The Fiend Queen

by Barbara Ann Wright

  If Lord Vincent found out, would he be smug?

  “I’m so glad you’re all right,” Dawnmother said, just as Katya said, “You are the best sight I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  They both laughed, and Starbride tried to join them.

  Katya grinned through her tears. “Are you taller, or do you have new boots?”

  “I was going to ask that later,” Dawnmother said. They pulled Starbride into separate hugs without waiting for an answer. Katya’s lips pressed to hers, and they were so warm. Starbride held her, relishing that warmth before she stepped back and wondered at the color in Katya’s cheeks.

  Katya took Starbride’s hands and frowned at the palms as if she might ask about the pyramids, but she only smiled. “I’m so sorry I worried you, my love.”

  Starbride tried to feel the moment, but it wouldn’t quite come. The adsna didn’t want to be dismissed. She tried to make the world tilt as it had before, but all she felt was caution. Are you sure this isn’t a trick? she asked Yanchasa.

  “I can only be as certain as you are.”

  “Are you hurt?” Starbride managed.

  “Tired mostly,” Katya said. She couldn’t seem to keep her hands to herself, and they burned wherever they touched. Starbride pinned a smile on her face. As she caressed Katya’s side and settled on a hip, a memory half arose: Katya in the bath, wet hair streaming across her shoulders and breasts. A flush built in Starbride’s cheeks and cascaded through her body. She met Katya’s eyes and saw her feelings reflected there. Katya lifted her hand and kissed it, dirt and all.

  “Let’s put you both to bed.” Starbride linked her arms through theirs and led them toward the palace, suffering their squeezes and hurried words. She could barely listen, desperate to explore the feelings Katya stirred within her. If she could just find the right balance of hot and cold…

  “Hmm,” Yanchasa said.

  Starbride blocked out the voices of the others. What is it?

  Yanchasa fell into step at Dawnmother’s side. “I was just noticing the way they’re all looking at her now.”

  Starbride glanced around. The townspeople who’d been so leery of her were smiling and bowing for Katya.

  “As if she’s the one who led their rebellion,” Yanchasa said.

  She is their princess.

  “Well, then all their problems are solved! Dear Princess Katyarianna is all they need.”

  Fear wormed into Starbride, digging past Katya’s heat. With Katya back, what use would there be for her? It would be parties and croquet and listening to dull nobles with boring problems. Worse, she’d be standing at the back with the courtiers again.

  No! As Princess Consort, I’ll be at the front of the dais.

  “Yes, at Katya’s side and just a little behind, and her behind the king. Unless the king gives the prince his position back, and then you’ll be four people behind. Unless the children are in there with Lord Vincent.”

  Starbride fought the urge to shake her head. Even now, Katya and Dawnmother had little frowns on their faces.

  “All that power,” Yanchasa said, “forced to stand at the back.”

  Starbride couldn’t believe it. They’d seen what she could do. No one would ever be able to dismiss her again, to leave her out, leave her behind, abandon her.

  “That’s right, daughter, not after you show them your power.”

  Yes, Katya couldn’t match what Starbride had learned. Princess or not, she would accept the newfound power at her side, just at her side, no more standing behind.

  They hurried past the people gathered in the palace entry and made for the stairs. “You’ll want to see your father first,” Starbride said, remembering her courtesies.

  Katya gave her another of those doubtful looks that quickly transmuted to one of love. She ran her knuckles down Starbride’s cheek. “Come with me?”

  Katya needed her support. Starbride flicked her eyes to Yanchasa, who raised his hands in mock surrender. “I see how she needs you, daughter.”

  The king had taken up residence in the summer apartments. Perhaps Roland had left too much of his stamp on the winter ones, though now everyone had more need of the indoor rooms. Starbride imagined the summer balconies and windows would feel chilly for those ill-equipped to deal with them.

  Stepping inside the king’s informal sitting room, Starbride could feel the bubble of grief. From just outside the circle of friends and family, Lord Vincent turned. His gaze remained steely until he saw Katya, and then he bowed, his gray eyes widening.

