“Lower them,” Aemella ordered. “We are on the same side,” Klara addressed her Demons, and they relaxed. At least for now.
With Lucifer out of the picture, Klara couldn’t complete the Fae Queen’s task. Abadan watched on in horror as her Demons bowed to Klara. “Obey me,” Abadan ordered snapping the vines around her, but the Demons remained in their bowed positions. Klara’s new sense of power made her uneasy as Abadan backed away from Klara and Aemella.
“Find Lokey, heal him,” Klara ordered. “Yes, Your Majesty,” a small group of Demons replied, and Klara opened the doors for them with her mind.
“Are you forgetting about our deal?” Aemella said, and Klara stood with her Demons.
“I don’t know the location of the King,” Klara told the Fae Queen. “Even if I did, I won’t kill my Father.”
“The hypocrisy,” Abadan laughed, and the Fae Queen silenced Abadan with the flick of her wrist.
“Least I had no intention of murdering the King,” Abadan muttered under her breath.
“No, you just wanted him caged or stuck on the Human plane,” Klara said to the defeated Queen. “Find the King and protect him,” Klara said, holding Aemella’s glare.
“The King will be found,” the reply came from a Demon with gleaming red eyes.
Before the Demon could slip through the portrait, the Fae Queen covered a sly smile. “No need to search.”
“I have already found him,” Aemella said, and Klara’s stomach dropped. “Did you kill him?” Klara asked. Before the Fae Queen could respond, Lucifer stepped through the portrait.
Lucifer’s black suit was spotless, his hair slicked back, but a few dark strands fell over his forehead. The true King of Hell.
“Your Majesty, this has been one big plot, they are in it together,” Abadan accused. Klara watched as the King didn’t spare Abadan a second glance. Lucifer twisted his wrist, and Abadan’s neck spun to an unnatural angle. Klara stared at the fallen High Queen as Lucifer examined the room and rolled his shoulders.
“Why waste a moment on excuses,” Lucifer said. “Let us be more civilized.”
Lucifer clapped his hands, and a table appeared in the centre of the room with three seats.
“The Fae Queen told me of your visit to Kalos,” Lucifer said taking a seat as the Fae Queen joined him without an invitation. Klara’s gaze drifted behind her Father where Abadan lay with a twisted neck and distorted expression. Klara couldn’t be sure that Abadan was dead, it would take more than a snapped neck to take out the Mother of Demons. “Join us,” Lucifer demanded, and Klara took her seat after a Demon pulled out her chair.
“I wouldn’t have attempted to kill you,” Klara said firmly. “Music to my ears daughter,” Lucifer said and the doors opening disturbed them as her Demons arrived with Lokey.
“We found him, Your Majesty,” the Demons addressed the King. “Clean him up.” They were dismissed, and Lokey offered Klara a gentle smile before they evaporated from the room.
The Fae Queen chuckled to herself.
“You never wanted Lucifer dead?” Klara asked. The Fae Queen and the King’s civility towards one another blindsided her.
“Only when he is being stubborn. He causes more trouble than he is worth, but if anyone is going to cage him it will be me, not some puffed up Demon Mother.”
The Fae Queen smiled and looked to Abadan whose body turned into a heap of blackened roses. “Couldn’t stand to see her stunned expression for a moment longer.”
“Darling I’m sure this is all very confusing,” Lucifer said, looking to Queen Aemella.
“What do you want from me?” Klara asked.
“For you to inherit Malum, but you needed to be tested,” Lucifer said. Aemella’s smile extended to her pointed ears. Klara froze, “was this your plan?”
“I told you this was a terrible idea. Poor thing has been through the wars all because she wanted to be with her mother.”
“She didn’t want to be with her mother. She wanted to escape from her duties.” The Rulers were arguing like the old married couples Klara had seen in movies. Human movies that she was never supposed to have seen.
“I have known of Abadan’s scheming for some time. I let my guard down and allowed you to run wild. I wanted to see how far Abadan would go to make her claim,” Lucifer explained.
