by Angel Lawson
I approached the gate at Ravenwood at a slow pace, arms raised in a sign of peace. Two soldiers approached Camelot and I said, “I come to speak to Queen Eleanor, under terms of sanctuary.” One soldier lifted his clawed hand, while the other searched the area behind me to make sure I was alone. “My crew is back at the first pass. They’ll only come if they’re needed.”
The soldier with the claw said, “You’ve revealed yourself as part of the rebellion. We cannot offer sanctuary to a traitor.”
I fixed him with a hard stare. I had no interest in fighting my way in—it would take too much time. I swallowed my annoyance. “Tell the Queen I am here and what my terms are.”
I waited by the gate in the gloomy cold long enough that I had plans to gather my men and storm the castle, but the soldiers returned with sour looks on their faces. As I expected, Eleanor allowed me entry. I tried not to gloat on my way through the entrance.
Patting Camelot on the head, I left her tied near a trough and entered the imposing black slate castle. Just inside the front doors I handed over my weapons, which was a condition under the guidelines of sanctuary. I couldn’t be harmed while I was at Ravenwood but it also meant I couldn’t be armed. Fighting wasn’t my purpose today.
I wiped my boots on the bristly rug by the massive wooden door and followed the guard down a long, imposing hall to the Queen in her throne room. Her long black hair curled down her shoulders, grazing the edge of her dress. The black dress stood in sharp contrast to her pale skin, and from the doorway I could see her magnificent curves and alluring cleavage. Her lips twisted seductively as I entered the room. She wouldn’t make this meeting easy, a fact that was confirmed by the large black dog that sat at her feet. He bared his teeth as I approached the edge of the rug. I had no doubt he’d rip out my throat if I gave him a reason.
Bowing, I said, “Thank you for agreeing to see me on such tenuous terms.”
“So this is what it takes to get a visit from Liam Caldwell? A civil war? If I had known that, I would have made an attempt on your girl years ago.”
“If only you’d been able to find her,” I said.
Eleanor smiled and laid her hand on top of the dog’s head, stroking him gently. “You did a commendable job keeping her hidden. Excellent spell work.”
“Thank you, but all of that is in the past. She’s here. On her own terms—“
“In my castle.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I disagree on that last part. The castle has remained unclaimed since Claudia left.”
“Oh, I’m sure you disagree, but this girl has no real claim to the land.”
“It recognizes her.”
“Because you’re a traitor and you used your connection to Otherworld to lead her there. I’m not stupid, Liam. Neither is Fiona. We both know you plan on getting your paws on as much of the Goddess’s power as you can and you’re going to use a naïve fairy to do it for you.”
I shook my head and took a step closer. “This has nothing to do with me wanting the Goddess’s power and everything about unifying the land of Otherworld. Nadya can make that happen.”
“To what end? Her taking over all our kingdoms? Controlling all of us? You know we can’t let that happen.”
“I don’t think she has any desire to control your land, but you and I both know our people have suffered from the curse of the Deadlands.”
This stopped her and she blinked at me before standing up. She took measured steps away from the throne until she stood before me. Eleanor didn’t use glamours like her sister, Fiona. She didn’t have the patience. She’d reach through my chest and tear out my heart and while I watched. Then she’d feed it to her dog. As if he read my mind, the black dog at her feet licked his teeth with his pink, fleshy tongue.
“Have you spoken to my sister?”
“Not yet. I came to you first.” I lowered my voice and said, “I know this is difficult for you. It’s going to be hard on all of us, but you know it’s the right thing to do. I have no choice.”
This seemed to mollify her and I saw her red lips twist into a small smile. “I’ve missed you, Liam. We could have made quite the pair, but no, you had to go and protect Claudia’s girl.”
“You know my loyalty is—“
“To the land. Yes, I’ve heard that a thousand times. Even with you quaking beneath me, naked and raw.” She reached forward and pushed a piece of hair off of my forehead, making sure it was exactly in place. “My sister tells me you said the same thing to her.”
