Page 19 of Mortal Queens

“Thomas was probably the one who gave Lord Winster the idea,” Talen grumbled. “To get back at me.” Then he left.

Whatever ailed me, it came in full force within the next few minutes. My head felt so thick, I buried it into the pillows and prayed for sleep to steal me away from this pain. I found no relief. When Talen returned, I rolled from the bed with a moan. Talen dropped something with a thud. A second wool, larger than the first, rested at his feet.

“I stole it for you,” he said with a satisfied grin.

“Thief,” I recalled.

“Rich thief,” he corrected.

“Splendid. I shall die, but at least I’ll be comfortable as I do it.”

“Feeling worse?” Talen asked and I sent him a glare. Whatever was infused into that wool was working fast. Already the effort of standing took all I had, and even then, the floor swayed.

This realm was supposed to be paradise.

I was nothing but a seventeen-year-old girl thrown into a place she knew nothing about, who had clearly been overwhelmed last night. Winster took advantage of my naivete to poison me and even dared to speak of friendship while doing so.

I should feel like a fool, but if my father taught me one thing, it was this—never cry when you can act. I tightened my fist with what energy remained. My voice was dry and only half coated with humor. “My first order to you is simple. Go kill Winster.”

Talen’s brows shot up, and he grabbed his satchel from the desk. With a brisk nod, he sprang away.

“Wait,” I called after him, lurching forward. Talen paused. My humor must not have come through because he seemed quite serious. “You were really about to do it, weren’t you?”

He lowered his satchel, noticeably disappointed. “I’d kill anyone you ask me to. This doesn’t seem a good enough reason for it, but your orders will always be followed.”

I sank back to the bed as my head got thick again. His loyalty was comforting. “Poisoning a queen isn’t enough reason? Is this a common thing here?”

He came to put a hand on my forehead. “Do your leaders not do such things? What a polite home you must have had.”

I gave an empty laugh. “I grew up on the center island. Polite was not the word to describe those trained for war. But we drew the line at poisoning each other.” I heaved a breath. “Am I going to die?”

Just like that, my time as a Mortal Queen would come to an end. I’d forever be remembered as the girl who couldn’t even survive her own coronation.

“No. You will not die. As soon as you agree to your first dinner with Lord Winster, you will be healed.”

I groaned. “This feels like a second trap.”

He sat on the bed beside me. “In a way. Your first dinner is important as queen. It symbolizes who you wish to form a strong alliance with, and now Lord Winster has tricked you into granting that privilege to him. He’s a sneaky man. I always knew there was something about him I liked. All you need to say is that you agree, and you’ll be healed.”

“Or else?”

“You die.”

I frowned. “Just speak it?”

He nodded.

“Fine. I agree.”

Instantly the dizziness lifted and my head cleared. I buried my face in my hands. “I accomplished nothing last night aside from almost dying.”

“True.” Talen patted my shoulder. “But luckily you have me. I created many soft alliances with nobles who are interested. Couldn’t land a king, but all in good time.” He began to poke around my other things as if one of them might poison me as well. He shuffled through my desk until he found Antonio and studied the little soldier boy. I jumped to take it back.

“That’s harmless,” I said.

“As you say.”

I rubbed Antonio’s broken arm. “If we did have a king interested, who would be best to align with?”