Page 99 of Mortal Queens

“And I’m going to live.” One way or another.

He held my palm to his lips and pressed a kiss into it. “Keep your long sleeves down to cover that bracelet,” he said. “If the lords knew their king stole from them, I’d lose my kingdom. Don’t let anyone see it, not even Odette.”

“I won’t,” I promised. “It’s our secret.”

“I will see you tonight,” he said with a wink.

I nodded as he left.

I quickly turned for my desk. Faithful Antonio was poised on the corner guarding over the room. I opened my bag to find my watch from Illusion Point, shining like a star. It was so similar to Gaia’s watch. One to speed up time, another to stop it. The power of time was in my hands, yet I still felt so powerless.

Become a fae or live in my own realm. One was a guarantee with Bash, the other was risky. I could imagine the fae pillaging the mortal realm to find their lost queen, and I shivered.

I would never be safe from them. But if I became a fae . . .

If I became a fae, I could find a way to free the mortal queens forever. I’d give up myself to save the rest of them. And I’d have eternity to do it. Countless years to search until I’d saved them.

I swallowed as I tucked both watches away.

My fingers hovered over the bracelet next. This gives me power. I will never be weak and mortal again. It was the one security I had that this fragility was only fleeting.

If I chose this path, tonight I’d feel real power as Bash turned me into his fae queen.

The new plan almost brought me to my knees. I hesitated over my bag as I considered pressing the button on my watch now, if only for the additional minutes to plan what would determine my life. Instinct told me to run as far as I could. But something inside told me I had to save the queens.

I had to stay for them.

I buried my face in a pillow and screamed. Either way, I felt trapped.

The doorknob turned and I pushed my sleeve over the bracelet.

Odette entered and nodded in approval at my attire. “There’s the queen we’ve missed.”

“Just need jewelry.” My voice was thick as my head still swarmed.

My jewelry box sat on the desk, and I flipped open the small latch to find a gold necklace and two nose rings. I sat and Odette worked her fingers through my hair weaving it together into a braid as I adorned myself.

She made a strange sound and I looked up. “Are you crying?”

“I saw Gaia.” Her voice broke. “I saw her body.”

I immediately stood and held her as she cried. What had she said to me the last time I saw her? Losing the queens was the worst torture this realm had to offer.

“Soon that will be you,” she said, weeping harder. “And I’m going to lose my best friend. Again.”

I wiped at her tears. “You’ll never lose me,” I promised.

She sniffed as I played with the idea of telling her what was about to happen. If I used this bracelet to siphon the ambassador’s power, then Bash and I would enact the plan tonight, so there was little chance of things going wrong now. It was cruel to allow her this misplaced sadness when I had a solution, and she’d know later I’d kept it from her.

So I told her.

“I’m becoming a fae tonight. I can’t die as a Mortal Queen if I’m not mortal.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they were the right ones. I would stay and find a way to save the mortal girls that came after me. That would be my life’s purpose. For Gaia’s sake. I would not die, and I would not let any others die after me.

Odette placed her hands over her mouth. “How? You found an ambassador willing to give up their power for you?”

I shook my head. “But I’m going to control one with Lord Winster’s help. And Bash is helping me. This bracelet will hold the ambassador’s power.” I pushed up my sleeve to show her.