The Queen of All that Dies (The Fallen World, #1)

by Laura Thalassa

“If you try to force me into this plan of yours, I will find out your secrets,” I say, “and once I do, I will kill you.” I stare at him long enough for him to see the vehemence behind my words. And then I turn and walk away from the king and the sick tapestry that hangs along the walls of the room. I’m almost to the door when he speaks. “I plan on making you love me before that happens.”

“I’m giving you tonight,” he says, not looking at me. “Enjoy the company of your father. Tomorrow, you’ll be at my side, not his.”

He comes stalking back into the water. “What do I have to do to prove myself? I’ve already moved mountains—an entire half of the world will prosper because you wanted it to be so. What more do you want me to do?” “I want you to leave me the hell alone.” He grasps my jaw and holds it firmly, and in the dim moonlight I can just barely make out the shine of his eyes. “That is the one thing I cannot do.”

The king watches him as he leaves. “I don’t like the way he looked at you,” he says quietly. “That makes two of us.” The king nods to himself. “Then I’ll take care of the situation.” I blink a few times. “Are you psychotic?” I hiss at him under my breath. “You can’t just punish everyone who slights you.” “Of course I can,” he says.

My opinion of her only increases when she slugs Will, and again when she pulls his own gun on him. It doesn’t take a genius to know I married up.