Page 5 of A Rising Hope (The Freckled Fate #3)

5

FINNLEAH

H er dull, lifeless eyes stared back at mine. Dangerous and cruel, without a flicker of warmth.

I froze like a deer startled by the sound of a broken dry twig, unsure of what to do or what to say. All I could do in the moment was stare. The feeling of dread from the heavy shackles around my wrists became secondary, immediately replaced with churning thoughts of survival.

The Queen strolled through the room, taking a seat on an elegant, tufted chair across from me. She looked different from how I had always imagined. Older. Unnaturally beautiful. Her lips were a perfect shade of vibrant, dark red. A few exquisite wrinkles decorated her ivory, porcelain-like skin. She wore light brown riding breeches, a simple jacket made of black velvet, with a small rose brooch decorating the collar. Her chestnut hair was pinned into a neat low bun with two silver streaks of hair framing her face.

“You are quite a peculiar creature,” the Queen murmured, still carefully examining me like some odd exhibit at a museum. She tilted her head to the side, scanning me up and down. Her brow perked up, observing—curious, yet bored at the same time.

I stayed silent. Unmovable. I reached for the fire within me only to find it blocked behind an invisible wall, heated and angry. It was ready to lash out and yet unable to reach the tip of my fingers.

“I must say, your sudden appearance as a Lost Destroyer has become quite beneficial.” My heart froze mid beat as I warily waited for the rest of her words. “You see, I had my suspicions for some time that I had a traitor amid my ruling ranks.” She leaned back in the throne-like chair, resting her arms on the curved armrests. “Quite a headache, but a very manageable and expected issue, I suppose. After all, I am familiar with the rebel’s tactics, considering I was their leader a long time before I wised up.” She paused, glancing at the windows where the clear blue sky shone brightly. Her finger tapped three slow taps on the round wooden edge of the armrest.

I should’ve looked around the room, taking the moment of her distraction to find a way out, to search for an escape. But my eyes were glued to Insanaria buried deep in thought. Afraid, or chained by anger, I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t move. Insanaria returned her distant gaze to me.

“You can only imagine my displeasure when I discovered it was none other than Gideon Bellator causing all the disruption and so selfishly declaring his claim to my throne. That complicated things for me . . . ” She clicked her tongue, annoyance flashed through her soulless features. “I am a reasonable woman, Finn”—she gave me a strained half smile—“but you shall soon find out that I have very little patience for childish fools meddling with my plans.”

I stayed quiet, listening. Listening to her every pause, every slight shift of tone and intonation at the words she spoke. I counted seconds, grasping for every breath she took, as I looked for anything that’d give me a chance of survival.

“My association with Gideon Bellator is quite complex,” the Queen continued. “The young Destroyer General was impenetrable. A Justice Wielder. Powerful. Feared. A man well-known, especially for his brutality, complete lack of remorse and conscience. His armies respected and admired amid many Destroyers. His spy network extended beyond my reach. But all of that did not hold as much danger as one belief that we both shared—life is expendable. A simple currency. There was nothing, no one , he wouldn’t sacrifice for his cause. Like a wild animal, ready to tear off its own leg when trapped in order to escape.”

She scoffed, as if remembering something. Her brow rose, her eyes keen, watching for any emotion on my face, searching for any clue she could steal from me as she asked, “Did you know he killed his own uncle? The male that was closer to him than any other, his father figure, his only family, someone who’d nurtured him since he was a child. Yet when I had questioned the General, when I pushed to expose him, to ruin his carefully crafted plans—he killed him. No hesitation. Dagger straight to the heart right in front of my eyes. Not a single flicker of regret, nor remorse.” Her lips stretched with a callous smile, like she was proud of her accomplishment. I reined in my hatred, forcing my face to stay neutral as her haughty look lingered on me. Perhaps I was delusional, but I swore I saw a glimpse of a surprise mixed with disappointment roll through her at my lack of shock.

But I had already known the story.

Gideon told me of it one late night of the guilt he’d carry until his last breath. Of the pain, the loss, the grief, and the suffocating blame that stained his soul.

He’d told me of the shame he carried alone for many years.

I’d understood him then, and I understood him now.

Everything had a price. And in war, everyone paid. As a ruler, you wouldn’t sacrifice the lives of many for one.

I knew that.

And I hoped.

I truly, genuinely, hoped that he’d remember that harsh, brutal truth. Especially now.

The Queen crossed her legs, tapping her fingernails against the wood again. The dull sound echoed through the grand, tall chamber we were in.