“Arthur, Lilith. Mila killed Frendall. The Lycaons were slaughtered. You destroyed so many lives for a test!” Violent waves of emotion came over her.
“This is why I’m giving you the Forest. You care about the Creatures. You came back regardless of those you lost.”
“I came back to kill my sister,” Klara snapped, and Lucifer rubbed his temples. Klara hated to admit it, but she never wanted Malum in Abadan’s hands.
“Yes, your sister did take things a step too far, and she will be punished. However, Arthur fulfilled his role. He was part of the council that helped construct this plan.”
“He wanted to be torn apart?”
“Not in so many words, but his years of service were up, and he wanted to make sure you claimed your place in this family.”
“Family?” Klara almost gagged. Arthur knew all along this was a trick, and yet she still wished he was here. “Arthur thought you were ready, but your hatred towards the crown blinded you.”
“And Lilith?”
“I’m deeply sorry; her death was never part of the plan. I firmly believed that Abadan would imprison her. That’s why I questioned you. I thought you had lost control.”
Klara couldn’t say anything, what was done was done, discussing it wouldn’t bring Lilith back.
“The game is over, why should I do what you want?” Klara wanted as far away from them as possible, but there was nowhere on this plane to run to.
Aemella rolled her eyes growing impatient. “Take Malum, and I will consider loosening the border restrictions. We need a border, but I can be more lenient to the Creatures you seem to care so much about. The wall will decide who enters, and if deemed worthy, they won’t be harmed. However, those who have committed crimes or use dark magic will be denied access.” Klara could see the concession physically pained the Fae Queen.
“I want the Fae torturing those who try to enter to be punished and stripped of their ranks,” Klara said, and the Fae Queen scoffed. “The Commander warned me about her stubborn streak,” Aemella said to Lucifer. “Commander?” Klara asked only to be met with silence.
“Already acting like a Queen, any other demands?” Lucifer chuckled.
“Lottie and Wolfgang are to stay in Kalos.” Her Father’s plot had cost them their family. It was the least Klara could do. “That might be tricky,” Aemella said, but Lucifer changed the subject.
“What to do with your sister?” Lucifer said, and Aemella snapped her fingers. Mila appeared unconscious in the arms of two Fae. Klara had seen into Mila’s mind and saw there was little good in her, but she had a great sense of purpose. “Does the Maze need Torturers?” Klara asked.
Lucifer nodded, “Always.” Klara couldn’t believe what she was about to say. “Take Mila’s roaming privileges, but if you don’t want to kill her, then she needs a position of power.”
“You would grant her mercy?” Aemella looked appalled. “She wasn’t given a chance,” Klara choked on her words. They had both been pawns in the Rulers’ game so Klara would start a new game.
“Wolfgang and Lottie. I want them safe, or I will burn this damned Forest to the ground, and at this point, I wouldn’t push me,” Klara wouldn’t let them change the subject this time.
The Fae Queen pursed her lips. “I knew that Commander was going to be trouble, bring them,” Aemella said, and Wolfgang and Lottie walked through the door. Wolfgang’s eyes met hers, and Klara’s shoulders relaxed. They were ok. Or at least, unharmed. Klara shook her head, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. Wolfgang stopped beside Aemella. Gone were his smoked riddled clothes, instead he wore the stark matte black of a Commander’s uniform and Lottie remai
ned behind his legs.
“This can’t be right,” Klara said, looking at the three scars on Wolfgang’s cheek. Klara jumped up from the table to stand beside him. A glamour. Klara touched Wolfgang’s cheek not caring about the Fae Queen or Lucifer watching her. She needed to see behind the mask. The glamour slipped away. “Frendall,” Klara said. His eyes were riddled with sadness as the image of his body on the battlefield filled both their minds. “This isn’t real. I would have seen through the glamour the moment I touched him.”
Klara wasn’t sure if this was another cruel trick. I’m sorry, he projected the thought to her.
“I had to keep an eye on you; this was the easiest way to get past your gift. I sent Frendall to your mother to be concealed, and I put a decoy in Abadan’s hands,” Lucifer said.
