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Just like Lorian had.

The world dimmed around me. Lorian cursed, pulled me away, and wrapped his arms around my shaking body.

“I’m fine.” My voice sounded very far away. But I didn’t have time to fall apart. I wiggled and he released me.

He had to get back to the front. So did the wardens. I turned, finding Conreth watching me.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Don’t be. At least we know she can’t do any more damage now.”

“Prisca,” Lorian said.

“Look,” someone called. “Some of the terrovians are fleeing.”

They were right. Hundreds of the creatures seemed to have responded to Sylvielle’s death with blind terror. That terror was overriding whatever power Regner had used to make them obey his orders.

The sight helped me rebuild my walls.

“Go. Please. We’ll talk about this after,” I promised, my voice a low murmur.

Lorian pulled me close once more, pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, and strode away, his brother following in his footsteps.

THE QUEEN

The sounds of battle raged on and on and on.

After Zathrian convinced Prisca to put a sword in his hand—and I would never understand how he’d achievedthat—I’d been left here alone, two guards posted outsidemy cave.

“I need to use the bathing room,” I’d called at one point.

“Piss yourself,” one of them had replied with a low laugh before they’d returned to ignoring me once more.

How had it come to this?

Even as I asked the question, I knew the answer.

Pelysian. The man I’d considered loyal for so many years. And his bitch mother.

Every step they’d allowed—no…urged—me to take had ensured I’d end up here as one of my enemy’s prisoners.

For years, I’d believed in Pelysian’s loyalty. Even as I saw the way he began looking at me. Even as I heard what he didn’t say in the space between his words. Still, I’d been convinced that he would see I only wanted what was best for this continent and the people living on it.

“You!” one of the guards said.

Twin thuds. As if two bodies had hit the ground.

Jamic stepped into the cave. “Hello, Mother.”

My eyes flooded with tears. “How did you know?”

“Pelysian told me you’d be here.”

I was wrong, then. Wrong to question Pelysian’s loyalty.

It wasn’t too late. My son was here, freeing me. We would finally be together.

But Jamic was crouching next to me, and his eyes looked far too old for his face. Ancient in a way that made me shiver.