  Einrich, Reinholt, Maia, and the children formed a little huddle in the middle of the room. Past them, Hugo, Brutal, and Freddie gathered near the wall. Starbride let Katya go, and everyone converged on her, talking and crying over each other.

  Dawnmother stayed at Starbride’s shoulder. “How long were you outside, Star? Your skin is like ice.”

  She wasn’t as cold as some. On the bed lay a cloth-covered body, probably the queen’s. Starbride had to wonder how long they’d let her lay there. Once Katya left, would they all succumb to grief again?

  Hugo and Maia pulled Dawnmother into an embrace, both of them avoiding Starbride’s gaze. Freddie stared at her curiously over Dawnmother’s shoulder as they hugged. After the initial questions were answered, Katya turned to Starbride with love in her eyes. The others might be wary, but Katya could see the physical changes and still believed the woman inside was the same.

  Finally, the faith Starbride had been looking for. The happiness she thought she’d lost filled her somewhat, but she knew it should have been greater. She should have thrown herself at Katya the moment their eyes met. She tried then, letting Katya’s arms enfold her while those around them cooed.

  “We did it, love,” Katya mumbled. “We’re all together again.”

  Starbride cocked her head. Who was “we” who did “it” exactly? She remembered being alone on the battlefield.

  But Katya had lost her mother. She had a right to be confused. But Starbride knew one thing that would cheer her more than having her family and friends back together.

  “I caught him for you, Katya.”

  “Caught?”

  “Roland. And now you don’t need a Fiend to take revenge on him. You can do it however you please, and your spirit will be at peace.”

  When Katya still seemed confused, Starbride said, “I took his Aspect away. He’s locked in the dungeon, waiting for you.”

  Katya didn’t lose her frown, and Starbride wondered if she’d started speaking Allusian. Maybe she’d lapsed into ancient Belshrethen.

  “No, daughter, she doesn’t see the gift you’ve given her,” Yanchasa said.

  But how could that be? Before she could try again, Einrich cleared his throat. “Let us rejoice that our grief is not as great as we thought it to be. Darker matters can wait.”

  Darker matters? Revenge was a reason to rejoice, or had she been mistaken all this time?

  Still, they seemed content to be near one another. She could feel their stares, particularly on the pyramids, but also on her face as if they were searching for something. Katya’s arm around her began to feel stiff and awkward until Starbride couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “I feel like we should be doing something,” she said at a gap.

  Maia chuckled. “I know the feeling. We’ve been scrambling for so long. Sitting makes me feel tense.”

  “Why don’t we split for a time?” Einrich said. “Or stay if you’d rather. We need to clean up, eat, and make arrangements.”

  Funeral arrangements, she supposed. Starbride stood at once. Katya had a quick word in Brutal’s ear. He patted her shoulder, and she followed Starbride out.

  “What was that about?” Starbride asked.

  Katya sighed. “Averie. She…she died on a staircase nearby. I asked him to make sure her body was taken care of by us rather than mixed in with the others.”

  Starbride rubbed Katya’s arm, trying for comforting. As they went toward Katya’s summer apartme
nt, she pointed down the hall. “Do you know what happened to those mind-warped guards we knocked unconscious?”

  Starbride shrugged. “Probably dead by now. Those loyal to the crown have cleared the palace.”

  Katya seemed even sadder, though Starbride couldn’t say why. Once behind closed doors, Dawnmother scraped together enough help to get them a bath before seeking one of her own.

  “Star,” Katya asked when they were alone, “what did you mean about Roland?”

  Starbride stripped slowly, watching Katya do the same. The sight of her body, even bruised and bloody, caused ripples to pass through Starbride’s core. “Are you sure you want to talk?”

  Katya raised an eyebrow. “I suppose it can wait.”

  In the bath, they didn’t have much room to maneuver, but Katya’s clever fingers had never needed much space to work their magic. Starbride took the pleasure Katya offered and then gave her a taste of what their new life together would be like.

