“Aren’t you coming in?”
“I am Monitor of Challenge and a possible candidate for king. I cannot be present for this issuance. My only instruction as of now is that I will know when you have completed it.”
Well. This was a twist. I knew it was given in confidence, but I didn’t realize even the Monitor didn’t get to know what I had to do. Interesting.
I stepped into the chamber, and Mister Crushed Ego slammed the door.
The five overlords sat in their casual clothes, which were out of place. They were usually all dressed up in for the pomp and ceremony. They loved to remind everyone how powerful they were, waving their dicks in our faces. But there wasn’t a hint of the hauteur I was used to from them. They were gathered around a small, old wooden table.
Stress. Distress. Excitement.
It radiated from them in waves.
My stomach stopped fluttering and started churning hard. They left me standing and waiting for a very, very long moment.
“Gwynnore, daughter of Alaine,” Lord Belshazzar began, standing up. “You have satisfied all of our trials with expediency and enthusiasm. The last trial only barely, when you finally revealed to Lord Pippin that you believed Lord Cato was breaking the law. The truth. That was the true test, whether you would tell us of your father’s possible duplicity—even if the Council did want Ginter dead for our own reasons.”
I blinked. Stared. “Wait… You knew he had created a vampire?”
Lord Belshazzar nodded with ease. “Yes. Any vampire he has created has been approved.”
My mouth bobbed without elegance. “You were testing me. About my morals, and where I would let the law apply.”
Didn’t they know I despised my father?
I wouldn’t have saved his ass from death. At least…
No, I wouldn’t have. I did a little mental shake. I definitely wouldn’t save the bastard who had abandoned me. I had told Lord Pippin about it—even if it was out of unfiltered anger.
“Yes. And the Council is pleased with the outcome. We have reached the last trial.”
Lord Xenon stood. “This trial is law. Your last Challenge is in the Law. We cannot change it. We dare not change it. It has served us well this long. But bear in mind always that this is the law, and we must obey it.”
Lord Otto hoisted himself out of his chair. “Our conditions are this. You must complete this task in under forty-eight hours. It must be done in the public eye. And you must not ever tell anyone the true reason for this.”
Cato rose to his feet. “Tradition is tradition. Law is law. If you want the crown, you must follow this to the letter.” His cold facade wavered a moment then snapped back into place.
Slowly, Lord Pippin stood. “Are you ready to hear your final Challenge?”
I nodded, swallowing back the bile that wanted out.
He continued, “The law states that she who would be queen must to prove her dedication to the law, kill the individual who is her most loved one, be they family, friend or mated—including soul mates. No one can be told of this Challenge. The blood must be left to the ages.”
There was no way I’d heard that right. “Could you repeat that?”
“You must kill the individual who is your most loved one,” Lord Pippin repeated the words.
“You want me to kill my friend?” My voice rose hysterically, his meaning hitting like a sledgehammer to my skull. “You want me to kill Adelie?”
“We do not.” Lord Belshazzar kept his tone even and quiet. “It is the law. This trial is to prove your loyalty to the vampires. This Challenge is to prove you’re loyal to the law. It is the law that issues this Challenge.”
“Find something. Anything else. Want me to wipe out a village? An island? A vampire enclave? I’m all for it.”
Lord Otto sat down. “It is law.”
“Find something else! Adelie is my truest friend. She is my confidant, and I need her help as queen. And you want me to fucking kill her?”
Lord Xenon found his chair as well. “It is law.”
“Fuck your law. Fuck it. Find me another Challenge.”
“You have forty-eight hours to complete this,” Lord Belshazzar explained patiently and then sat his own ass down as well. They were all on their asses staring at me—except for Cato. He remained standing, his expression utterly blank while he watched me. I gave them all the middle finger and turned to walk out, fully expecting that they would call me back and tell me the real Challenge. Or kill me on the way out.
Lord Belshazzar moved and blocked my way. “This is not a lie, Gwen. You are required to kill the one you love the most. If you want to be queen, you must. We want you to be the queen. You are the best, the most suited for this.”
His eyes were soft, but unmovable.
“You’re not kidding. I really have to kill her.”
“Make it quick, Gwen. Don’t drag this out, for either of you. It only gets worse. I can tell you, the longer you let this take, the more horrible it’s going to be.”
I shook my head hard. “I had fucking breakfast with her twenty minutes ago.”
“The law must be upheld.”
My blink was ever so slow and my blood ran cold. “Do…do the male candidate have to perform this Challenge to?”
His ice blue eyes narrowed. “I’m not allowed to answer that. As you know.” He shook his head sharply, entering my personal space with a step forward, when I opened my mouth to argue. “Careful. You’re veering into death territory if you ask me again. The only reason you got away with that question the first time is because it was for the male candidates. One warning can be given. That’s it.”
I pushed him out of my way. To hell with them!
My fists shook, cramping from squeezing so hard.
My gaze landed on Cato.
My father didn’t blink. He held my regard.
My mother… His wife… His love…
The need to flee was overwhelming.
I kicked the door open.
