Chapter 24 – Alex
Chapter Twenty-Four
ALEX
This queen is the absolute worst being I’ve ever encountered.
I don’t know what her game is, but something is very wrong.
When she started telling Sera about her parents’ demise, the air was thick, almost suffocating.
There was pressure on my mind to accept what she was saying even though it didn’t match up with what Sera discovered last night.
Is she trying to compel us with her magic somehow? Is such a thing even possible? Perhaps my truth-sayer blood is helping me see past the lies.
I know Sera withheld truths in the past because of vows she was forced to swear using her true name, but is it possible to compel someone merely with words?
Sera downs the tea, and I don’t blame her. The taste of vomit is one I’d rather not think of. It reminds me of the many nights spent drinking and smoking my life away these past months.
My fingers twitch at the thought of vespira root. At least they don’t have it here. I should be safe from falling back into my addiction if only for the fact that it’s not available to me.
I’ve barely touched my tea or any of the food. Despite Sera’s reassurance, I don’t trust it. Something is off.
I wave down one of the servants, and they approach. “Might I have some water, please?”
The servant glances nervously at the queen before bobbing their head. “One moment.”
“Is the tea not to your liking?” the queen asks me, her voice dripping with venom.
“I prefer coffee in the morning,” I say casually.
“Coffee?” She arches a brow.
Sera rubs at her temple. “Yes, Your Majesty, it’s quite delightful. I never came across it in our realm though.”
“Pity,” the queen says.
“Pity indeed,” I agree.
The servant returns with a pitcher of water and pours me a glass.
“Thank you.” I sniff at it discreetly before trying a sip. It doesn’t taste wrong. Here’s hoping the queen didn’t have a chance to lace it with anything. I’m almost entirely certain the tea has been tampered with, but I’m not sure how to get Sera to stop drinking it without drawing attention.
I push my water toward Sera. “Water helps me most after being sick,” I say casually.
“Thank you, Alex,” she replies, taking a small sip.
The queen looks at me with calculating eyes. “How long do you plan to stay in Lunesai, Mr. Grey?”
“I just want to make sure Sera is settled in before returning.” I truly have no idea how long it will take for Rae and Kian to come looking for us. It’s not as if we planned for me to get sucked into the portal.
The queen turns her attention back to Sera. “You are welcome, of course, to stay here in the palace as long as you’d like.”
How magnanimous. I almost roll my eyes. It’s Sera’s damned home.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sera croaks out.
“You must understand, the Woodland Court believes your family to all be deceased,” the queen continues. “Your title of princess is honorary at best. The royal line of succession has been altered.”
“I have no designs on the throne,” Sera says bitterly. “I never have.”
“Be that as it may, it could confuse people. It’s best you keep your identity to yourself,” the queen says.
“I am also more than happy to set you up in a comfortable home far from here if you prefer. Our court has been through much turmoil in the last century, and this season of peace is one I do not wish to disturb.”
“I understand,” Sera replies.
It’s as if all life has been drained from her, and I want nothing more than to whisk her away as quickly as possible. If only we didn’t have to play the game.
“How did you come to be queen?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. “I understand it’s most unusual to not have a fae on the throne.”
The queen laughs, and it makes my hair stand on end. “Perhaps that’s a story for another day. The princess is looking quite peaked. You should return to your rooms for the day, though I expect you to join us for dinner this evening.” The authority in her tone brooks no argument.
“Thank you for breakfast,” I say, trying to keep my sarcasm at bay as I rise and retrieve our packs and my staff. This whole thing has been a disaster, but I am relieved we can finally leave this oppressive space.
“Don’t forget what I said about keeping your name to yourself,” the queen reminds Sera.
She pushes away from the table. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
I offer my arm, and Sera eagerly grabs hold. As soon as we cross the threshold, two guards follow close behind, accompanying us all the way back to the room, I assume to make sure we don’t try to escape again. I doubt the queen bought my story about training.
Sera grips my arm tightly, as if it’s the only thing keeping her upright.
I wish I could sweep her into my arms, but I don’t think she would allow me to, especially not in sight of the queen and her guards.
Showing weakness is never a good idea in front of one’s enemies, and enemies they surely are.
In all likelihood, the queen would have been happy to dispose of us without a second thought, especially with Sera being a potential threat to her rule.
I can only hope my mention of Raelyn will be enough to at least delay any assassination attempts.
Gods willing, Rae won’t take too long to check on us.
I don’t fully understand how the goddess powers work, but I don’t think Kian would leave me here indefinitely, not without making sure it’s where I want to be.
Regardless, I am not abandoning Sera here to fight the evil enchantress queen alone.
I bristle again at the thought of how callous the queen was, the way she dangled Sera’s family’s deaths in front of her like a spoiled morsel of food.
When we finally arrive at our chambers, the guards position themselves outside our door.