“I won’t deny we’ve had similar conversations.”
“And Nadya? Have you had this conversation with her? How you can’t belong to any of us because your loyalty belongs to dirt we walk on? Sounds like the stuff of human fairy tales.”
I held my chin level and looked her in the eye. “Just because your relationship with magic is dark and unwavering does not mean that mine is inauthentic. My relationship with Nadya is none of your concern.”
“No?” she said, running a sharp, lacquered nail down my cheek. I saw the wheels turning in her head, trying to figure out her next move. Killing me wasn’t it. That was never going to be the right answer, as long as there was even the slightest chance. “So you haven’t told her.”
“She didn’t need to know. I wasn’t even sure if she was the one.”
“But you do now. The land recognized her, rebuilt and restored itself for her. I saw it myself. She is the one. She’s the Lost Queen.” She walked back to her throne and sat with flourish, legs crossing over the other. The dog followed and she petted him on the head. “So now we know the truth about her, but she doesn’t know about you.”
I said nothing, but held her gaze. Eleanor lifted a finger and beckoned me to her. I hesitated, but her dog stood and growled with deep warning. With little choice, I approached the throne, one step at a time, until I came face to face with the Queen.
“Do it,” she said, shifting so I had a perfect view her cleavage. Her body didn’t sway me but the way her hand clenched around the handle of a blade did. “I’m just curious. Do it.”
I lowered my head and placed my hands on her wrists, pinning them and the weapon to the chair. She struggled against me but I squeezed tight, forcing her to release the blade. “You don’t control me.”
Eleanor jumped up, eyes blazing with fury, and slapped me hard against the side of my face. As I stood dazed from the force of her blow, she caught me off guard and covered my mouth with hers. Her lips were cold and hungry. I fought against her but again, her dog growled threateningly at my feet. Her tongue slipped into my mouth followed by a magic that cloaked the two of us, powerful and dark. The energy twisted between us and tasted foul, invoking darkness from my very core.
I shoved her away but Eleanor only laughed in response. “How did that compare to the little princess? Do you bring out the best in her, too?”
I wiped my mouth and spat on the floor. “Never do that again.”
“Or what? I can only imagine what you’ve told her about your role in all this. I doubt she would have sent you if she’d known.”
I turned away, done with this conversation. Finished with Eleanor. “I came to offer an invitation from the Lost Queen. Day after tomorrow. Noon. Do not bring your army.”
Again she laughed, cackling like a woman gone mad. Just before I crossed the threshold of the throne room she declared, “When do you plan on telling her the truth, Liam? If she’s all that you claim, she’ll figure it out. That she’s nothing without you by her side, that to unlock the ultimate power of the Goddess she’ll need a God by her side?”
Her crazed laughter followed me out of the room. One Queen down, another to go.
Chapter 34
Nadya
“So, exactly how is this meeting with Fiona and Eleanor supposed to work?” I asked Mrs. Graves. She’d appeared shortly after Liam left for the other kingdoms. Within minutes of her arrival she’d begun preparations for the meeting, thankfully, as I was definitely out of my element.
> Now, we sat across from one another in what everyone called my parlor. Basically it was a small room with fancy couches and chairs, adjacent to my rooms. The fabrics all looked extremely expensive, as did the artwork on the wall, the linens and china we ate on. It had a similar feel to Liam’s home back in the human world.
Mrs. Graves scribbled notes on a sheet of parchment. I noticed a stamp pressed into the paper. Three lines slashed down with three dots hovering at the top.
“What is this?” I asked. “I’ve seen it before.”
“It’s the mark of Awen. The symbol of the original Goddess.”
I blinked. “Liam has one of these on his chest.”
“Yes.”
“What does it mean?”
“The two outside rays represent the opposites in harmony—male and female. The middle one is for the balance they bring together. The dots are for mind, body and spirit.”
