Lucia tried to harness her racing thoughts. “What? What will happen?”
There were dark circles under the queen’s eyes that hinted that she hadn’t slept well for some time. “I won’t let him destroy you for his own gain.”
“Mother, please . . .”
Her jaw tensed and she pulled away from Lucia’s grip. “He thinks I’m weak, that I stand by and watch him work his darkness without opinion or judgment. That I am only a dutiful wife who is of no consequence. But he’s wrong. I see my purpose now, Lucia. It’s to stop him any way I can. He doesn’t realize what it is he hopes to unleash upon the world. He thinks he can control that which is uncontrollable.”
Lucia found she now was now trembling.
“I need to get up.” Alarmed, but still weary, she struggled to swing herself out of the bed, but the queen pressed down on her shoulder to keep her prone.
“I must kill you,” the queen whispered. “To save you from what I fear is ahead. To end this as it’s only beginning. But I can’t—not yet. When I look at you, I see the tiny, beautiful baby that was brought to me sixteen years ago. I hated you then—and I loved you.”
Lucia stared at the queen, horrified by her words.
“Now,” the queen continued, “only love remains. Love is the only thing that matters in the end. What I’ve done has been out of love, Lucia.”
A wave of dizziness washed over her and Lucia’s gaze shot to the silver goblet. “The water . . .”
“It’s a very powerful potion.” The queen touched the drinking vessel, sliding her finger around the sparkling edge. “Undetectable to anyone through taste. Sleep, my darling. Such darkness will not touch you in your dreams. Sleep in peace. And when I finally find the strength to end your life, I promise I will be gentle.”
A potion—a sleeping potion . . .
“Sleep now, my dear girl,” the queen’s voice soothed.
Lucia’s gaze slid to the balcony to see the golden edge of a hawk’s wing.
“Alexius,” she whispered as the luxurious chambers around her faded away.
Chapter 13
ALEXIUS
THE SANCTUARY
Phaedra summoned him to the crystal palace and Alexius had no choice but to go to her immediately. He found her there, her beautiful face etched with worry.
“It’s Stephanos,” she said.
The name of Phaedra’s beloved mentor drew him closer. After
Phaedra’s own brother was exiled from the Sanctuary twenty years ago, she had turned to both Stephanos and Alexius as her closest friends in this realm. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s dying.” The long, flowing cloak she wore today was a shade of platinum, nearly an exact match to her hair.
“Dying?” The word was so foreign that it felt false on his tongue.
Dying was for mortals, not for those who lived in the Sanctuary.
She grabbed hold of his shirt to pull him closer. “They don’t want many to know, but I needed you here so you could see for yourself. There’s not much time left.”
She was frantic, and Alexius knew nothing he could say to her right now would ease her pain.
“What can be done?” he asked.
She just shook her head. “Nothing. There’s no way he can be saved.”
His heart sank. “Take me there.”