In Malice (The Stolen Queen Book 1)

by A. M. Hodges

  I stop a moment, pondering whether to reveal the threats on my life and Rune's true intentions. A knot forms in my stomach as a warning. Now is not the time for that.

  "I was told that I am needed in this realm. The short time I have been here since my return has only solidified those claims. I have heard your plights. I have experienced your turmoil and tragedy. My heart has broken with my people as their homes were destroyed and their loved ones perished. I stand here today to give you an oath. By the royal blood that runs through my veins and the crown that is mine by birthright, I swear that I will put an end to this travesty. I will fight for you and with you, taking up arms by your side. Together, we will rid our lands of this madness and take back our way of life."

  I do my best to look as many of them as I can in the eye as the next words pass my lips.

  "That is my oath to you. Now, I ask that you do something for me in return," this time I do allow myself a glance at my mate.

  He beams a glorious smile at me, urging me to continue.

  "I do not wish for you to follow me blindly. That throne may be my birthright, but it means nothing without the support of my people. This has been your home far longer than it has been mine. I ask that you give me a chance to earn your trust and your loyalty. Allow me the privilege to fight alongside the realm’s fiercest warriors. Only then, will I rightfully be your Queen."

  No one moves. No one speaks. I swear I can hear freaking crickets.

  I stand tall as I await their judgement, doing my best not to cower away from their scrutinizing gazes, although my mind is brimming with anxiety. Jeb whispers soft assurances down the bond but that is the only emotion he expresses, his face remaining stone cold in contrast to his loving thoughts. Right now, we cannot afford weakness or doubt. I have humbled myself before them, now it is their right to choose whether to accept me or not.

  One warrior steps forward, separating himself from the crowd. The emblem of a raven embossed on the chest of his armor is one I have seen many times before, although slightly different. He bears the mark of a General, though without the same intricate patterns that are on my mate's armor. It's a struggle to steel my nerves as I come face to face with the new male. As I am mentally preparing for him to basically tell me to fuck off, he does something utterly unexpected.

  His right arm bends at the elbow, his forearm stretching across his body as his hand forms a closed fist over his heart. I recognize it as the Malatian gesture of deep respect. He bows his head slightly before lifting it to face me once again.

  "We hear your truth. It would be an honor to have you fight by our side," his voice rumbles through the camp in thick Malatian,

  "By the blood of our brothers and sisters, we are yours to command. Dagda das Moor."

  Simultaneously, every warrior mirrors the gesture, bowing their heads slightly before beaming up at me with pride.

  "Dagda das Moor," they echo in unison.

  Long live the Queen. I can't help the smile that overtakes my face, and a little bit of Reyna escapes the Queen's façade before I can stop it.

  "Wonderful! Now that's settled, I’m fucking starving."

  The general looks startled at first and then amused. Josiah looks at me incredulously and Jeb lets out a quiet chuckle. What can I say? They wanted truth. Hiding my personality wouldn't benefit that. I won't showcase any cracks in my armor, but I won't hide who I am either. They will either accept me or they won't, and so far, they have chosen to accept me. Being an emotionless calculating leader won't do them any good. They already have one of those. If that were what they wanted, they wouldn't be willing to follow me.

  I will be feared. I will be respected. But I also choose to be loved.

  ∞∞∞

  Having the Pixies, apart from Sage, on my side has me feeling a little bit more prepared. As comforting as it is that they accepted me, there is still more to be done. The Valkyn will most likely be much harder to convince. From what I've learned, they are a loyal bunch. That is exactly why I find myself, five days later, surrounded by my sentinels, the General (whose name I learned is Maddox), and three commanders.

  We stand in what I now call the War Tent, as Jeb leads the discussion about our next steps. Even though I am their Queen, I gratefully gave him the reigns over this topic. The warriors all follow him naturally, since he is THE General, and it makes the transition easier. Unlike me, he is familiar to them. I zone out in my spot at the head of the table as the discussion regarding how to best approach the Valkyn drags on. The next question, however, has my mind snapping to attention.

  "It is my understanding that you are the mate to our Queen," Maddox asks cautiously, "Does that mean that you are now not only our General, but our future King as well?"

  I feel Jeb's tension as I watch him stiffen. He responds before I can step in.

  "I do not wish to be King; I only wish to be hers."

  Maddox gives him a look of compassion and even understanding.

  "Aye brother, but it is King you will be. And it is best you be accepting that."

  Before Jeb can argue I step in.

  "He's right. Being mine means that you will be their King. I know you do not want it. Power is often given to those who reject it for a reason. It will make you a just and fair ruler. I am honored to have you to keep me grounded and rule by my side."

  "There. You can't say no to that. So, get over it...my King."

  The tension eased from his body as he faces me with a menacing, albeit smoldering, smirk that has my heart picking up its pace.

  "You'll pay for that comment later, Krasivaya." Now, I return his smirk.

  "Promise?"

  "Do they do that a lot?" Maddox's whisper to Lucah draws us out of our moment.

