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

by Stacia Stark

“Prisca was my first true hybrid friend,” Rythos said, and I almost jolted at the suddenness of it. “She wanted nothing from me except friendship. The kind of woman she is…the loyalty she exudes…there are very few things I could do to lose that friendship. And I would never risk it.”

waited for him to snarl at me. Instead, his mouth slammed down on mine.

“Cousin,” I said. “I challenge you.” “You challenge me?” he laughed. “And am I to believe that the fae bastards next to you won’t become involved the moment it looks like you’re about to die?” I smiled at him. “Lorian, Marth, Galon,” I said, never taking my eyes off Eadric’s, “this is the man who killed Cavis.” Three feral snarls sounded behind me. “I challenge you,” they said in unison. Movement beside me. Lorian was slowly turning his head. Galon rolled his eyes, waving a hand. “Fine.” Marth had gone still, and his gaze was stuck to Lorian’s. “He’s mine,” Marth said.

“Do better than me, cousin. Be the ruler I wished I could be. Bring our people home.”

But Lorian’s expression had turned cold. Remote. Something within me ached. “Finish him, Lorian,” I said. His blade was a blur. And Eadric’s head rolled from his body.

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Lorian’s voice echoed over the crowd. He dropped to one knee, bowing his head. And so did everyone else.

Cheers broke out. I noted those who didn’t cheer. And I knew Galon and Marth were doing the same.

“You don’t have to drag me with you,” I muttered. “I’m not going to get lost.” “If I don’t keep you close enough to touch, you might risk your life again.”

My next arrow went wide, and the guard’s grin grew. Good. Just keep looking at me, you idiot. Keep looking at me and not at Demos,

The message was from Rekja. Our generals had been moving our own army north. And Rekja’s regiment had managed to push Regner’s soldiers out of Gromalia. This war would be fought in Eprotha and not Gromalia. I grinned, raising my gaze to Demos’s. But he wasn’t smiling. Instead, a muscle ticked in his cheek, and his eyes were hard. “It doesn’t make sense,” he said, and his tone made a ball of dread expand throughout my gut. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

“There is one who can remove that power from you,” she said. “One day, he will come to you for help. But it will not be for many years. In the meantime, I give you this advice… The dead have only the power you give them.”

“Do you still wish to take your crown?” All amusement left his face. “You came here to taunt me?” “No. I came here to bargain with you. It’s still possible for you and me to be the ones left ruling at the end of this.” He angled his head but stayed silent. I gave him a cool, calm look. The look I’d perfected in Regner’s court. “I spoke to my son. He will use his power for the correct purpose when it is time.” Zathrian sat up. “I’m listening.”

“What is it?” “I have my power back.” He nodded.

“The next time I get you in my bed, you won’t be sleeping for hours,”

“Will you still want me when I’m a prince, Sin?”

“You’ve always been a prince. Besides, my best friend became a queen and mated the Bloodthirsty Prince. That’s far more impressive.”

“And then?” I asked. “And then we hope reinforcements come. From somewhere.”

“You’re not following,” Marth said. “You’re a prisoner.” He looked at me. “You sure you don’t want me to kill her?” Previs tensed. Ah. She had gotten to him. I should have expected that. Next to Marth, Galon’s gaze lingered on the soldier. He’d noticed too.

“After all,” Kaliera said, raising her voice until she was almost yelling, “you no longer even have access to your power.” Zathrian’s eyes met mine. And he smiled.

“Previs, switch with Reon,” Galon ordered. The soldier nodded immediately. But he gave Kaliera one last glance as he turned. Galon’s eyes lingered on him.

“You’re an incredible woman, Asinia. I knew it the moment I saw you struggling to survive in that cell. I knew it when you fought through the pain from your head wound to get to Prisca. And I knew it when you hauled me over your shoulder and carried my dead weight through the forest at night.”

And why would he apologize? With his shirt off, he looked like a god himself. “Your eyes are looking a little glazed, Sin.” His voice dripped with humor.

“You belong here,” he said. “I hope you know what you’re signing up for, Sin, because I’m feeling possessive.”

“I want centuries with you.” He pressed a kiss to my mouth, his thrusts increasing in speed. “Just like this.” He slid his hand to the back of my head, cradling it as his lips caressed mine. “I love you.”