And then shoved past Nial standing there.
“What’s the trial?” He walked behind me with his long legs, easily keeping up with my hurried stalk. “Gwen, what’s the—”
Using my speed, I ran not only through the stronghold but down the mountain and out into the cold air of the Chilean winter. I ran hard and ran fast. I just kept running until I finally exhausted myself, nearly an hour later. There was a small copse of evergreen bushes, and I dropped down under them, wrapping my arms around my knees and rocking madly. Everything but the challenge I shoved aside for later review—my emotions couldn’t handle any more.
I had to kill my friend.
That was the law?
Who makes laws about killing your best friend?
Didn’t they understand that I needed her help?
Sweet and caring Adelie was my right-hand woman, and I needed that. Someone who would remember things for me. Something that would pick out fancy foods and place settings when I didn’t even remotely care. Someone who…cared…about me. And I her.
I had to murder my friend?
How could that be a law? Take away one of the queen’s strengths before she even gets to the throne. The whole vampire law was stilted toward the males, it always had been, but this was the ultimate slap in the face to the females. Hobbling their queen.
How could I kill my friend?
She had been instrumental in shaping me as a Queen Novitiate. Books, training, conversation, devil’s advocate. Adelie had been there through all of it and even got over her habit of keeping pet humans to bring me blood and memories when I woke. I knew that had been hard for her. But she did it. Because she was my friend. She was my heart-sister. She was Adelie. And she wanted me to ascend to the throne as much as anyone could have.
She wanted me to win the crown.
Adelie would have given anything to help me get the crown.
Her life, though? Her life? It was a step too far.
Wasn’t it?
I couldn’t imagine life
without her. She was always there, always my friend. From the day I arrived at my grandfather’s citadel outside of Luxor, she befriended me, the daughter of Pharaonic blood and a vampire, her viciousness even at our age then had impressed me. And yet she still kept human pets and had a soft side for them. When she found out I was a princess to the crown, she insisted I needed to take the job as queen one day—when I was old enough to be called upon. It became our obsession. Hers as much as mine.
And now, here we were. At the brink of victory.
The crown hovered above my head…
All I had to do was kill her, and it was mine.
It was law.
If I didn’t kill her, I didn’t uphold the law.
And I didn’t get the throne.
This was the bull that kept the males in power. They cut off their females at the knees before they married them and bred them, so they never had a chance to truly mourn.
Would Adelie hesitate to kill me if we were in each other’s shoes?
Yes. Of course.
Any woman would hesitate to cut off their right hand.
What would I tell her if I knew this was her last test before the finish line?
Kill me.
Of course. Kill me in a heartbeat and take the crown.
I started to regain a sense of balance, calm scratching at the edges of my senses.
I centered my breathing and tested myself once more.
What would I say?
Kill me. Take the crown.
Make the males realize what they are doing. Find a way to change the law so no one has to die for the Black Heart. Make an amazing queen. And kick Nial in the balls for me.
Well, maybe I’d hold back on the last part.
I let out a laugh in the empty forest and wiped my nose of the snot.
Fine. They wanted me to kill her. The law said I had to.
Then I would.
We’d both worked for me to take this crown.
And we would both do anything to put it where it belonged—on my brow.
* * *
I found Lord Otto and Lord Xenon in the formal dining room. I stood over them, fists clenched at my sides.
The two other people in the area fled, my wild hair and red-rimmed eyes enough of a warning for them to skedaddle.
I stated quietly, “I have three conditions.”
Lord Xenon shook his head slightly and sighed. “There are no conditions.”
“I have conditions. Will you hear me?”
Lord Otto shrugged. “Fine. Tell us your conditions.”
Glancing between them, I didn’t falter. “I will not have this done in public. I request a small party of witnesses. The overlords, the Monitor, and two other people of the Council’s choosing so that there is no bias.”
“That is not how this is done,” Lord Xenon grumbled.
I leaned in close to the two of them. “Does the law tell me how I am to commit murder?”
Both shook their heads, their brows puckered in thought.
“Then I will choose how I will commit murder against someone who is a sister to me.” I straightened, shoving my shoulders back. I peered down my nose into their eyes. “My first condition is that you give me the space and set up exactly as I said—witnesses and the victim. That’s all.”
With a simple glance, they spoke volumes to each other.
“A small gathering is granted.” Lord Otto’s words were smooth and cold. “What is your second condition?”
“I am left alone for a week to mourn. There will be no contact from the Councilors or their agents.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Nothing from anyone. Alone. To mourn.”
Rapidly shaking his head in the negative, Lord Otto looked ready to explode. “The ceremony—”
I cut him off rapidly, “Unless it’s in the law—that is my demand.”
Lord Xenon put a hand on Lord Otto to hold him in the chair. “It is not in the tradition. The ceremony is usually the day after. We can only accommodate an uncrowned queen for four days. At the most. That is our compromise.”
It wouldn’t matter how many days they could manage. It would never be enough.
My head nodded in a stiff jerk. “Fine. Four. Uninterrupted by anyone.”
“And your last condition?” Lord Xenon prompted me to finish.
