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Well…that was not what she’d expected her sister to say. What would she be saving him from? What had he done?
It was clear that Ambrose didn’t intend for the conversation to continue as she spun to walk away. A firm hand snatched up Ambrose’s thin wrist, jerking them to a stop. Farah moved. One swift strike to Ephram’s elbow had his hold pulling away.
Ambrose’s mouth dropped open, her gaze wide.My gods…is she scared?
“I loved her. I loved her so much but I didn’t have control, I lost it. It was an accident—”
“Wasanyof it real?”
Farah pulled away at the power that darkened Ambrose’s voice. Shifting colors of sparking pink to white filled her irises. A heartbeat of white flashed in her palms, so fast Farah almost missed it.
“It was all real.” Ephram closed his eyes. “I came…I was supposed to be here on behalf of my brothers. Admittedly, I was curious what had become of her daughters. Never did I think for a second that I would love you. Yet, I did. I do.”
“What is happening?” Farah whispered.
Liquid gathered along Ambrose’s eyelids, blinked away when she turned to her sister and lowered her voice to a hush she could hardly catch. “This is Prince Ephram Beudra. He killed our mother that day at the party. He’s the one who drained her of everything and left us orphans.”
Confusion gave way to fury. The kind of fury that made Farah forget about everything else, the kind that made the room around them fuzzy. He didn’t look like a Fae. Though the longer she glared the more his image shifted and changed to reveal his pointed ears and jagged teeth. Glamour. Fooled in her own territory.
“Ambrose.” Farah managed to grind out through her jaw clenched so tightly her teeth hurt. “Doyoulove him?” For it was only her sister’s love that could spare him from what she wanted to do to this beast that hid in plain sight.
“I…I did, but I’m confused now. I’m…nothing feels real.”
No, nothing had for a really long time.
Her sister took a deep breath and continued, “No matter what I do or do not feel, if you do not leave, you will be put to death.”
“Such as you deserve,” Farah said.
Ephram’s attention fell to the floor. His shoulders hunched and one hand held his heart. Had her sister broken it in such a way that it pained him now?
Both of them stiffened at the same time, drawn up by what looked like identical strings. They turned to face the front of the castle. Ephram staggered a step back. He looked from Ambrose then back to the door. The ruby at her neck glistened.
“Come with me, Ambrose.” One wide palm extended toward her as an invitation.
“Go,” Ambrose said quietly before turning to Farah. “They’re coming. Now.”
They—oh gods.
Heart pounding, Farah scooped up her sister’s hand once more, ready to pull her back to the ballroom and her parents. She needed to find somewhere they could be safe. They needed to take up their staffs and exploit their new found strengths. The battle would not wait for tomorrow. There would be no kings. Blood shed awaited them this evening. If only she’d worn something more practical.
“Go,” Ambrose repeated before the Ephram and her turned from each other, fleeing in opposite directions. Somewhere over the music, past the chatting crowds, drums of war had begun to beat. Only the two queens trying to find the courage to slaughter again registered the sound.
Trust between the Havlock family had been stretched thin, but they would have to work together now if they wanted to survive. Farah had no desire to return to such a painful afterlife.
The Fae would fall again. So might Aylee if she was not careful.
Ace
Every strike of the drum echoed in her chest. Ace held tight to the reins of her horse, both Shelby and Rehan riding at her sides. The time had come when she needed to feel the hatred that had fueled her one time. Instead of anger though, she only felt…sad.
What came next? More death. More terrible things that this country should not have to endure. And then…a crown? On her head?
The time has come.Greshta was as jittery as Ace was nervous. Or Ace wasn’t nervous at all and the goddess was just sharing some of her excitement.
It’s about time.Sylik smiled down on them.
Every breeze carried with it the salty scent of sweating Fae warriors and the terrible smell of horse droppings. Ace fixed her attention ahead, on the town that was growing closer and closer. This would be the end. One last battle.