  "Unfortunately, yes. They do. It's quite annoying but you get used to it," Lucah grumbles.

  "You only hate it because you aren't the center of attention,"

  I goad Lucah.

  "If I remember correctly, I was the center of YOUR attention before Jebbie here stole you away," he grins back.

  Our companions don't look the least bit surprised by our banter. The warriors on the other hand, are completely startled and tense. As if they are waiting for me to seek retribution for his words. It makes me wonder how my twin would have reacted in this situation. I roll my eyes and conjure a small rain cloud above Lucah, soaking him and effectively "raining on his parade".

  "Oh, come on Rey! Seriously," he pouts.

  "Oh no! Terribly sorry. It seems that I momentarily forgot that cats hate the water."

  He flips me a gesture that he became accustomed to using in the human realm, "Hateful witch."

  My companions join me in laughter.

  "Our Queen is odd," Maddox muses.

  "You have no idea," Josiah mumbles under his breath.

  Before we can get back on track, war horns sound throughout the camp.

  "What does that mean," I stand abruptly with the rest of them, their tension seeping into me as if it were my own.

  "Someone is approaching the camp."

  We move as a unit towards the entrance of the camp that we came through only days ago. I notice the onyx war stallion and recognize it immediately. Josie rides towards us with her weapon drawn and a look that is a mixture of terror and determination on her face. I can see her heels digging into the horse's sides, urging him to go faster. My senses open as I search for the tiny wave of emotion that will lead me to her.

  Her fear and blood lust hit me like a blow to the gut.

  "Reyna! They're coming!" she hollers across the distance between us as she gracefully flips herself around on the back of the horse. Fire spews from her fingertips, creating a scorching barrier for whatever is on her trail.

  Dread seeps deep within me as I turn to address the Generals and Commanders behind me.

  "Arm yourselves! All of you! Anyone sick or injured needs to be evacuated to the medical tent and put under guard. Everyone else form around the entrances of the camp. NOW!"
r />   The commanders leave to retrieve the injured and warn the other warriors. Jeb, Josiah, and Maddox draw their weapons at my side as Lucah shifts. Miles pulls a weapon of his own, but I know he doesn't prefer to fight in this form. He would rather be shifted and fighting with Lucah. I plan then, one that could make or break this fragile alliance that we've only just cultivated.

  I look at Maddox first.

  "Do you trust us?" I ask sternly, paying close attention to the emotional waves he's putting out.

  He answers without hesitation, "Of course."

  I can feel his truth, so I turn to Miles.

  "It's alright. They have to know at some point."

  He allows himself the smallest moment of uncertainty, and then he shifts. I can see the startled look in Maddox's eyes, but he quickly masks it. He doesn't say a word or even spare a glare for who Miles just revealed himself to be. Instead, he turns his focus back to me and the battle ahead.

  "What are your orders, my Queen?"

  Goblins, tree folk, and beings that we had yet to encounter crest over the hill mere yards behind Josie. A horde. That's what is coming for us. A mindless, blood thirsty horde. I turn to Maddox.

  "I can control the glamour in my voice from affecting you and the warriors, but there are some things that I cannot control. Tell your Commanders and their warriors. Whatever you do, no matter what happens, Do. Not. Look. At. Me."

  He has enough time to do just that before war wages on our camp.

  Chapter 39

  Josie's stallion storms into the camp as her wings gracefully lift her into the air before she returns to the ground, flawlessly transitioning into a sprint. I see the spear spiraling towards her back before anyone else does.

  "Down!"

  She doesn't question my command for even a second as she drops low, sliding into the gap between Jeb and me. I throw up a wall of ice as the spear comes within a foot of striking Jeb in the chest. Josie uses the momentum of the slide to pop back up and she reaches around to yank the spear from the frozen wall. The first creature approaches about two yards away from our waiting army.

  Josie tosses the spear lightly into the air before catching it again, perfecting her grip. With a smug grin, she rears back and launches the spear like a javelin. It meets its mark perfectly, sticking out proudly from the creature’s forehead as it drops to the ground. As the creatures falls the horde continues its pursuit, trampling it beneath a stampede. Everyone breaks into action at once.

  Josie and Miles launch into the air where they can more accurately pinpoint the targets of their scorching flames. Archers spread their wings as they climb higher in the sky to get better vantage points and start picking off the back of the horde before it can reach the camp. The Commanders divide their warriors and slowly fan out to begin surrounding the edges of the horde, working from the outside in. Lucah lets out a snarl that shakes the land as he charges headfirst into the carnage.

  Jeb and Maddox quickly disappear into the fray and I'm left fighting close to Josiah and Dahlia. It isn't long before I lose track of them too. The empath has come out to play, but I remain in control for now. I am a whirlwind of daggers, ice, and chaos and the empath is reveling in it. She pushes closer to the surface and creatures seem to line up and wait for me to dispatch them. A single second of eye contact with me freezes them in place.