“I crown myself. No one places that crown on my head but me.”
Lord Otto nearly jumped out of his seat. “Unheard of!”
The unshakeable, unreadable Lord Xenon cracked. “That’s not right. That’s not the way it’s been done in the past. The queen should be crowned by the eldest overlord. Lord Otto is correct—this is unheard of.”
“Well, hear of it, or you lose this Queen Novitiate.” I wasn’t budging.
Another glance at each other, and they nodded at the same time accepting the terms.
“Set up a dinner,” I said.
“This—”
I slammed my hand on the table. “I’m doing what the law asks. I despise it, and if I could find a way around this, I would. In a heartbeat. So you’ll work with me, or you can find a new Queen Novitiate and hope they can pass your stupid trials.”
Again, the synchronized nod.
“A dinner. Tomorrow night, with the witnesses there. No one else. Set the table, but do not expect to eat. I will not give her a last meal like some pig to the slaughter.” Spinning on my heel, I headed for the exit but paused. I tossed my last words over my shoulder at them. “Tell Lord Belshazzar it will be quick.”
A creeping chill ran up my hardened spine, noting the small smiles they now wore.
Perhaps I should have demanded more.
Cunning fucks.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
~ GWYNNORE ~
This vampire was seeing much of the porcelain god. Lots of time hugging the toilet.
I hid and cried and hid some more. I avoided all contact with everyone. Nial tried to hunt me down several times in the next few hours, but there was no finding me. Mostly because I hid outside the stronghold after barfing for thirty minutes, slinking down the side of the mountain as the day wore on. I wanted the cold to strip me of all feelings, take the flesh off my bones.
Anything not to feel.
I snuck in a few times to see if I could find a bottle of liquor strong enough to do anything to me—but would leave empty-handed, instead. I could have gotten shitfaced, but then that would only diminish the act I had to commit. I had to honor Adelie in some way.
I finally allowed Lord Otto’s second to find me early the next afternoon. I was sitting just outside the rock door at the very top of the mountain, holding my mind silent. Even hunting didn’t help me. I finally just tried to shut my mind off.
A guard stepped up behind me. “Candidate, everyone has been looking for you. Lord Otto told me not to come back until I found you. He instructed me to tell you that dinner is ready, and once I found you, to fetch your—”
“Stop. Fetch whomever you have to. I will be at the table in twenty minutes.”
He bowed and disappeared back through the door.
Pausing just long enough to make sure my legs would actually carry me, I descended into the stronghold. I hefted the sword I’d kept on my lap, eventually letting it fall to the side, held lightly in my hand.
I took exactly twenty minutes to reach the door where I knew the overlords took their meals and tried again to turn off my brain. It was a futile gesture.
I couldn’t open the door, my hand hovering over the doorknob.
I could smell the meal they had laid out inside. It was succulent, and I was sure that Lord Pippin had gone out of his way to create something completely and amazingly mouthwatering. I didn’t want to know what was on that table, but it was easy to tell he had cooked pheasant and wild rice. Neither of which I would ever have again—this moment scarred into my brain.
The door still didn’t open by my hand.
Voices floated, buzzing in and out.
I could hear the easy
conversation between Nial and—
I pulled up short, my fingers now digging into the doorknob. He was speaking to her.
I hated Nial even more at that moment. I didn’t think that was even possible, but I did. I ratcheted up to loathing and made a note to extract my anger from his hide at some point in the near future. Even if this weren’t his fault, I’d take it out on him.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
Quick. I promised Lord Belshazzar quick.
I owed it to all three of us.
I pushed the door open and stepped into the room. The sounds and smells overwhelmed me for a moment. Just for a heartbeat, I almost turned and ran and became rogue. Just one heartbeat.
“Nice of you to finally show up,” Nial said.
“I told you Lord Otto’s man would find her,” she said with a grin. “Come on, Gwen. The food is going to get cold.”
Everything felt as if I were underwater. Doubt and confusion swirled around me, tripping me. I caught myself, slamming the door and circling the table as if to take the seat next to her.
The overlords watched me keenly, and their two witnesses, Felicia, a general of the warrior forces, and Melchior, the chief strategist—both clearly confused as to why they were there.
Nial peered at me, and it was almost as if he could see what was in my heart and mind.
His eyes cracked yellow for just a flash of a moment.
Speak her name. One last time.
I opened my mouth, and choked, “Adelie, this is what we wanted. I love you always. Please forgive me.”
I didn’t hesitate. The time now.
My blow…was swift and sure.
Adelie didn’t even have a chance to turn and look at me before my sword cleaved her head from her shoulders. It was a stroke I’d learned years ago, to make sure that death was instant, none of that lingering bullshit. The head of full, beautiful red hair, curly and styled, dropped forward and landed on her own lap. The blood flowed from her neck, covering her favorite shirt with horrid crimson. I couldn’t see her face as the life flowed out of her, soaking the hair.
I held my stance for entirely too long, watching the last of my friend drip to the floor.
Blood is life.
Queen of Gods Page 25