  Starbride felt Yanchasa’s eyes upon her, but the thought didn’t disturb her as it once might have. With Yanchasa’s whispered suggestions, Starbride used flesh and mind magic to take Katya to new heights until she arched over the end of the tub, gripping the sides, her eyes rolled up in her head, mouth open, and entire body racked with spasms of pleasure.

  When Katya had reached her peak several times, Starbride released her, and she slumped into the water so hard, it splashed over the sides. Starbride had to lift her up lest she drowned.

  “Star,” Katya slurred.

  “Shh.” Starbride held her tight and finished bathing both of them. When they were clean, she used her augmented muscles to lift Katya from the tub and wrap her in a blanket on the settee. “You wanted to know what happened, love. I thought it best to show you.”

  Katya licked her lips before she tried to speak again. “You’ve become some mystic lover, and a super strong one at that?”

  “I’ll tell you a story.” Starbride cuddled Katya close. “I thought you were dead, caught in the disintegration blast. Well, I didn’t let myself think it at first, and then Freddie convinced me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Star. I thought you knew that I had fallen, that you were searching for us.”

  “I had to get Roland. That was the only thing that mattered. I had this idea that you would have no peace until he was dead. I didn’t care if it killed me; I had to see him broken.”

  Katya gripped her fingers, but Starbride’s feelings weren’t as intense as her words. Katya wouldn’t understand that, though. Starbride went on with her journey to the capstone and what she’d found out about Belshreth and Yanchasa. She ended with how she’d trapped Roland in his own skin for good.

  During the tale, Starbride savored the feel of Katya resting against her chest, facing away from her. Katya was probably surprised, a little disbelieving, but that was to be expected. They’d lived with the idea of Yanchasa the monster for a long time.

  “I am not offended, daughter,” Yanchasa said. “Opinions can be changed.”

  And Katya deserved the benefit of the doubt. If anyone could see the necessity, the opportunity of power, it was her.

  When Starbride finished, Katya sat up and faced her. “So, you can hear Yanchasa right now?”

  It was almost past her lips that she could hear and see Yanchasa, but she decided that might be too much. “Yes.”

  “Star—”

  “I know what you’re going to say.”

  “Because you’re reading my mind?”

  Starbride frowned. “Don’t be paranoid. I know because I know you. You’re going to say something about power corrupting.”

  “As we’ve seen every time someone’s been taken over by a Fiend.”

  “First of all, there are no such things as Fiends. Second, do I look corrupted to you? Third, I’ve already told you that Yanchasa passed on the worst Aspects of herself as an act of vengeance.”

  Before she could put up the rest of her fingers with arguments, Katya laid a hand over hers. “I heard you, Star. But how much faith are you putting in someone who would pass on such murderous instincts?”

  “Acting on revenge, you mean? Isn’t that what we’ve all been doing since Roland took over?”

  “Funny, I thought we were trying to save a kingdom and the people we love.”

  Starbride rolled her eyes. “I suppose now you’re thinking of letting Uncle go because he’s not a threat to you anymore.”

  Katya stared at her hard. “You have made that a very difficult decision.”

  “What’s so difficult? He’s the same person who committed the atrocities.”

  “That’s not true now, and you know it! I despise him, and even I’m confused about what to do!”

  Starbride lifted her hands and dropped them. “Maybe he was corrupted by Yanchasa’s ancient curse, if you want to call it that.”

  Yanchasa threw back his head and laughed.

  “But that doesn’t erase what he’s done,” Starbride said. “And the people of Marienne won’t see it that way, either. They’ll want someone to pay. Maybe after a public execution, this city will be able to heal.”

  Katya stared at her.

  Starbride returned her look with a cool gaze. “If you ask, ‘what happened to you,’ I’m leaving.”

  “Then you must see the difference in yourself.”

  “The ways in which I’m stronger and more powerful? If anyone could see it, I thought it would be you. I thought love would help you see it.”

