“Let’s pretend I believe you without a shred of evidence.” I was thankful for Asa’s strength at my back. “I still don’t get why I’m here, and please save us both time and skip over the scripted sentimentality. That doesn’t work on me. I want the truth, and it better be worth all the lives this charade cost.”
Innocents, creatures and humans alike, had died to lead me here, to this moment, to face her.
“With your wicked father dead, only a child of my line can free me.”
“You have a henchwoman right there.” I pointed at Delma. “She was just bragging about how she’s of your line and of your blood and blah-blah. I tuned her out when she got repetitive. So, why me?”
“Yes, Grandmother.” Delma studied the fallen queen. “Why are you entertaining her?”
Clearly, whatever story Calixta spun to get Delma on her side hadn’t included chatting with me. But, if Calixta was telling the truth, I knew what Delma expected. She wanted to kill me. Her own…cousin?
That psychopathy ran in the family wasn’t a huge shocker. That I came from murderers, liars, and great power wasn’t anything new. Okay, the daemon thing? That was new. The rest? Not so much.
We were probably given knives instead of rattles, bottles of poison rather than milk, from birth.
“You know why,” Calixta said gently. “A sacrifice is required.”
Yep.
That fit with my expectations.
“Give the word, Grandmother.” Delma bowed her head. “I will exchange her life for your freedom.”
Flame licked my spine, and the daemon roared into being. “Rue mine.”
“The life must be freely given.” Calixta tsked. “She must agree.”
Malice bright in her eyes, Delma smiled. “I challenge you for the position of heir of Haelian Seas throne.”
“No thanks.” I smiled right back. “Not interested.”
“Stubborn child.” Calixta gazed at me. “Perhaps this will motivate you.”
From the canopy, a smaller version of the monster spider glided down on a single thread. Against its breast, a bundle of web writhed and shrieked, the voice muffled but one I would know anywhere.
Colby.
Whatever the first spider had been, this one was a henchman on Calixta’s payroll.
The twitch in my limbs grew spastic, and my fingernails lengthened to talons that could pluck a heart from a chest as easily as a ripe apple from a limb. Saliva flooded my mouth as I stared at Delma, and a layer of that carefully curated version of myself flaked off to reveal the monster within me.
The shift in my demeanor registered on Calixta’s face, her pride evident.
Delma, however, dug her toes into the tortoise shell like she imagined spurring a horse to retreat.
“You’re dead,” Clay informed her in a voice absent of emotion. “If Rue doesn’t kill you, I will.”
I swung my head to find him beside me, chest pumping like bellows, fists tight at his sides.
“I accept,” I rasped, gold dots floating on the edges of my vision, rage a fire in my belly.
“No.” The daemon smashed his fist through the railing. “I accept.”
“The challenge wasn’t issued to you, big guy.” I kept my gaze locked on Delma. “Where and when?”
“Here and now.” She prodded her ride until she could leap onto the boardwalk. “I want this settled.”
“Fine.” I stepped away from the guys. “Let’s do this.”