  If only they would turn to stone, I could give Medusa a run for her money.

  I shake myself out of my inner monologue and refocus. With a flick of my wrist, the four creatures that remain frozen in place combust like bloody confetti poppers and I turn to slice my daggers across the neck of another. When I spin to face the next onslaught, there is a jagged knife inches from my throat. There is no time for me to react or use my empath to stall. I close my eyes and prepare for the worst, but the blade never reaches me.

  A choking sound has my eyes popping open. I look down and find an ice shard protruding from the creature’s chest and he drops to the ground at my feet. I look up and find Josiah, still actively engaged in battle but looking at me. Completely out of character for him, he smirks and winks at me. I grin back at him as a little tingle, that I refuse to acknowledge at the moment, tugs at my heart.

  A searing pain burns through the right side of my chest, forcing me to my knees. Another jolt blooms through the left side of my abdomen and I let out and anguished cry. When I look down, I expect to see blood and weapons protruding from my body, but I find nothing. I'm not the one being injured.

  I whirl around and scan the battlefield while I fight off another rush of creatures. Then, I find him.

  My mate is surrounded by dozens of creatures, a knife sticking out of his chest just above his heart and a spear shoved through his abdomen. He is still fighting but I can feel his strength waning. I shove some of my strength down both bonds and I immediately see him stand stronger. It won't last long; he needs those weapons removed and rest in order to heal. It does, however, buy me time to finish this.

  I search the field for Maddox and find him quickly.

  "Maddox!" I amplify my voice across the field using glamour.

  He acknowledges me with a look but doesn't halt his fighting.

  "Remember what I said," I command cryptically.

  He gives me a curt nod before using glamour of his own to project his command to the warriors.

  "Warriors! Remember the orders of your Queen!"

  Without another word I launch into the sky. I take a moment to ensure none of the warriors follow me with their gazes and wait for Josie and Miles to lower themselves back to the ground. Once I am sure everyone is safe, from me at least, the empath fully emerges. This time I don't let her take over. This time, I force her to meld with my own awareness, our thoughts and decisions merging to become one. For the first time she is there, but I remain in control.

  "LOOK. AT. ME."

  The glamour in my command snakes through the carnage in invisible tendrils. The creatures that aren't immediately dispatched in the middle of a fight with the warriors halt their attacks and turn to look up at me. As they meet my gaze, each one stills and drops their weapon. Holding them there to allow the warriors to make their way through while dispatching them is an option. I glance around to take stock of their wellbeing.

  They are bloody, injured, and drained. Each warrior firmly obeys their orders, refusing to look up at me. Still, I know they would continue fighting if I asked them to. There is no need for that though. Plus, never pass up an opportunity to showcase power. Especially when you're the Queen. This is when the "feared" part comes in to play.

  Slowly, I raise my arms with my palms facing up until I stop them in front of my face. The creatures tense as the blood in their bodies begins to freeze in their veins. Then, I snap my fingers.

  Simultaneously, they erupt into explosions of obsidian gore like a gothic firework show. The squelch of hundreds of bodies spontaneously combusting is the only sound that can be heard throughout the battlefield. My feet return to the ground and I pull the empath back and return her to where she belongs. Jeb's eyes meet mine as I walk towards him. Relief flickers across his face and the tension begins to release from my chest.

  And then his eyes roll back into his head.

  I sprint towards him and see Josiah move in with me out of the corner of my eye. I make it to Jeb just as his brother catches his unconscious body and lowers him to the ground.

  Chapter 40

  Josiah

  "Tend to the injured. Send out a party to collect the dead. Tomorrow we hold their funeral pyres and mourn them," Reyna instructs robotically.

  I follow her inside the tent where my brother lays, still unconscious. Maddox is standing guard as we enter and I nod my head towards the tent's entrance, discretely dismissing him. Reyna kneels next to Jeb and takes his hand as she stares at him blankly. I don't miss the subtle gnawing she in doing on her bottom lip, the only outward sign of her anxiety.

  "I can heal him," she whispers adamantly, unuttered sobs choking
her vocal cords.

  "The healers will take care of him. It needs to be done slowly over time. The weapons were dipped in poison, and they remained inside his body for too long. It requires the work of multiple experienced healers," I try to keep my voice neutral.

  Because that's what I force myself to be around her. Neutral.

  The truth is Jeb will probably be in this state for weeks.

  It's a struggle every day to hide my personality from her. To keep those parts of me to myself. I make it a point to always have one of the others as a buffer between us. When I train with her, I am stoic and cold. When people are around, I let impassiveness wash over me. It's been easy.

  Until now.

  Watching the deadly grace in which she handled herself on that battlefield was mesmerizing. Despite the horde of death tearing through our army, she captivated every bit of my attention. And that smirk she gave me. That appreciative smirk, the kind she usually only reserves for my brother, was thrown my way after I impaled that Goblin to save her. It nearly undid my carefully crafted persona.

  Gods. I fucking winked at her.