Page 26

MELODINA it was an evil smile. “Watch.”

He then lifted his hands, and bright light glowed from his fingers.

The air whipped around the room. The rings I sat on glowed the same color.

I gasped, scrambling to stand. I tried to run, but my feet wouldn’t move.

The squiggly lines rose off the floor and started to spin around me.

Then a white light flashed, and my body was being ripped apart.

I screamed and screamed till my throat burned.

I clawed at my body and tried to stop the pain.

But it was everywhere, and it didn’t stop.

I wanted to pass out, but I couldn’t. I just fell on my back, rolling around and crying out as tears fell from my eyes.

Mama! Please help me!

A delightful bud of satisfaction flared within me as I watched Ember’s daughter writhe in agony. The little bitch deserved it.

I turned to the summer king. He was standing by the only small window in the tower.

“Yes,” he breathed. A dark chuckle escaped his lips. “Yes. Already I can feel her power. It’s magnificent.” He gestured for me to join his side. “Look!”

I approached the window and looked outside. The dark shadows that clung to the grassy hills in the distance slowly began to convulse as if something were purging them .

“Already her power is at work,” the king said. “The fables spoke of hybrids as being more powerful than any Lanair, fae, werewolf, witch, whatever. But to have this much power?”

He turned back to the child. Who still wailed.

Stars, she was annoying.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this. But I’m slightly envious of a five-year-old.”

I giggled. “Don’t be. Soon that five-year-old will be dead. And you will have your lands free of the disease.”

A wicked smile curled his lips at that. “You’re very right, Rosalana. I will be forever grateful for you telling me of the child’s whereabouts.” He cocked his head to the side. “You never did tell me how you knew of her existence…”

I shrugged a shoulder. “I had her mother tagged with a potion years ago to track her location when she lived within the shadow fae palace. I didn’t want her anywhere near the prince without me knowing.

The trace must’ve extended to her daughter, who shares some of her DNA.

One day I felt two entities being traced and realized that the bitch had given birth to a child.

” I bared my incisors. “I wanted revenge on the shadow fae family and the prince for banishing me. On Ember for ruining my life. And when I heard your land was suffering from a disease, well, it wasn’t hard to provide you with the solution. ” I smirked at him.

“It’s a win-win for us both.”

He nodded. “You wicked little thing.”

I winked.

With that, he strode to the exit.

“Wait,” I called after him. “How long will this siphoning take?

He paused by the door, his guards standing on either side. “Mmmm, about a few weeks, give or take.” He turned to his guards. “Watch the girl. Notify me when her soul is drained.” The king stepped out of the room.

I grinned.

“M-mama…,” a voice weakly sounded. The girl had stopped screaming. I thought her voice was probably too hoarse to keep it up. She lay crumpled on the ground, her skin already turning a sickly grey.

I approached the magic ward. I chuckled darkly. “Your mama isn’t coming. You’re all alone. And once you’re dead, I will have had my revenge.”