Page 114 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“What lesson is that?” I asked. “That I have more to offer my people than being a wife?”

“Clara, you know that both men and women serve the Ethereal. You’re simply destined for greater things. When your time comes, you will be a queen who is both respected and feared.”

“How respected can I be if I’m unfit to rule alone?”

“It’s not that you’re unfit—”

“I don’t want to marry, and you’re forcing me. It’s barbaric.”

“I’m not forcing you. I let you choose yourself—and you chose wrong.”

I felt the heat burn my cheeks.

“So it’s my turn to select someone for you. Toman is a great commander. A great elf.”

“I will not marry him.” I’d made up my mind, and now I wouldn’t change it.

My father kept a straight face, the color that entered his cheeks showing his rage. “Then perhaps your sister is more suitable for the role.”

“I’m the eldest.”

“Be that as it may—”

“So you can change the rules.”

Now the anger was visible in his expression.

“I won’t marry Toman. And I will be queen without a husband.”

My father stared me down.

I turned away to leave.

“That’s only if I step down—and now, I’m not so inclined.”

I halted as I listened to that threat. Then I slowly turned around again and faced him. Cobra’s words had been on my mind since he’d spoken them. I’d rejected them out of both loyalty and horror, but now I had doubts…so many doubts. “We’re responsible for the sickness…aren’t we?”

My words clearly affronted him, but his confident eyes widened in fear, not shock. Like a child whose secret had been discovered, he grew guarded. His hands came together at his waist in an attempt to cover his reaction. “Clara, the enemy has tried to poison your loyalty with lies. Don’t let them.”

“If I’m to be queen and lead our people, I must know the truth.”

He remained quiet.

“We’ve eradicated The Sanguine Kiss from our cities…the venomous flower that causes sickness to anyone who even touches it. It would be easy to slip that into their food supply…and watch the sickness pass from one person to the next. Humans aren’t permitted into our forest, so it’s untraceable.”

He said nothing.

“It’s horrendous, but strategic. The vampires will run out of prisoners and starve. A weak vampire is hardly stronger than a human. Victory will be swift. The Kingsnake Vampires will be the first to go since they’re directly reliant on Raventower and the other kingdoms for food. Then that leaves the Cobra Vampires, a much smaller colony. It’ll be them and the Originals, assuming the Diamondbacks are too far away to provide aid. Then they’ll be gone…finally.”

He continued to stare.

“It’s smart…very smart.”

“A true leader focuses on the greater good. I see a lot of myself in you, Clara.”

I disagreed. “If we defeat the vampires, is there an antidote for the humans?”

This time, he didn’t lie. “Yes. It’s unfortunate that it had to come to this, but I stand by my decision.”