A Queen This Fierce and Deadly (Kingdom of Lies, #4)

by Stacia Stark

“I don’t know what you did,” I ground out. “But you don’t get to leave me here without you. You will fucking come back to me, or I will follow you and drag you back myself.”

“That’s the Bloodthirsty Prince attempting to save his mate,” someone else whispered. “I suggest you be very, very quiet.”

“Some fae woman has been handing over creatures from her territory for years. Calls herself a warden or something.”

“These are called consequences, Your Majesty,” he said bitterly.

“We need a moment,” he said to the woman, who fled the room, not even bothering to close the door behind her. Despite myself, I felt my lips curve. “Have you been completely unreasonable again, prince?”

“Thank you, Natan. For…everything.” “Don’t thank me. One day, you’ll return to your kingdom with your people. We humans will be left with whatever remains of Eprotha. We have no choice but to make sure there is something left.”

“You’re right. It was my arrogance that did this. My inability to accept your choice. I’m sorry, Lorian.” For a moment, all I could do was stare at him. Never had I heard a true apology from my brother. My throat unlocked. “Apologize to Prisca.” He nodded. “I will.”

“I know you’re thinking it. We don’t have time to tiptoe around the issue. He has twenty thousand hybrids. My people.” He took my hand. “Our people.” His words stole the air from my lungs.

“Once you cross the line into a certain level of idiocy, you lose the right to self-determination. And that is especially true for those responsible for protecting children.”

“It’s happening. So do something before I kill you myself.”

“Listen to me, wildcat. Our story doesn’t end when this life does. You’ll be mine in the next life––and the life after that. If you hadn’t wielded time, I would have waited as long as it took to see you again.”

He slammed the door in Galon’s face and immediately locked it. I let out a choked laugh. “Lorian!” “He can come back later.”

This was all Prisca’s fault. That bitch got beneath my skin. She made me care.

“You want me to bully a pregnant woman who has just lost her son?”

“You,” he snarled. “Why is it always you?” “My thoughts exactly.” Calysian.

“It doesn’t matter. Intention matters. Make me owe you again, and I’ll kill you myself.” I showed him my teeth. “Try.”

I surveyed the carnage around us one last time. They would have hunted every single fleeing hybrid until we were all dead. I wished we could kill them all again.

When I’d expressed my surprise at Conreth’s sudden cooperative nature, Demos had shaken his head. “The idiot killed his brother and almost killed my sister. This is likely a temporary lull in his bad decisions. But we need to take full advantage before he changes his mind.”

“Demos said you were once like brothers. If that’s the case, I’m glad I’m an only child.”

Tor watched me. And the barest hint of a smile flickered around his mouth. His eyes met Demos’s. “Always knew you’d find a woman just like this.” I squinted at him. “Like. What?” “Fierce.”

From Daharak’s expression, she didn’t like that thought either, but she gave us a stiff nod. I hesitated, and then the words spilled from my lips. “Please look after my aunt.” Her expression softened. “You know I will.”

“You’re lucky we didn’t kill you,” Lorian said. She gave him a look that told him he was a silly little boy. It was a good look. Perhaps I’d try it out myself someday.

“I’ll see you soon.” “Soon, wildcat,” I promised. Rythos heaved a sigh. “You’ll be parted for an hour or two at most. This is getting ridiculous.”

“You make me insane.” “I love you too.”

I was tired. So, so tired. But the rage was fuel. The hatred was speed.

Galon and I could take out anywhere from six to ten soldiers. And by that, I meant I could take out two, and he would cut down the rest with his blinding speed.

“If Rekja agrees…” I began, then narrowed my eyes at him. That was why he had disappeared. “You’ve already asked him, haven’t you?” He dropped a kiss to my forehead, lingering for a long moment. “Of course I have.”

Several people approached, and he cut them off each time. “Ask Lorian,” he instructed. No one looked pleased at his words. I couldn’t blame them. Lorian was doing everything he could to lighten the load for me, but he had a tendency to snarl when asked stupid questions. And he considered a lot of questions to be stupid.

