Page 19 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

I needed to get rid of her so badly.

If there was ever any argument for how emotions incapacitated power, it was this. Me. Right this moment.

I sensed the cat’s presence before I heard the mewl as Chez padded through the doorway as it shut behind him with a clang.

Tossing back the last of my wine, I pushed my chair back.

Chez’s giant yellow eyes met mine—sober, unlike usual. “It’s time again.”

I nodded once. “I know.”

The cat hopped up to the back of the couch beside me so I could unlatch a rolled-up scroll attached to his collar.

With a flick of my hand and a spell, the scroll floated in mid-air, and, amidst a golden haze, unrolled itself.

I almost didn’t need to read it all the way through.

The Queen of Hearts’s seal was blood red on the bottom.

Regardless of my unstable condition, potentially waning magic, personal problems, and whatnot, I couldn’t ignore the Queen’s bidding. The Queen still needed to eat. And I needed to hunt.

After a moment, the scrap of paper ignited into a small fireball, hefting it up into the air; the fire consuming the note like a greedy ghost as the leftover ashes disappeared into the ether.

I pursed my lips. “The Queen wants to take Veridia.”

“The next mission is a target? Not a hunt?” Chez mused. “The Queen hasn’t asked you to do one in a while. There must be a really big threat.”

I stood up to get ready. “The kingdom of Veridia has been a hold-out for decades. They’ve never recognized the Queen’s authority. Plus Veridia’s princess is expected to wed into another powerful family and there have been rumors that they are growing in strength and support. This union would make them even stronger.”

“A wedding? Ouch. Two strikes. Is this princess deliriously happy? We all know the Queen can’t stand that.” Chez stretched out on my desk. “Well, Her Majesty has already heard about this one so you can’t delay.”

I took the other trinket dangling from his collar and stared at it for a moment. If only the coeur burned, I could capture it right now. Shaking my head, I pocketed the miniature Heartlamp. “I know my job, Chez.”

Hearing rustling from the studio downstairs, Chez quirked his head. “What are you going to do about Allie?”

I groaned at the mention of her name. I didn’t want to be bothered with her for now. She just needed to stay the hell out of trouble.

I gave Chez a pointed look. “Do you think you can keep her here?”

“Sure. We’ll play Parcheesi. Where do you keep the board games?”

Ignoring Chez’s snide comment, I merely shook my head before disappearing with my usual burst of smoke.

The Kingdom of Veridia was perched atop a rugged mountain peak. Its thick stone walls seamlessly integrated with intricate brass and copper embellishments as steam billowed from vents placed along the castle’s exterior, blending with the mountain mist.

It might have been beautiful. But, to me, it was just another kingdom. Just another target. Just another day.

As I coasted closer, high in the air, the royal courtyard’s embellishments appeared even grander. Tables draped in rich fabrics were set with exquisite center pieces and floral arrangements, and brass lanterns emitted a gentle steam-infused glow, as the bride and groom stood at the top of the wide aisle laden with rose petals, big, joyous smiles on their faces.

Blissful.

Oblivious.

Unaware.

Honestly, they should have seen this coming.

Seen me coming.