  When Katya could only gape, Starbride stood and wrapped a blanket around herself. “Dawnmother will have prepared some quarters for me. Why don’t you find me when all of this has had a little time to sink in?”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Katya

  Katya scrubbed her fingers through her damp hair. This new Starbride had to be a trick, some cruel joke. She was still asleep in the dead city below the palace, and this was another nightmare.

  All the times she’d envisioned Starbride’s beautiful face—either worried, determined, or weeping with joy at seeing Katya again—she never imagined what she’d actually found. And it wasn’t just the smooth triangles of crystal adorning Starbride’s body. She was cold, outside and in. Neither the bath nor their lovemaking had warmed her. For all the pleasure Starbride had given, it made her smug more than anything. As for what Katya had given her, well, it seemed not to have affected her at all. Everything probably paled in comparison to the sensations granted by Yanchasa.

  Katya shivered and drew her blanket tighter. She didn’t care what Starbride said, she’d seen Yanchasa’s effects. She’d felt them. Even if it was true that Yanchasa used to be human, or that it chose what it passed on to those who’d captured it, that still meant Yanchasa contained the cold, malicious killer Katya had come to know as a Fiend. A sliver of humanity couldn’t erase the monster.

  But how to get Starbride to see that?

  Katya stood. The fight wasn’t done, that was all. She had hoped Roland’s capture would put an end to it, but there was one task left, one more hurdle. She could cope with that.

  Katya dressed quickly, every movement reminding her of Averie. She could pick a thousand new maids, but never as wonderful a friend, no one with such good advice, such easy wit.

  Katya would see to it that Averie was entombed in the Umbriel crypt.

  Once she dressed, it was easier to plan. She’d need allies, someone who knew what it would take to convince Starbride to let Yanchasa’s power go. A pyradisté? The only one who came to mind was Master Bernard, and Katya didn’t think he knew much of Fiend magic.

  Adsnazi, then. But Katya feared that going to Redtrue would only upset Starbride further. They hadn’t started out as friends. Well, Redtrue didn’t start out friends with anyone, but she and Starbride had been hurrying toward antagonistic the last time they’d been together.

  Perhaps the only testimony Starbride would listen to was from someone well-versed in Fiends, someone who could remember what it was like
to merge with one. Luckily, they had the greatest authority on the subject sitting in the dungeon.

  But Katya’s feet failed her as her heart sped. She pictured the dungeon stones, the airless, lightless dark. She had to stretch her arms to prove that she had room; the walls weren’t closing in. No, she couldn’t go underground again, not yet.

  After a deep breath, she calmed. She wasn’t ready to see her uncle anyway. The man she’d thought of as Roland was seven years dead. The only thing left was the creature who’d stolen her home, enslaved her dearest friends, and killed her mother. He was the beast who’d hunted Starbride and forced her to fall under Yanchasa’s sway. How could she see him as anything but that, no matter what he looked like? How could she speak to him without ramming her dagger down his throat?

  Katya headed to Maia’s room but paused when she arrived. Katya’s fight wasn’t over, but that didn’t mean Maia’s peace had to be interrupted. She could be with Brutal, claiming some fleeting but much needed happiness. How could Katya take that away from her?

  The youngster Katya remembered would be eager to help. This new Maia—with the haunted look in her pale blue eyes—would she be so quick to throw herself into danger? Or would she still tell Katya not to be silly, not to hesitate when asking for help. They were family.

  Still, Katya was about to turn away when the door flew open. On the other side, Maia jumped back, bow half drawn. Katya froze in shock.

  Maia’s arrow tipped toward the ground. “Sorry, I didn’t know who it might be. Why didn’t you knock?”

  “I didn’t want to disturb you.” She tried to peer around Maia’s shoulder.

  Maia rolled her eyes. “I’m alone. Do you want to come in?”

  Katya sighed. Starbride’s predicament wouldn’t wait. “I have to talk to you about something delicate.”

  “Spirits, please don’t tell me it’s Brutal. I’ve already said I don’t want to talk about that over and over.”

  “You’ve just piqued my interest all over again, but no. It’s Starbride.”

  Maia stood aside so Katya could slip past. “That was my second guess.”