“Will I like him?” He shook his head. “No. Not at first. He’s stubborn, arrogant, hotheaded… You know, he’s not unlike Madinia.” I groaned. “Two of them. Just what we need.”

“Message for someone named Marth,” the messenger said. He had a long cut across one cheek. “And your pigeon needs to be replaced. Almost took out my eye.” I sighed. Trust Marth to have a vicious pigeon.

I sighed. Just as the sky was blue, Demos and Madinia would always dislike each other. Next to Demos, Asinia gave him a warning look. His mouth twitched, his eyes heating. Now, that was interesting.

“You think feelings are a weakness. And sometimes, they are. Sometimes, those feelings eat at everything you thought you were. But a life refusing to feel, to love? That is worse than a weakness. That is a travesty. To refuse to feel the full range of emotions, to deny yourself joy in an effort to protect yourself from the loss? I may not know much—may have no true glimpse of the future the way my mother does—but I know without a doubt that one day, the tiny moments of joy you keep turning your back on? They’re the moments that will keep you alive.”

I flicked my gaze toward the dresses hanging like a silent apology. She ignored me.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Forgive me,” she said. “I miss your mother. She was my best friend. We were supposed to have centuries.”

The day Prisca helped us escape Regner’s dungeon, Demos had begun to change. He didn’t just transform physically—although watching him eat three or four courses for each meal, his muscles straining against the seams of his clothes, had been…interesting.

Once, long ago, Prisca and I had planned our weddings. I’d told her I would wear whatever she liked, so long as she crowned me with flowers. Now, it seemed ludicrous. But even while we were at war, when this wedding would be nothing like she’d once imagined, Prisca had still remembered.

Her leather leggings were gone a moment later, and she reached for the dress Telean had designed for her, completely unconcerned by her nudity. If I looked as incredible as Madinia did while naked, I would be unconcerned too.

“I’m not sorry that you care, Madinia. Because when someone like you takes an interest…worlds change.” Madinia sighed. Then she pushed a curl away from Prisca’s face and fussed with her hair. “You look breathtaking,” she declared. “Now, go marry that possessive fae before he comes in here and drags you out.”

“I vow to be the roots that ground you, the branches that help you reach for your dreams, and the shelter that forever keeps you safe. I will love you in every life.”

“I missed you.” “I was sitting right next to you.” “You were looking at other people.”

Besides, she has a title of her own.” “Her title as the hybrid heir?” “No.” I bared my teeth. “Mine.”

“Besides, I quite like the thought of having a sister,” he mused. “That means you will live a long, happy life.” I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help but grin back at him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go reclaim my wife.” I smiled. “If I were you, I’d sneak her out of here.” “Planning to.”

The slap was the displeasure of a queen who knew Stillcrest wanted to feel some kind of punishment. But the hug… That was my best friend.

He angled his head, watching me closely. “It was another way to tie you to me. Another way to make it clear to everyone that you’re mine.” “Well,” I said, doing my best to keep my face blank. “Now that is truly shocking.”

“Is it any wonder I’m convinced the gods created you just for me?” he breathed, his tone full of wonder. I frowned at him. “Perhaps the gods created you just for me.” “They created us for each other.” “I refuse to give them that much credit,” I muttered as he took my other wrist.

“Well,” he purred. “That was easy.” “You smug bastard.” “I have another ribbon. For that beautiful, vicious mouth.”

I’d caught some of it from my window. Had even heard the guards murmuring, mentioning the fae prince had ensured they each received a plate of food from the wedding feast. My food had been the same chicken and root vegetables as yesterday.

“Good catch, Sin.” I didn’t preen, but it was close.

“If you do this, it is a declaration of war.” Verdion was trembling now. Rythos spared him a single glance. “This is the reason you decided I was too much of a threat to be able to live here, isn’t it, Father? I do so love being able to prove you right.”

“You’re angry with me.” I told myself I didn’t care. At least he was alive. “I am. When I saw you get in that water, I wanted to strangle you myself.” He tightened his hand a little, then released me. And just like that, all relaxation disappeared. “You’re welcome,” I snapped. “Thank you,” Demos said gravely. “Please don’t ever do that again.”