera’s trustworthiness.

“And if I find out you’re lying, I’ll kill you slowly,” Lorian said.

Her eyes narrowed as she faced Lorian, but the color left her cheeks. Not only would he happily use her son as leverage, but he’d kill her without a second thought. It was clear by the cold promise in his eyes. And from the single, sharp nod she gave, she knew it too.

“I learned something else that may be of some importance,” she said quickly. “I will tell you now to prove that you can trust me.”

“Fine,” Madinia said. “Tell us.”

“When I was hiding in the mine, I overheard two Eprothan guards speaking about the origins of the monsters.”

“Regner stole them as younglings when their parents left to hunt,” Lorian said.

Kaliera shook her head. “You don’t understand. There were so many monsters in that mine. Thousands. Plus, I heard you were attacked by thousands more. Servants talk.” She waved her hand. “The guard said one of the fae wardens—a woman—has been giving Regner creatures from her territory.” She met Lorian’s eyes. “He laughed and said you have no idea what’s coming for you.”

Lorian’s expression didn’t change. “That was all he said?”

Kaliera nodded. “I have…someone I can put you in contact with. Someone else who has traveled into the mines. He knew where the amulet was.”

“And just who is he?” I asked.

“The pirate queen’s brother. His name is Pelysian. He wants Regner dead too.”

“Fine,” I said. “Write down how we can contact him and give the information to one of the guards on your door.”

Lorian held out his hand for me, and I took it. Together, the three of us walked out.

I could hear voices in the room next door. Marth said something, and Galon and Rythos laughed in response.

“If she’s not lying, she’s just saved Conreth’s people days of searching for the amulet,” I said.

“Lyrishade was the next place we were planning to check after a small village nearby. Conreth no longer has many of our people that far north,” Lorian said. “It sounds as if we will need to send a highly trained group of our own.”

Madinia didn’t say another word. Just turned and stalked away. I couldn’t even imagine the horrors she’d seen. Perhaps…perhaps she would just need some time.

“And the warden?”

Lorian’s eyes turned flat. “Kaliera might be attempting to make us turn on one another. Sylvielle has powerful allies—something Regner would know if this is the truth. If Conreth makes a move on her without proof, her allies will refuse to march with him.”

“She refused to join with us at the summit.”

“Yes. And now, that choice looks much more suspicious. I will send a message to Conreth. Unless she is an idiot, she will agree to join us on the front lines instead of risking a full investigation.”

I knew Conreth well enough by now to know he would still make sure that investigation happened.

“There’s something else,” Lorian said. Stepping forward, he cupped my chin, gazing down at me. “I want to marry you.”

His words were so unexpected, I blushed, glancing at the guards. They stared straight ahead, pretending they’d lost all hearing. Grabbing Lorian’s arm, I pulled him down the hall.

“Haven’t we already had this conversation?”

He allowed me to direct him to our rooms, but the moment we entered, he pressed me against the wall with a grin. One of those wide, happy grins I so rarely got to see. I memorized the sight of that grin and tucked it away.

“I want to marry you here.”

I blinked. “In…Gromalia?”

“If you’d prefer to wait until we’re in our kingdom, we can,” he said. “But everyone you love will soon be gathered here. They’ll all be together for the last time— likely until this war is over.”

My mouth had gone dry at the thought. He was right. “You want to make sure everyone can attend.” Because there was a very real chance that we might lose more people we loved.

“I would marry you anytime, anywhere,” he said. “But we deserve one day of joy and happiness before we face whatever is to come.”

I peered up at him, my gaze sweeping over his sharp cheekbones, those piercing green eyes so intent as he watched me. His mouth was curved, but the tiniest line had formed between his dark brows.

He wanted me to say yes. This mattered to him. Greatly.

I realized then that somewhere along the way, I’d stopped picturing a future. I’d stopped contemplating our future.

And so, even as I’d nodded along while others talked about what would happen after the war, and I’d made plans out loud, a large part of me didn’t truly believe I would be here to see it happen. Especially now that I had no power.

It seemed almost as if I was testing fate to assume I would survive. After everything I’d done. All the people I’d killed, all the ways I’d defied the gods.

Lorian knew.

I wondered how much of that knowledge had gone into his insistence that we be married now and not wait until after the war. He was trying to make me picture our lives together. Trying to bring that numb part of me back to life.

And he was succeeding.

“If Rekja agrees…” I began, then narrowed my eyes at him. That was why he had disappeared. “You’ve already asked him, haven’t you?”

He dropped a kiss to my forehead, lingering for a long moment. “Of course I have.”