“I’m much stronger than you, a Fae cannot see through another Fae’s glamour unless permitted,” Aemella smiled at her triumph, “I told you we shared the same gift.”
Klara held Frendall’s hand in hers, seeing what he had seen. Frendall stood at the mirror steps where Klara had knelt. The Fae Queen changed him into Wolfgang. Frendall turned to her in the image, I didn’t have a choice. This was why she hadn’t been able to see into his mind when they were on the run.
“Who died on the field?” Lucifer waved away the question, “some Lesser Demon to put off Abadan and Mila. Gave the Demon my ring so they wouldn’t question him.”
Abadan had used the ring to make Klara think the Lucifer on the field was her real Father.
“You can’t make someone a Lycaon with a glamour,” Klara said.
“Have you lost all ability to speak?” the King asked Frendall.
“The Queen and I made a deal. I would bring you to her, and she would ensure the survival of the packs.”
Klara didn’t understand. He was going to hand me over to my mother. That’s why he wanted me to stay in Kalos? To complete his mission.
“But your friend disobeyed me, found a way around my glamour,” the Fae Queen rose from her chair annoyed as Klara remembered the projection. He had tried to tell her who he was. The risk had got them caught by the Fae.
“Lottie, who is he?” Klara knelt to Lottie who couldn’t take her eyes off Lucifer. He flashed his eyebrows to flames making Lottie giggle, but Klara needed her full attention.
“I saved her from the flames,” Frendall said, and Klara cut him off, afraid he would lie again.
“I want to hear it from her.”
“He isn’t my brother, but he has always been my friend. I’m sorry I lied,” Lottie said, holding Frendall’s hand. “But Frendall said they would hurt you if I said anything.” Klara couldn’t blame the child.
“You still can’t glamour someone into a Lycaon,” Klara said, and the Fae Queen shrugged.
“No. You can’t.” Frendall said, and Klara didn’t need further confirmation. “You found your Father.”
“An alpha killed years ago, but I’m still part of the pack.”
“He has always been my eyes and claws in the Forest,” Lucifer chuckled. “That’s how you were at the Beanstalk.” Frendall sighed, “yes, I was tasked with following you on your excursions.”
“Since Abadan killed the remaining Alphas, Lottie will be your charge. She will lead the remaining pack survivors once she matures,” Aemella interrupted, and Lucifer nodded in agreement.
“My charge? I can barely look after myself,” Klara countered. The hair the Fae Queen had gifted her turned bright blue with worry.
“Never the less, you will do it,” Aemella said.
“You’re not an Alpha?” Klara asked.
“I never said I was,” Frendall said coldly. Frendall stared at Lottie as she wrapped her arms around Klara’s waist.
“Look after her, she can be a handful,” Frendall said quietly standing beside her while Lucifer and the Queen whispered amongst themselves.
“You lied to me,” Klara said to Frendall while the others were distracted. She had so many questions and no time to ask them. “I told you that I would catch you,” he winked, kissing her for a brief moment, and Klara couldn’t believe how brazen he was being.
“A happy couple always warms the heart,” Aemella beamed, and Frendall winked at Klara.
“That’s enough of that,” Lucifer frowned, and Klara looked to her Father. “Now what? We live as one big happy family?” Klara said sarcastically, and the two Rulers laughed. “No, we may be your parents, but we are also mortal enemies. However, a balance means our continued existence,” Aemella said, and Lucifer agreed.
“I will restore order in Hell, and Queen Aemella will rule Kalos.”
“And me?”
“You will rule Malum as nature intended.”
THANK YOU
Thank you so much to my family, who have always pushed me to keep going. Without them, I wouldn’t have the imagination that created this story. To my friends who have to deal with my disappearing acts, you remind me to step out of my writing cave. To my Bookstagram family, this incredible community has been with me from the start of this book, and I couldn’t be more grateful for your encouragement and help. Your extraordinary passion for books and characters drives me to become a better Writer and World Creator.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Crowned A Traitor! Please let me know what you thought on Goodreads.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Callaghan is a Fantasy Writer from Dublin, Ireland.
Instagram - @callaghanwriter
www.callaghanwriter.com
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