Queen of Lies

by Kel Carpenter

“Flower, I believe you and my betrothed have met,” Victor asserted. He rested the flat palm of his hand on my lower back and this time I did not mistake the affection.

  “Anastasia,” I breathed. My surprise only lasted for a full second at most. In a place like this, you cannot afford surprises. Nor can you afford to be thrown by them.

  “Yes, she is the one that gave you to me as a wedding gift. Isn’t that kind, flower?” he prompted, always testing me. Always asking more. Still, I gave him the answer he wanted to hear.

  “Very. I am lucky to have you as my master,” I replied.

  We’d never openly acknowledged that I knew, but it seemed to please him that I came to this on my own. His smile sharpened, showing a hint of the predator he was.

  “And I am lucky to have you as mine,” he purred. I did not reply. “But you see, flower. She lied to me. She told me that in return for my people and our support, she would sire heirs and unite the Supernaturals and the Vampires. As it should rightfully be, don’t you think?”

  I had no choice but to agree, and frankly, being where I was now on the totem pole, I didn’t really give a damn who united with who. Victor gave me a modicum of freedom and it was more than any of the others would have afforded me. I’d feed his ego as long as he liked.

  “Certainly, master. Should you wish it,” I replied. He continued stroking my back with calculated touches meant to enthrall me.

  “Oh, Lily, how you please me. If only my betrothed were half as tolerable as you, I might not have to do this.”

  Ah, and there it was. The caveat I had been waiting for. I did not ask what. He wouldn’t want it. If Victor wanted me to know something he would tell me, and it was my job to know that and not inundate him with stupid questions.

  “You see, Anastasia is infertile, flower, and not only is she infertile, but she kept this information from me. She led me to believe that we would have powerful children together, when indeed, she could not give me children at all. Now I came upon this information on my own, but waited for her to come to me and attempt to make amends. Do you know what she did instead?”

  I swallowed once but did not delay in responding. “Did she attempt to hide it and go back on your arrangement?” He smiled, somewhat amused.

  “She did. She also neglected to tell me she isn’t the only living Fortescue. That’s a punishable offense, don’t you think, flower?”

  The hairs of my arms stood on end at the tone of his voice. Victor tucked a stray lock of black hair behind my ear before slowly guiding me down the levels of the amphitheater.

  “Yes. Punishable indeed,” I agreed. My darkness collided in my chest, wanting free, wanting to punish the girl who gave me this life. I suspected it wouldn’t have to wait long, but I didn’t dare let it loose.

  Not yet. It was still too soon.

  “I’m so happy you think so. Despite all of that, it is not what brought this about. Would you like to guess at what brought this about, my dear?” He licked his bottom lip, hungry for violence that he would have me bring.

  “No, sir. There are any number of deplorable things she could have done. It would take far too long to guess which one has brought about her reckoning. I would not wish to waste your time even guessing.” A sliver of unrequited rage slipped through and he chuckled in delight.

  “You are the most pleasing creature I have ever owned, Lily. Leagues above all others.” He brushed his fingers around the curve of my hip, but only for a second. “My betrothed broke her vow and publicly declared war on all Vampires, including you and me. She attempted to take the life of Gregory Kamarov, and when she failed, she fled the scene. I simply cannot allow a weak being like that to stand at my side. What would it say to our people?”

  We stepped off the final level and onto the flat bottom. My fingers twitched to end her, but I would not act until the command was given. Not for all the revenge in the world.

  Vengeance is a virtue, and with patience, it would be mine.

  “That you put a barren Supernatural coward above our people when she is without use,” I replied. He liked that phrase. Without use. It was so very standoffish. A slap to the face.

  “That it would, flower, you are right again. But our kind do not believe in a breaking of contracts. She is my betrothed, but she is not worthy. What would you have me do were you in my position?”

  Oh, sweet, sweet, vengeance.

  It would be mine.

  “I would have her executed to send both a statement to the Vampires about where your loyalties lie and the Supernaturals about what you will not tolerate.” My voice rang clear and true in the dead silence of the Council chambers. Not a single person made a sound.

  “If only you weren’t Made,” he murmured. I don’t even think he realized the way he brushed his thumb across my cheek. In this world, I existed for him. No Born would question a master having relations with their Made, so long as they weren’t official.

  Except perhaps, me. That was a thought for another time.

  “I would like to give you a present, Lily, for pleasing me as you do,” he continued. His breath smelled of peppermint and tasted of violence. I leaned forward a fraction, waiting for those words I knew I would hear. “Anastasia is yours to do with as you wish. I only ask that she does not leave this room ever again.”

  I nodded my head, concealing my smile.