“Such strong conviction and barbaric methods are hard to overcome in any adversary. That, I must confess. It was a predicament that troubled me for more time than I am willing to admit. There wasn’t a single person in this world that he wouldn’t sacrifice for his idealistic plans. No one ,” she sneered at me before she added, “until you. The Lost Destroyer, the mystical Justice Wielder, that appeared as if a gods-sent miracle, an answer to all of my problems. Finally, a worthy weakness. His Soulbond .”

Her words punched deep into my stomach. Even the growing nausea recoiled at the pain that shuddered through my body.

Because as much as I wished to deny it, she was right.

I was his weakness.

Clashing thoughts riddled with panic clouded the jumbled reason within, but I held on to a small thread of hope. I would not let desperation and panic overtake me.

I was his weakness.

Yes.

But I would not be his downfall.

A weak plan began to take shape in my mind. A tiny possibility.

A chance.

But that would be all I needed to survive.

To escape.

So, I swallowed hard, shoving down whatever feelings my heart harbored as I uttered with as much conviction as I possibly could summon.

“I am sorry to say, but you’ll be rather disappointed. He would sacrifice me in a heartbeat.” Doubt lingered in her eyes at my statement. Taking that moment of silence, I continued, keeping my voice direct but non-threatening. “You are well aware of the Destroyers’ raw fire tradition. I am nothing more than a breeding mare to him.” My sharp words made her pause, considering them.

That moment, that blink, filled with a miniscule flicker of concern—a momentary win. A hook that I reeled in tight. More traitorous words poured out of me, mixing truth with lies.

“Why do you think I’ve hidden my entire life away from him? Why do you think I’ve hidden my powers and identity for this long? I didn’t choose to be a Justice Wielder. I have no desire to wither under his iron hold for the whole of eternity.” My shoulders tensed, and I let a sliver of hatred reserved for her float to the surface, hoping that she’d mistake it for hatred towards him.

“That might be.” She crossed her legs in a relaxed fashion. “But he is not one to share any of his things. And unfortunately for you, you are a one-of-a-kind female Destroyer. One, whatever his reasoning might be—tradition or just his male pride—he still desires,” the Queen countered. Her brow peaked with intrigue.

“You said you were a reasonable woman,” I started. My thoughts clicked like an arrow loaded in a crossbow, ready to fire. “I am a one-of-a-kind Destroyer. I am a Justice Wielder. And you are right. I am his weakness but not in the way you think.”

The Queen gestured for me to continue with her hand, and I reluctantly nodded.

“Perhaps we have more in common than you think,” I reasoned, steadying my heartbeat into a beautiful dark, vengeful melody. “You need him gone, and I want my freedom back from him, from this Destroyer marriage obligation.” I scavenged my mind for any knowledge I had of the Queen, of who she was, of her desire to defy the gods. “I want my own destiny, rather than the ones the gods have determined for me.”

My words found their mark.

“That we do have in common,” the Queen replied.

“So perhaps we might be of help to each other.” I looked at her, hoping for an ounce of luck to be on my side.

“You’d betray your people just like that?” she questioned, with a bit too much dismay for my liking.

“I’d betray him ,” I corrected. “I said nothing of my people.” I leaned back in my seat, ignoring the little flinch of my body. The chains connecting the Basalt Glass shackles rattled with the movement. My chest froze as a dangerous thought crossed my mind. I forced my muscles to relax.

A gamble.

A dire game of chance.

One that could cost me my life.

I had everything to lose, and everything to gain as I scrambled for the right words, stating, “The Destroyers will never accept a Creator Queen as their ruler, and you already know that.” Sheer will and determination lined my every word. “But they will accept a Justice Wielder.” I met her piercing gaze with mine. “Kill the General, and I’ll be your Destroyer Queen. And together, we shall rule Esnox.”

Surprise and maybe a hint of pleasant amusement colored her face. She dragged her eyes over me, sending an icy chill down my skin. I tilted my chin up and waited, silently counting the slowly passing seconds.

“Aren’t you full of surprises?” The corner of the Queen’s perfect lips tugged upwards. “It is a rather interesting proposition,” she finally responded. “Quite an unexpected one, I must say . . . ” She flicked a piece of lint off her chair, considering. “The General has seven days to surrender, whether he does or not—” Her sharp look lingered on me, still questioning my value to him. “Perhaps we should discuss a longer-term solution after all.”

“Agreed.” I nodded, matching the wicked smirk on her pointed face and shoving the growing nausea far below.