“Why does Liam carry the mark of the Goddess?” I asked, running my fingers over the raised stamp.
Mrs. Graves stared at me with incredulity. “Do you really not know?”
I shook my head.
We were interrupted by a servant. Isla was in her upper teens and had spent the morning presenting a variety of dresses for me to choose from for the event.
Isla held up a gold and bronze gown. It had intricate beading across the bodice and a long train flowing from the back. “Um,” I said, trying to come up with the right words. I’d learned pretty quickly that being blunt worked, but then no one would speak to me for an hour. The servants were terrified of disappointing me. That wasn’t the image I wanted to project with these people—not that I wanted to project any image at all. “It’s lovely, Isla. I’m just afraid it’s not right for me.”
“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll try to find something more to your liking.” I smiled hopefully, but it rang with falseness. I’d given Isla specifications on my clothing taste but unfortunately my style didn’t seem to translate to the current fashions of Otherworld.
“Okay,” I said, focusing back on Mrs. Graves. “What were you saying about Liam and this symbol.”
“It is not for me speak for Mr. Caldwell. You should talk to him. Soon. Clear the air on this.”
“But why hasn’t he already?”
She chuckled. “Men, even those from this world, fear nothing more than the woman they love.” She went back to her notes and said, “Now, back to this banquet you’re hosting. With you reclaiming the Deadlands it is required to commemorate the claiming of lands. Most will see it as a sign of goodwill and celebration but they will also see it as a gesture of confidence toward the other kingdoms. Fiona and Eleanor need to respect you.”
“A dinner party. I can do that.” Of course I probably couldn’t. I’d never had dinner with anyone other than my father or occasionally Colleen at the airport diner. I blinked back tears thinking about Pop. He must be worried sick, despite Liam’s assurances.
“You can, it’s in your blood.” Mrs. Graves said this anytime I came up against something I didn’t like or want to do. Tired of arguing, I half-listened as she proceeded to talk about menu and table settings.
“Mrs. Graves,” I said, finally building up some courage. “I’m really not sure this is such a good idea.”
“What? The pheasant? I know it’s not what you’re accustomed to, but it’s really quite good.”
“No, not the dinner. This whole thing. Me as some sort of leader. I worked in an airport. What qualifications do I have for running a kingdom? I don’t even want the job.”
Lowering the paper she’d been writing on she reached over and gave me a sympathetic pat on the hand. “I know it’s all very overwhelming. It’s a difficult situation, one that your mother desperately didn’t want to inflict on you.”
“Then why am I here? Why did Liam insist on this?”
She gave me a hard look and I dropped my eyes to my hands. “Liam did his best to keep you away from here. You are the one that entered the portal. You set all of this in motion, Nadya. Don’t blame him for your actions.”
“He could have taken me back home.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Once you set foot in Otherworld there was no choice. Eleanor and Fiona would have continued their attacks, eventually harming humans to get to you. They need you. Even if they don’t want to admit it, you’re the life blood of this land.” She narrowed her eyes and asked. “What do you know about your mother’s death?”
“Only that she was murdered by Eleanor’s soldiers. I know that Liam was there.”
“But do you know why they killed her?”
“No.”
“Claudia spent years managing the portal but never stepped foot back into Otherworld. I know Liam has told you how the Deadlands came to exist and how they are growing wider and bigger every year. Soon they will take over everything in Otherworld and the people here will die. Without fertile land our people cannot survive. We cannot grow crops or hunt. Things were already getting bad when you were young, and Claudia had finally agreed with the Rebels to come back and take her place at the throne. Fiona and Eleanor fought about the best way to handle this. Don’t underestimate either of them and their seeming independence from one another—ultimately they have one goal, to preserve their kingdoms. Claudia returning home was a risk neither felt they could survive, and they had her killed. They thought her death would end the curse of the Deadlands. Their ignorance and disdain made you unworthy in their eyes. They never considered you’d be an actual contender for the throne.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re half human.”