  “Thank you, sir,” I whispered. Victor and I had been playing this game long enough that I knew what he wanted to hear, and he pretended that he did not goad it. Or maybe he really didn’t see the way he led me hand in hand towards his blood-filled world.

  He nudged me forward by the small of my back and I did not hesitate to approach the chained woman. Her ankles wore large metal cuffs that trapped her to the floor.

  She didn’t stir as I advanced, perhaps already accepting of her inevitable death. I could not tell, and frankly, I did not care.

  I reached out, placing my fingers under her chin to force her head up. The eyes that met me were not the blue of my nightmares, but the black of my soul.

  The darkness snapped like an angry dog, breaking free from its hold in me and tunneling into Anastasia. She did not scream or cry as my victims often did.

  No, she smiled as I searched through her essence, drawing it into me, feeding from it.

  And in that final moment, I could have sworn I encountered a murky essence that tasted old…and her smile was of relief. Without realizing what I’d done, her energy began to fade and that ancient mass that slept inside of her turned to me, meeting my darkness like an old friend as it slipped inside my skin.

  I shuddered for a moment as the invasive energy spread through me. As quickly as it had started did it settle and all that remained was a closeness with something that was not wholly me.

  “Hello, Lily,” it whispered in my mind. I blinked.

  “What are you?” I asked silently, not afraid, but curious. I’ve stared into the dark so long now that voices and shadows were not unwelcome.

  “Someone that has waited a long time to find a soul so well matched. We are going to do beautiful and terrifying things, my dear.” His presence was cold as it clung to my own, but I did not try to force it away. I couldn’t if I tried.

  I dropped my hand from the husk that remained of Anastasia. It echoed as it hit the marble floor. Bones and dust.

  Anastasia Fortescue was no more.

  Sunlight streamed through the window of the common room as I jerked awake. Ash’s strong arms were still wrapped around me where we had been sleeping on the couch. My body trembled and shook, quaking with such fear that it was only his exhaustion that had to have kept him from waking beside me.

  Anastasia was dead. Lily had killed her. Reaping the vengeance that she so sought.

  And in doing so, she damned herself to this curse.

  Cirian had not died with Anastasia, but had gone to the next living Fortescue that could carry him.

  And in the morning light of a new day, I wept silently for the sis
ter whose soul died too.

  To be continued…

  If you loved the book please consider leaving a review. Interest from readers is how I determine what series to prioritize.

  Also by Kel Carpenter

  The Daizlei Academy Series:

  Heir of Shadows (Book One)

  Trial by Heist (Novella)

  Scion of Midnight (Book Two)

  Queen of Lies (Book Three)

  Untitled (Coming Soon)

  Queen of the Damned Series:

  Lucifer’s Daughter (Book One)

  Wicked Games (Book Two)

  Infernal Desires (Book Three)

  Brimstone Nightmares (Coming Soon)

  Destiny’s Ashes (Coming Soon)

  About the Author

  Kel Carpenter is a USA Today Bestselling Author and writer of all things fantasy. She loves reading, watching Netflix original shows, and subjecting her favorite co-author and editor to crazy, harebrained book ideas. Kel currently resides in Atlanta, GA with her boyfriend and three fur-children. When she is not writing or working on completing her senior year of college, she is spending time with her dog, Harley, or teasing her two cats with a laser pointer.

  Join Kel’s Readers Group!

  Acknowledgments

  Never have I had a book that tore me up so much to write. Every day was like pulling teeth to sit down at the computer and smash out this story. Despite that though, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I would lie awake for hours at night thinking about it. I would wake up exhausted but unable to stay away from work for long because I felt this kind of compulsive need to get it out. In many ways, this is the most draining book I have ever written. I couldn’t look at it for over a month afterward. But—I also think, it’s probably the book that is closest to my heart. The journey Selena went on was an incredible rollercoaster from this author’s point of view, and I hope that you, dear reader, feel the same. I poured everything I had into this book and I hope it shows. Thank you for supporting me and waiting for the story to come. I hope that as much as some of you may be cursing my name right now, you are excited to see where Selena’s journey goes as she prepares for the fight of her life.

  To Courtney, Carrie, and Analisa: you guys are my tribe and without your continuous support I think this book would not have gone the way it did. There were times that I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through it. You guys are always there though, not just for the high days, but the low as well. I love you guys to pieces. Thank you.

  Lastly, to Matt: I truly don’t think I could have done this one without you. For the things you’ve taught me over the years and the love you’ve shown me. It sounds really corny to say, but I don’t think I could write it if I didn’t know or understand it. Thank you for being in my life and showing me what acceptance looks like.