Crossing the room, he held it out to me. “I had this commissioned for you before we left. I asked Tibris to bring it with him.”

“You had this commissioned in Gromalia. Before we left the castle.”

Demos was the kind of man who would sacrifice himself for the people he loved in the blink of an eye. He’d barely known Pris before he took an arrow for Tibris— all so she wouldn’t have to face losing the brother she’d known for longer than him.

“No stupid risks.” “From you either.” He nodded.

Terror punched into me. They were here.

Stillcrest fought like a woman possessed

“We have to fall back. Most of the hybrids should be through the pass now. Herne made sure Tibris left earlier. When you get to the end, ensure any who haven’t made it to the tunnel are well hidden in the caves.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up. “It was always going to happen this way, Sin.”

“You’re going to do this, Asinia.” His voice was grim. “You’re going to live through this war. And if I’m not around, you’re going to find a man who makes you happy. You’re going to become a renowned seamstress and have children who look exactly like you, and you’re going to live a long life filled with peace and happiness.”

And then the Eprothans began screaming. Not the soldiers closest to us. But the Eprothans’ rear guard. They were under attack.

“Who is it? Who is attacking?” He shook his head with a stunned laugh. “Caddaril the Cleaver and his criminals. He must have rounded up several thousand men. I’m betting most of them abandoned Regner’s army or disappeared right around the time conscription was announced.”

“We lost over half the hybrids we arrived with,” he told me at one point, his voice a low, lifeless murmur. At least fifteen hundred hybrids hoping for a new life. For freedom. Gone.

But a solitary ship approached from the north, arrowing toward shore. It was also one of Regner’s, but it was being followed by at least ten other ships—almost as if it were being chased.

The ship blew apart. No one spoke. And I had the horrible feeling that whoever had been on that ship had come to help us.

For a brief moment, I watched the sun climb above the water. And it felt like a gift.

When Demos began steadily cursing, I knew Regner had managed to shift Lyrinore’s wards. Our kingdom was defenseless.

“What the fuck is that?” Cryton yelled. I whipped my head in the direction he was pointing. A few hundred footspans from us, where Prisca had dropped into the tunnel to our kingdom… Vynthar sprinted toward us. And at least fifteen other Drakoryx loped out with him.

But I couldn’t hide the tears rolling down my cheeks in twin rivers. In the distance, behind the terrovians, Prisca and Lorian rode toward us on horseback, Galon and Marth by their sides. Rekja rode near Prisca and Lorian, Thora on one side, Tor on the other. And behind them was an army. The army that had somehow made it across the pass before Regner’s foot soldiers. Fae, humans, and hybrids marching together for a better life. And in the Sleeping Sea…Daharak Rostamir’s fleet slammed into Regner’s ships.

“For you to stay away and live a life of ease and little responsibility would be a reward. One you haven’t earned.” “He has spent his life fighting for the future of all four kingdoms,” I snarled. “What exactly have you done?”

caught sight of Tor riding like he’d been born in the saddle, Rekja close to his side. The Gromalian prince had personally guarded him every moment since we’d left.

him, Tibris’s posture visibly relaxed. “You brought your rebels,” I said. “I did. You’ve given us all something to believe in.”

Apparently, when Rekja had learned of the Eprothans’ true plans, he’d convinced the general to begin moving our army north. While Blynth had met Rekja in his capital, they’d also shared a drink at our wedding. So he’d trusted the Gromalian prince enough to order our soldiers to march before receiving my message confirming the order.

“I need to use the bathing room,” I’d called at one point. “Piss yourself,”

Shaking his head, he handed me the dagger. “You know what you need to do.” My hand trembled as he reached for it. And then he pulled it away several inches until our eyes met once more. “Don’t make me regret this.” “You won’t.” In the end, it would be Jamic and me ruling this continent. And no one would ever dare to hurt us again.

“Pris!” Asinia screamed. I whirled, scanning the distance. And a choked sob ripped its way free from my throat. Hundreds of Arslan ships began to rise from deep beneath the water, directly behind Regner’s fleet. Rythos and Madinia had made it happen. Regner’s ships began to burst into flames. Except they weren’t just burning. No, they were turning to ash. Madinia was here. And she was furious.

“You need to be ready,” I told him. “I am ready,” he said gravely. There was something strange about the look in his eyes.