“Oh. Hooray for me.”
She smiled. “Liam and the Guards put up the wards and protective spells. He hung the iron cross over your bed to keep away any intrusion in your dreams and charmed the necklace your mother gave you. He kept you cloaked from them for years until you felt the tug of the bond.”
“And now we’re here anyway.”
“Yes, but it is on your terms. Not theirs.”
I glanced at the menus and the new stack of dresses Isla had brought into the room. On the surface nothing about this felt like it was on my terms, but I knew Mrs. Graves was right. I’d made the decision to come here and find out more about my family. I’d fought for my life, absorbed magic and laid myself bare for Liam in the Valley. The Deadlands embraced me, and now I had to figure out how to embrace it back without losing the humanity that my mother and father blessed me with.
Isla walked in the room carrying a gown made of blue silk. I stood and approached her, feeling the soft, shiny fabric. The skirt was straight and had an empire waist and a gathered bodice. Silk and beads made up the thin straps. Isla kept her eyes low, refusing to look at me directly, so I took the dress from her hands and held it up to Mrs. Graves. She raised her eyebrow but gave me a short, approving nod.
“This is the one,” I said, taking the first step— one of many.
***
That night I asked Grace to join me for dinner. She arrived with a guard moments after the kitchen staff left plates of delicious smelling food. I instructed the guard to leave us alone.
“Those are not my instructions,” he said hesitantly. I realized he had the unfortunate problem of either going against my wishes or Liam’s. I appreciated his predicament and told him as much.
“Wait outside the door. That way if I call you can hear.” He hesitated again and I gave him a stern look. “I’ll take care of Liam. This will not land on you.”
When we were alone I gave Grace a quick hug. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said. Her blonde hair was tied back in a messy ponytail and she wore a basic linen dress. “A little bored, but it’s better than the alternative.”
I offered her the seat across from mine at the small dining table. When she reached for her fork I noticed a thin metal bracelet around each wrist that I hadn’t seen before. “Where did you get those?”
“From your guards. They’re made of iron
and they keep me from using my magic.”
I considered her ability to compel and manipulate. It wasn’t a bad policy. “Do they hurt?”
“No. Colleen gave them instructions to give me these bracelets instead of chains. I appreciate the gesture.”
“Good. I don’t want you to feel like a slave here.”
“I don’t. This feels like a weekend at the spa in comparison to my fate at Ravenwood or Solar.” She gave me a small smile. “Really, Nadya, I’m okay with this. I mean, hopefully one day we can work together, but I’m thankful you’re taking a chance on me.”
We focused on our food. The kitchen had prepared a delicious roast and a variety of vegetables, some I recognized and others I didn’t. A question popped in my mind. “Mrs. Graves pointed out how the Deadlands were taking over all of Otherworld. Now that it’s been reclaimed does that mean the invasion into the other lands will stop?”
“I’m not sure. It should.”
“Then why would the other kingdoms care? Although I’d like to see Eleanor and Fiona punished for what they did to my mother and grandmother, I won’t do it at the expense of everyone. I’m willing for us all to share the wealth of my return. Why can’t we each keep our tracts and live peacefully?”
“The original Goddess didn’t intend for there to be three kingdoms. There is only supposed to be one. This one. This is why Fiona and Eleanor have spent decades trying to decide how to handle the situation. Their land is dying, but they could lose their rule if it was reclaimed. Once your abilities evolved they hoped to bring you here as a slave—not as a queen.”
“They would force me to take back the land but give it to them?” I pushed my plate away, no longer having an appetite. “Could that still happen?”
She didn’t reply but kept her eyes down, moving the food around on her plate with her fork. She wasn’t telling me something. Something important.
“Grace…”
“They can’t take your title. It’s yours by right, but they can try to fight you.”
“You mean kill me.”
“Yes.” she looked away again.
