The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash 4)

“Yes,” Perry confirmed.

I remembered Tawny and I once talking about them, and the whole idea of beings that could either see or control the outcome of the lives of every living creature seemed utterly unbelievable to both of us. But then again, I hadn’t believed in Seers or prophecies either.

I turned back to the box. “Lord Sven’s knowledge of Primal magic may come in handy. He’ll be arriving with Valyn, won’t he?”

“Yes.”

Kieran stepped in close, his earthy scent surrounding me, reminding me of the woods between Castle Teerman and the city Atheneum. “I don’t know about this, Poppy.” He touched my arm. “There could be anything in that box.”

“I doubt she placed a venomous viper in there,” I replied as I tugged the glove off my left hand, shoving it into the pocket of my sweater coat.

“She could’ve placed any manner of venomous or poisonous things in that box,” he countered, his voice low. “I don’t like this.”

“I don’t either, but…” I turned my left hand over, revealing the golden swirl across my palm. The marriage imprint. Then I withdrew the wolven dagger from its sheath. “I need to know.” I lowered my voice as I met Kieran’s stare. “I have to.”

The hard press of his mouth tightened, but he nodded. Reaver’s shadow fell over us as he watched. The bloodstone shone a deep red as I quickly dragged the tip of the sharp blade over my thumb. I gritted my teeth at the brief, stinging pain. Blood welled as I sheathed the dagger.

“Where do you think I should place my blood?” I asked, my hand steady.

“I would try the latch in the center,” Perry suggested, inching closer.

I didn’t hesitate, smearing my blood over the small metal latch shaped very much like a keyhole—without a hole. I pulled my hand back and waited.

Nothing happened.

Perry leaned in. “Maybe try—”

Then something happened.

A faint, reddish-black shadow seeped out from the seam as the box cracked open. Emil cursed…or maybe said a prayer. I wasn’t sure. He lurched forward as Kieran threw out his arm as if he sought to edge me away, but the rippling shadow quickly disappeared. The Atlantian halted as the lock unlatched with a click, and the lid cracked open.

My stomach dipped. In the back of my mind, I acknowledged that the sight of such a thing a year ago would’ve had me backing up and praying to gods I had no idea still slept. I reached for the box.

“Careful,” Kieran murmured, his hand now hovering near mine.

I had a feeling if a viper did spring out of the box, Kieran would catch it with his bare hands.

And I would also scream.

Slowly, I lifted the lid the rest of the way. A pillow of crimson satin appeared within, and nestled in the center was—

I jerked back, stumbling. Icy shock coated my throat. No one spoke. No one else moved. Not even Kieran, who stared into the box, his hand still hovering over it. Not even me.

My heart started pounding. My breath quickened. Kieran’s hand trembled and then closed into a fist.

The wedding band made in Spessa’s End shone a lustrous gold, matching the one I wore.

Always and forever.

The same message was inscribed on both. Neither of us had removed our rings since the ceremony.

And this one hadn’t been now, either, for it remained on the finger I had placed it on.

Chapter 6

That was his ring.

That was his finger.

That was a piece of him.

Kieran shot forward, smacking a hand down on the lid, but I still saw what lay inside. I would never not see it. Not if I lived thousands of years. I wouldn’t forget.

Piercing howls echoed from within Massene, shattering the stunned silence as I stared at the ruby-adorned box. Someone spoke, but I couldn’t make sense of the words. The shock and bitter-tasting horror pressed against my humming skin. I had no chance to shut down my senses. My icy disbelief and anguish crashed into others’, but it was what lay under the agony that choked me—the sour, suffocating churning of guilt that was mine. All mine.

Because I had caused this.

It had been my message that had antagonized the Blood Queen. My hand that held the blade that’d severed King Jalara’s head. My actions that had guided the Blood Queen’s hand. I had taken the risk, believing she wouldn’t harm him. Not when she needed him. I’d been mistaken.

I had brought this onto him.

The crack in my chest was a crevice that fractured and broke wide open. The flood of eather spilled from the chasm, brimming with unfettered rage and endless agony. The charged energy hit the air around me. Ancient power surged, rising once more, deep from the agony, absolute and final. A silvery-white aura crowded the corners of my vision as I sparked light and…

Tendrils of dark light arced and pulsed through the silvery aura as the eather manifested around me. Light lanced with shadows gathered near the ground, churning around my legs.