“Should we be worried about our safety?” I can’t help but ask as I’m halfway through the door.
The guard curls his lip into a sneer before replying, “You’re perfectly safe here, but the queen likes to be extra cautious.”
I salute them irreverently and close the door firmly behind us. “Do you think the guards are listening?” I whisper in Rakveren, gesturing in their direction as I unstrap my bo staff.
Sera nods and whispers, “It’s highly likely.”
It’s a good thing we speak another language.
I guide Sera into her room and over to a small settee near the window, and she collapses onto it in a less than ladylike manner. Her gracefulness has fled, and she looks completely broken. What in the hells was in that tea?
Seating myself next to her after depositing our packs on the floor, I’m completely shocked when she leans into me. “Are you all right?” I ask.
“Absolutely not,” she says, her voice heavy, on the brink of tears.
“What can I do?”
“Nothing . . . I just . . . I don’t want to be alone right now.”
My heart completely melts in my chest.
Sera slides her body down the settee and lays her head in my lap, surprising me even more. I gently stroke her hair, expecting her to shove me off, but instead, she trembles beneath my touch, leaning into it.
“What’s going through that head of yours, sweetheart?” I ask softly.
Sera sucks in a breath before whispering, “I just keep envisioning my mother jumping from the tower over and over again. I can’t believe she did that . . . I can’t believe they would have been so reckless.”
“Sera, look at me,” I command, and she turns her tearful, violet gaze to mine. “She was lying.”
“What?” Sera asks, brows flying up as her body tenses.
I cup her cheek, stroking it with my thumb while murmuring, “There had to be something in that tea. I don’t know for certain, but it felt like the queen was compelling us with her words.
There was a weight to them, only, they didn’t sink in for me .
. . perhaps because I didn’t drink much or because of my gift. ”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“She was lying. None of that was true.”
“Seven hells,” Sera replies. “So it didn’t happen?”
I shrug. “I don’t know for certain how your parents died, but the story she wove was absolute shit. Don’t you remember telling me this morning she admitted to having a part in their deaths?”
Sera sits up, brushing a hand over her tear-stained face and taking a breath.
“I do vaguely remember something, but it’s fuzzy, almost like these new memories are trying to erase those.
Do you think that’s how she did it?” she asks.
“Did she somehow compel the Woodland Court to accept her as queen? I still can’t make sense of why she’d be ruling over the fae. ”
I frown. “Perhaps we’re on to something.”
“The memories are still competing in my mind, and it’s making me so incredibly sick,” Sera admits. “How in the gods’ names am I going to keep my secret from her? Especially if dinner lasts until after the suns set. If she finds out about my condition, she will have even more power over us.”
“We need to get the hells out of here.”
“Agreed.”
“But how?” I ask. “I’m no closer to sprouting wings.”
“Maybe we need to let her think we’re cooperating with her plans so she loosens the reins a little.”
“That’s a start. I just don’t think it’s safe being here a moment longer than we need to be.”
I miss the warmth of her on my lap, and I’d love to tug her back down and give her the comfort she craves, but she seems to have moved on.
Sera moans a little and puts a hand to her forehead. “Whatever was in that tea is still messing with my head, and it hurts.”
“Would throwing up again help?” I ponder.
She gives me a glare. “Don’t remind me. I hate throwing up.”
I raise my hands. “Sorry!”
“If only I had some kohle.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“It’s a powder that helps absorb harmful substances that have been ingested.”
I blow out a breath. “Does it grow around here?”
“We probably have some in the apothecary, but I doubt the queen will let us out.”
“Do you even feel well enough to go out?”
There are deep circles under Sera’s eyes and a weariness to her entire demeanor. I want to put her in bed and make her stay there all day. Is the damned swan letting her rest at all?
“I don’t think so, and I don’t know if it would even help if we try later. Timing matters.”
She looks like she’s going to cry again when an idea hits me. “I don’t know if this will work, but what if you took the tonic Margot made to help with my addiction?”
Sera frowns. “What are the ingredients?”
“She never told me, but if it fights off the effects of harmful substances like vespira, perhaps it has something similar to kohle in it?” I rummage through my pack and pull out my last vial.
My stomach twinges at the thought of using it up, but for Sera, I’d give up anything.
I unstopper the vial and hold it out. “Would you recognize the herb by scent?”
Sera nods and takes hold of it, raising it to her nose. It crinkles adorably when she sniffs, and a smile brightens her features. “This might work. There are other ingredients as well, but I don’t think they’d be harmful.”
“Really?” Hope floods me. Anything to help ease her pain, to help rid her of the visions haunting her. “Take it!”
“But don’t you need it?” She frowns. “I can’t take your last vial.”
“I have more,” I lie. She needs this more than I do.
Sera throws back the tonic, and I take a breath, hoping and praying it does what it needs to.