She tilts her head. “Do you really want to tell me you bested her at the height of her strength?”
“I did, just like I stole her Guardians out from underneath her. Just like I opened the gates over and over again without her understanding or notice.”
The Morrigan thinks this over, resting her chin on the back of her hand. “So tell me, Fallen Guardian, what am I to do? Reward you for delivering back what is mine? Punish you for allowing the others to escape? I’m not exactly sure what is happening here.”
There’s a pause, the entire audience is waiting for what comes next, but not even I am sure what will happen. I reach for the hidden blade and slip out of Bunny’s grip. I toss him to the ground, punching him twice in his confused face, and then hold the dagger to his throat. Staring at the Morrigan, who is watching the scene like a patron at the theater, I flick my wrist, allowing the spikes to extend on one hand. She doesn’t react to the move but I know she’s impressed.
I press down on his chest, curving my nails like spoon to dig out his betraying heart. Without looking at the queen, I say, “You’re right. I let him catch me to give the others time to get back to the other realm. They’re on a ticket provided by the Shaman back home. I needed them out of here and it was easier to trick them than to kill them.”
“Why?” she asks. The soldiers are inches away. “Why would you do all of this?”
“Because this is about me and you, Your Highness. It always has been, don’t you think?” She doesn’t look convinced. I nod at Anita. “I delivered the Third. Why would I bring her here if I didn’t plan to unite with you?”
The Queen looks down at Bunny, who is frozen under the points of my blades. “What about him?”
“Kill him, hang him from the trees, use him for target practice.” I spit in his face. “But you may want to thank him first.”
“And why, exactly, would I do that?”
I stare down at Bunny, not having to make up an ounce of the anger and venom I feel just looking at his face. Rage rolls across every inch of my body and I make no effort to hide my emotions. “When Bunny betrayed me, I finally understood everything you went through. I felt what it was like for you that day, eons ago when your wrath took hold.”
The Morrigan moves, slinking down the dais to stand before me. Her dress is tight and long, fabric trails behind her like snakes slithering across the carpet.
“Tell me what you felt.”
“He was my mate. He used me. He humiliated me. He…”
“No!” Bunny shouts, his face red. “You favored the others. You never cared about me like you cared for them.”
Quick as a viper I slap him across the cheek, my nails scraping the skin and leaving red, angry welts. I stand and face the Queen.
“The pain from what he did…it’s too much. The anger…is consuming.”
“Even with the love of the others?” she asks. “I know you fornicated with them earlier today. Your pleasure radiates off you, even now.”
“To get them to leave and to build my power.” I glance at Bunny, who hasn’t moved even though I’ve released him. “And to make him jealous.”
She stares at me for a long moment and then jerks her head. “Take her to my quarters. We’ll see if she’s telling the truth.”
The soldiers move quickly, surrounding and unarming me. “What if I’m not?” I ask.
The Morrigan shrugs and waves Anita to join her. “It doesn’t really matter one way or the other. You’re here. You’re unprotected. Your world is crumbling as we speak.” She steps toward me, so close I can see the faintest cracks beneath the surface. A piece of gray hair. The thinnest of wrinkles. She smiles, linking one arm with Anita and one with my own. I fight the urge to recoil at her touch. “This way will be a lot more fun.”
Chapter 35
Morgan
The room is similar to my other one, but up in the highest floors of the castle along the same corridor as the queen. Just before I enter the room, Anita slips into her own chambers, adjacent to mine. I pause, noting that a soldier remains outside her door. I have no doubt mine will be guarded as well.
This one, unlike the other, has an arched window. I walk over and take a look out. The barren landscape of the Otherside sprawls for miles. Nothing but death and decay exists where the eye can see. I lean out, smelling the sulfur and rot, and know this is what the Morrigan wants to do with my world. Trash it with hatred and bitterness. Little does she know that miles underground, life and love and happiness flourishes.
She’s not as powerful as she thinks she is.
I flick my wrist, extending my nails. But that’s not all. The black mists that the Morrigan controls slither from my hands and around my ankles. With the strength of my men rolling through my veins and the conviction of an entire realm at my back, all I have to do is hold her off, keep her appeased until my Raven Guard can return with an army.
Then, we will be prepared to take this world back and stop her reign of terror, once and for all.