Chapter 59
Chapter
Fifty-Nine
“Isee.” Elias nodded. “So you let the bandits and sorcerers into the quarters through the hidden passage.”
The queen consort nodded. “I do feel bad for the Draconian guards. But—”
“You had to do what you had to do. For your children.” Elias filled his voice with sympathy. “I understand completely.”
In the corner of his gaze, Gerard turned sharply towards him.
But Elias didn’t return the look. He wanted to turn to Gerard. He wanted to look into his face. He wanted to see if Gerard cared even a little for him after everything that had passed between them.
However, Elias had to focus. He had to find out everything he could. Thankfully, Empress Emmeline had at least temporarily left and the queen consort seemed keen to spill. He just had to get her to keep going.
“It seems you have done your part well,” Elias said.
She smiled. “We knew that tonight Konrad would be in a meeting until very late with the grand healer. There were other plans to keep Senta away. But I would need to ensure Luther went away directly should he return to the rooms. I rehearsed what I would say, like I did with Gerard. But he did not return.” She sagged, clearly disappointed that she hadn’t gotten to trick her stepson.
“I was a bit worried because Gerard came back earlier than expected. But then he left for a little bit, so it didn’t cause problems with the plan,” she said.
The soldiers guarding them shifted, glancing at the queen consort.
Clearly, they did not feel comfortable with her babbling.
But not so uncomfortable that they would tell Queen Consort Adelina to shut her jabbering mouth.
No doubt she had been holding her tongue of late and was now grateful she had an eager listener.
Did Emmeline really want to work with Queen Consort Adelina? She was not the brightest of co-conspirators. Elias supposed this was a needs-must situation.
“And the king. What is the plan with the king?” Elias asked.
“A note will have been left, telling the king that bandits have captured you and myself,” she said. “They will demand a ransom be brought to a location. When the king hears we’ve been taken by bandits, he will go on his own to that location, ready to fight.”
She smiled at Gerard. “That’s why I mentioned bandits previously to your father.” Then her eyes dimmed. “But he was so dismissive of me. Like he always is. But it was part of the plan, you see?”
A muscle ticked in Gerard’s jaw. He opened his mouth.
But Elias got in first. “That was very clever of you!”
“You think?” she asked, like a puppy desperate and yearning for a shred of approval.
“Of course.” Then Elias paused. “But will the king not seek reinforcements before flying out to attack?”
She laughed. “No. He will think he can easily take care of a whole troop of bandits on his own. He is the all-powerful dragon king, after all. If Senta, Luther, Konrad, or Gerard were in the apartments, he’d tell them.
But they won’t be there. And he has no reason to think Gerard has been kidnapped.
He’d have been suspicious if bandits were able to capture Gerard. ”
Elias nodded. “That makes sense.”
“And he can’t tell the Draconian guards, since they’re all dead! He could go and find other dragons to come with him.” She shook her head. “But he will not seek them out. It will take time, and he thinks himself too strong to need assistance against mere bandits.” She laughed.
“He might tell servants, or warrior doves, or anyone he passes, but he will not wait for slow-moving forces to accompany him. He will fly out alone at speed!” She clasped her hands. “And then he will die!”
Fuck. She really hates her husband. Still, Elias just kept nodding and smiling.
“We will have to make it look like bandits killed him though. We have to make it look like bandits killed you all. It can’t look like anyone else had a hand in any of your deaths.”
“It is a brilliant plan,” Elias said, although he saw quite a few rather large holes.
For instance, there were far too many involved. They had a small army for fuck’s sake! How would they keep what had actually occurred a secret? Furthermore, would people really believe that bandits actually managed to kill the dragon king, the dragon warrior, and his four siblings?
But Elias kept his thoughts to himself. “Did you think of the plan all by yourself?”
“I helped. But it was Emmeline and—” Her mouth snapped shut. She exhaled. “Then after the king has departed, the wind sorcerers and bandits will emerge from the secret tunnel and take over the Draconian quarters,” she said, not answering his question.
“They will put on the uniforms of the Draconian guards,” she said.
“And they will dispose of the rest of the siblings as they return.
We have it all planned out to ensure that Luther, Konrad, and Senta return one by one.
Then the sorcerers and bandits will make it look like it was just bandits who killed the siblings before they leave.
“Emmeline is so brilliant,” she gushed. “And kind. She approached me after she saw the king flirting with that slut from Necros.” Her lips pursed. “A necromancer! He’d bed a necromancer over me! But Emmeline saw how the king treated me, and she was kind to me.”
“And that robed figure, are you working with them too?” Elias asked.
Adelina opened her mouth. Then snapped it shut. A muscle twitched in her cheek.
What the fuck? “Who was the robed figure?”
But Adelina’s lips stayed firmly closed.
Elias wanted to push. But this seemed to be the one point she would not discuss. He moved on. “Where is the attack on the king taking place?” That he still needed to know.
Then Empress Emmeline appeared in the doorway, without the robed figure this time. She strode towards them.
“Where is the king being lured?” Elias pressed.
But Empress Emmeline had drawn too close. “That is none of your business!” She glowered at Elias before turning her enraged gaze on Adelina.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Emmeline.” She dashed towards the empress. “I figured since they will be dead soon, it doesn’t matter.”
The empress glared at the queen consort. Then she took a deep breath. She smiled, one of her very bright fake smiles. “You’re right.” She placed a hand on Adelina’s shoulder. “Sorry, my dear. It has been such a stressful day.”
Then the empress turned to Elias, fixing him with her icy gaze. She smiled.
But this was not a fake smile. This smile was filled with all the malevolence and hatred she held for him. It had built up over years and years. And now she wanted to release it.
Gerard shuffled closer, leaning over Elias as if trying to protect him from Empress Emmeline’s wrath.
“I have been looking forward to killing you.” Murder glinted in her grey eyes.
Two groups of sorcerers, one lightning and one wind, got into position behind her.
The muscles in Elias’s body coiled tight. His bound hands twitched. He should attack now. But he needed to know where the attack on the dragon king was taking place. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to save him.
“I know it is rather base of me to enjoy you suffering.” She tilted her head.
“But one must savour life’s little pleasures, don’t you think?
Beau and Anais send their regards. They wished they could be here too, of course.
But they are busy. However, I promised them I’d torture you before I killed you and tell them all about how you screamed in pain. ”
That meant he had more time to work out where the king was being lured. But how long could he be tortured before he became too incapacitated to stand a chance of fighting back? Especially against so many sorcerers and soldiers.
“The people of Voltaria and Zephyrias loved and adored you despite your obvious weaknesses, flaws, and incompetence. They cared for you more than my own children.” Empress Emmeline’s eyes narrowed.
“Why would they prefer you over my children? They are so much better than you. In every single way. They are smarter, stronger, and more responsible than you. But still the people love you more. Even the king still loves you, despite how vexing you are. But no more. You will be reduced to nothing.
“Drag Prince Gerard away from him,” she ordered. “I don’t want him to be shocked. Not yet.”
“No!” Gerard shouted and struggled as the soldiers pulled him back.
“I thought it fitting that your own sorcerers start the torture.” She gestured to the lightning sorcerers, but she did not tear her gaze from Elias, as if not wanting to miss a second of the pain he was about to experience.
The sorcerers’ fingers moved, weaving together, the exact same movements at the exact same time. Their hands flashed.
And as their fingers gestured towards Elias, the lightning came. And so did the pain.