The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash 4)

“Smart,” the Blood Queen whispered as Malik relaxed. “I see you have learned to control that power to some extent.”

I forced my grip to loosen on the chair arms. “Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? How you will slaughter more children and innocent people?”

“It will not be I who slaughters those mortals,” she stated. “It will be the armies under your command who do.” Her stare was intense. I felt it tracking over every inch of my face. “Or it will simply be you who does it. So, if you want to avoid that, you will make sure your armies stand down.”

I cut my gaze in her direction. “Now we’re going to discuss the future of the kingdoms? Do you think I will negotiate with you when this is how you plan to proceed?” The words came out of me in a rush. “I won’t give you Atlantia. I won’t order my armies to retreat. And I won’t let you use innocent people as a shield.”

Her attention shifted to the Prince. “Malik, if you don’t mind, I need to speak with my daughter in private.”

“Of course.” Malik rose, bowing as his eyes briefly met mine. He walked down the short set of wide steps, passing Millicent as he strolled onto the floor and was immediately swamped by smiling Ladies and Lords.

“They are so very charmed by him,” the Blood Queen said. “He’d have to beat them off with a stick if he wanted to.”

The Handmaiden looked away from Malik, her attention traveling farther across the Great Hall.

“Do you know what has kept me alive?” she asked after a couple of moments. “Vengeance.”

“That is…entirely cliché,” I remarked.

Her laugh was soft and short. “Be that as it may, it is the truth. And I imagine the reason it’s become so cliché is because vengeance has kept many alive during the darkest moments of their lives. Moments that last years and decades. I will have it.”

“The vast majority of Atlantians had nothing to do with what was done to you or your son,” I told her. “And yet, you think that controlling Atlantia will somehow give you that vengeance. It won’t.”

“I… I must admit something to you.” The Blood Queen angled her body toward mine. The scent of roses reached me. “I never really had any intention of ruling Atlantia. I don’t need the kingdom. I don’t even want it. I just want to see it burn. Ended. I want to see every Atlantian dead.”

Casteel

She will die in your arms…

Millicent’s words kept cycling through my head. I hadn’t slept since she’d been here. I couldn’t stop thinking about who she was—what she’d shared. I couldn’t deny that she was Poppy’s sister. They looked too much alike. Hell, if the hair was the same color and Millicent had fewer freckles, they could almost pass as twins. And what she had said about Poppy? What she’d said I needed to do?

I growled low in my throat.

Fuck that.

Even if Poppy were powerful enough to wreak the kind of havoc Millicent had warned of, she would never do it. That kind of evil wasn’t in her.

Millicent might be Poppy’s sister, but I didn’t trust her. And I didn’t trust a damn thing that had come out of her mouth.

Footsteps echoed from in the hall, jerking my head up. Golden Boy entered. Alone. He carried no food or water with him.

“What in the hell do you want?” I snarled, my throat dry.

“I wanted to see how you were doing, Your Majesty.”

“Bullshit.”

He smiled, his facial paint and clothing so damn golden that he shone like a bulb of light. “You’re starting to look…not so well again.”

I didn’t need this jackass pointing out what I already knew. Hunger gnawed at my insides, and I swore I saw his pulse thrumming in his neck.

But the Rev just stood there, staring.

“Unless you’re here to tell me about the weather,” I drawled, “you can show yourself the fuck out.”

Callum chuckled. “Impressive.”

“Me?” I smirked. “I know.”

“Your arrogance,” he said, and a low rumble radiated from my chest as he stepped forward. His smile widened. “You’re chained to a wall, starved and filthy, unable to do anything to aid your woman, and yet you’re still so arrogant.”

Another growl clawed its way up my throat. “She doesn’t need my aid.”

“I suppose not.” He touched his chest. “She stabbed me yesterday. With my own dagger.”

A rough laugh left me. “That’s my girl.”

“You must be very proud of her.” He knelt slowly. “We’ll see how that changes.”

“It’ll never change,” I swore, my jaw throbbing. “No matter what.”

He studied me for a few moments. “Love. Such a strange emotion. I’ve seen it take the most powerful beings down,” he said. Millicent’s words knocked around in my head again. “I’ve seen it give others unbelievable strength. But out of all the many, many years I’ve lived, I’ve only seen love stop death once.”