Chapter 86 Dianna
DIANNA
I almost wept when warmth filled my heart and the familiar electric sensation skipped across my nerves, making my blood sizzle.
Even without my ring on my finger, I felt him.
I felt him like I had since the day I’d stepped into that council building on Onuna.
Samkiel was here, and as always when he was near, my soul sought his.
I dared not search the crowd for him. It would have only taken one look to send him scrambling and ruining any plans he had.
It was enough that I felt him, but I longed to pull the ring from its hiding place in my bra and slip it on so I could hear his voice again, but I would have to wait.
Somehow, Nismera didn’t seem to be able to sense him.
No one knew he was here. Otherwise, this place would have erupted into chaos already.
He must be hiding his power, slipping through the crowd like he belonged among these royals.
A whimper left my lips, but not from pain.
He had not only come for me again, but he’d made it in time.
They made me crawl, tossed food at me, and spat on me. They did it all for her, and with each breath I took, I planned their death, vengeance not only for me, but for Reggie. If they followed her, they could die with her. I finally made it to the raised stone stage, and the guards hoisted me up.
Nismera sneered at me and said in a low voice, “Now you finally look like the filth you are.”
I reared back and spat on her, my saliva coating her face. The crowd gasped, but she regained their respect by backhanding me so hard I saw stars.
“You see what she is? Disgusting, less than an animal.” She stepped forward and picked me up by the back of my hair. “Look.”
Her power shot through my cuffs. It didn’t burn this time, but it forced my body to shift. Claws ripped from my fingertips, and fangs erupted in my mouth. I knew by how my vision changed that my eyes had bled to red. “See? An animal. Is this what you want protecting your children and family?”
They all yelled, screamed, and cursed my name.
A thousand-plus people in this ballroom and all their hateful eyes fell on me.
I knew she’d won them, then. I knew it beyond a doubt.
She was preying on their concern for their families and their fear of the unknown.
They feared what they did not understand, and they had no concept of Samkiel and me.
We frightened them, and she’d used it, painting herself as a savior.
They’d eaten her lies and deceit like they were starving.
They saw me as an unpredictable beast when the true monster looked just like them.
For now.
She yanked me up higher, my bruised feet barely touching the floor.
“None of us are truly safe until she and the regime that sent her to end us all are dead.”
One of her burly guards stepped forward, carrying a wide-bladed, ablaze weapon. Two others carried over a thick silver slab that they set before me. I’d give her credit. She wanted more than a public execution. She was making a spectacle out of cutting my head off in front of them.
I whimpered and slumped in her hold, feebly pushing against her. I’d let her think it was fear overtaking me. Let her think I was giving up hope, and that she had finally broken me. She wanted to make an example out of me, but I was going to make one out of her instead.
“Kneel, traitor queen,” she demanded. “Kneel before the rightful heir.”
“I do, and you are not him.”
I headbutted her, the crunch of bone satisfying as her head snapped back.
My hand slipped between the wrapped fabric I’d used as a bra, pulling out the forsaken blade I had made.
The crowd gasped, but it was too late. I spun as she steadied herself and stared at me, shocked at my newfound strength.
I grinned and shoved the forsaken blade through her eye, pushing hard enough to force it out the back of her head.