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“Isn’t that something,” he said. “It is almost as if you presumed you could come back and be our queen after fucking the Blood King.”

“I think you might just be jealous, Nicolae,” I said.

“Jealous of a blood whore?” Nicolae scoffed. “Fu—”

“Enough of this,” said Killian. “Take us to King Alaric!”

“You won’t be seeing him, Commander,” said Nicolae. “Neither will thequeen.”

The creak of taut bow strings sounded.

This was more than a trap. It was an execution.

“Now, Isolde!” Killian snapped, but I could not leave him. And I could not survive an attack of this magnitude even with my abilities.

But I soon realized that no one was moving. Everyone was still, frozen.

“Go!” Solaris shouted. He had just mounted the wall, and on either side of him, soldiers from my army followed, scaling the wall as if it were nothing.

Killian spurred his horse forward.

I managed to look back the moment Solaris let go of his magic. The arrows every soldier had drawn to kill Killian and I pierced Nicolae instead.

We galloped through the city, and as we went, our enemies raced behind us on foot. But Killian kept going, drawing his sword as we neared Castle Fiora. I could see the gates in the distance and a line of soldiers guarding it.

“Let me off,” I said, and he slowed to a halt.

“Isolde,” he said before I could turn from him. “I’ll take you up on that offer. I would be glad to be your noblesse.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Killian. Now you can’t die,” I said, stepping away from him. “You promised.”

I turned and sprinted, shifting as I did, while Killian turned to face those who had followed us to the castle.

I let out a piercing howl, running faster, and as I neared the guards who stood before my gates, I launched into the air, flying over them, landing on the opposite side.

I burst through the doors of the great hall.

I did not think being in this room would have any effect on me. I did not think I would freeze, but as I stood at the entrance where a blue carpet ran to my father’s throne, I found I could not move.

The last time I had been in this hall, surrounded by its gilded mirrors and its blue banners, my father had claimed I was worth every star in the sky, and he had nearly gone to war with Adrian after he had asked for my hand in marriage.

Even as these thoughts raced through my mind, I could not look away from my father’s throne, which was occupied by Alaric. He was a severe-looking man with long, dark hair and prominent, dark brows. His eyes were a piercing gray, and he sat with his large hands curled around the edge of my throne, dressed and crowned in black.

I was surprised that Julian was not here, but my attention was soon taken by Nadia, who stood to Alaric’s left in the grasp of a guard who held her hostage, a blade to her neck.

I returned to my human form, my hands fisted.

“Queen Isolde,” said Alaric with some surprise in his voice, though it remained deep and menacing. “I have been expecting you.”

“Everyone keeps saying that,” I said. “You would think if that were true, you’d have made it easier for me to reach this point.”

He chuckled. “You have proven very capable.”

“You’ve just now figured that out?” I asked.