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She threw her arms around Asinia, and both of them burst into tears.

Daharak sucked a breath between her teeth, and I followed her gaze. She wasn’t looking at Prisca and Asinia. No, she was staring down the beach at where Regner’s generals were gathering near his body.

35

The Queen

Regner was dead.

I’d seen that much from my hiding place in the forest. And still, it was difficult to believe. The hybrid queen had been too busy mourning her little friend to take the grimoire.

Zathrian should be killing her at this very moment.

My entire body trembled. I was so, so close to getting everything I’d ever wanted.

I could practically feel the grimoire calling to me from where it would be tucked inside Regner’s cloak.

Tymedes had fallen to his knees close to the edge of the forest, disbelief stark on his face as he watched his soldiers turn and retreat.

Rothnic bled heavily from one arm, stumbling around as if he were drunk. Nearby, the remaining patriarchs stood in a circle. They would be planning their next moves. Debating who would take Regner’s crown. And the moment they had the chance to kill my son, they would take it.

Unless I killed them first.

I mapped out my approach. Tymedeshad to die first. Otherwise, the moment he saw me—or Jamic—we were dead.

There was a chance the other patriarchs would fall in line the moment they realized I was back. And when I had the grimoire, they would be forced to bow to me.

Rothnic was too dangerous to let live. Already, he was stumbling closer to Regner’s body.

He wasn’t as wounded as he was pretending.

No, he knew about the grimoire. And he was about to take it.

I had to strikenow.

Tymedes stiffened as I stepped up behind him, the blade my son had given me wedged against his throat.

“And so it ends like this,” he said, his voice dead. “Killed by the hybrid heir.”

“Not quite,” I hissed.

He tensed, angling his head until his eyes met mine. And those eyes were wide. “You?” He let out a choked laugh. “Of course it would be you.”

I’d thought slitting his throat would feel more satisfying. But as his lifeblood gushed over my hands, all I wanted was more.

He was choking on his own blood, and yet he still managed a laugh.

The sound sent a chill down my spine, and I whirled.

Jamic was just steps away, his eyes wide as he watched me slaughter Tymedes.

“You said you would run.” His eyes… They were so wounded, it was as if he was that little boy once more.

“I know.” My voice sounded thin and desperate even to me. “But I’m doing this for us.”

“The bitch killed Tymedes!” Rothnic cried out, suddenly no longer dazed.

“Kill the boy. Now!”