Page 92 of The Queen’s Shadow

“That was excessive.” The prince remarked dryly. Rycon shrugged and stood up. “He was on my list. He got off luckier than some of the other ones… now, you have ten seconds to tell me where she is, or you’ll be on my fucking list too.”

‘As entertaining as this is,’ Amon chuckled into my mind, ‘I would advise against killing Zayne. Vespara will not be happy with you if you kill her brother. Any chances you may have of an allyship will go from slim to none.’

“Rycon, enough.” I said, “Put the gun away.”

“No.” He snarled, and I sighed.

“Put it away or I will take it from you.” I snapped over my shoulder. “I’m officially taking over.”

He snarled at me, but I stood my ground.

‘Trust me, I’ve got this.’ I whispered into his mind. With the bond closed, it was challenging for him to respond metaphysically, so I was relieved when he finally gave me a curt nod. He put the submachine gun back in the large holster strapped under his arm.

“Don’t fuck this up.” He snapped and I rolled my eyes, turning back to Zayne. He had been staring at Cerenah, as if the mere sight of her made him sick. I felt my rage flare at his obvious disdain for her. It made me second guess my decision to try to work with him.

‘You can kill him later if it suits you,’ Amon said, sensing my rising anger. ‘Right now you need him.’

‘You’re such a politician.’ I snipped, and he laughed.

‘Yes. How do you think I’ve managed to live for so long? Take what you need from him then dispose of him when he is no longer useful. It’s the easiest way to survive.’ I mentally nodded, but outwardly, I gave no indication that I had been discussing the prince’s fate with my mate.

“I’m going to let you go so we can talk. If you give me any indication that you’re going to try something, I’ll hold you down while Rycon guts you. Understand?” I asked. Zayne gave me a dark, unimpressed look, but nodded.

I let him go and floated away from him, touching my feet to the floor between Cerenah and Rycon. Jeremy readjusted his grip on his gun, still keeping it trained at Zayne’s chest.

Zayne waved a hand, magickally wiping away the gore that had splattered across his face, before straightening to face us. He somehow managed to look distinguished and disgusted at the same time.

“You have my attention. What is it that you want so badly that you felt the need to shoot up a tavern?” He asked, running his hand through his thick dark hair. Rycon growled in warning next to me, and I elbowed him sharply.

“We want Kasha.” I said simply. Amon cleared his throat in my mind, and I sighed. “And we’re looking for allies in the upcoming war.”

For a moment, Zayne looked at me as if I had slapped him. He searched my face, before glancing at Rycon, and back at me again, to gauge whether or not I was being serious. When he realized that I had meant every word of it, he sneered down his nose at me before letting out a cruel bark of laughter.

I hadn’t expected him to agree, but the condescending laugh was grating. I opened my mouth to tell him I would give him something to fucking laugh about when Amon stroked his darkness through my mind, quelling the angry fire that had risen within me.

‘Don’t dignify this with a reaction. Stay calm and just wait. He does not know that you have access to shadowstone. He will likely not be laughing when he realizes you hold his freedom in your hands.’

We all stood in silence, waiting for Zayne to get a grip on himself. Finally, he looked up at us, a cruel smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“I am so looking forward to witnessing your attempt at bringing this proposition to my sister.”

“I’ll bring it to whoever calls the shots in this shithole of a court. If that’s not you then lead the damn way.” I snapped.

‘That was… almost calm.’ Amon murmured, clearly amused. I sent him a mental image of me flipping him off. He chuckled affectionately. ‘You’re going to pay for that later, my love.’

‘Stop distracting me.’

Zayne examined his fingernails, shrugging. “You’ll find that threats will get you nowhere here. There’s not much you can threaten that is worse than what she will do to us if we do not obey.” He looked up at Cerenah, that disgusted look creeping back across his face. “Isn’t that right, my little Lightning Bug?”

“Don’t talk to her.” I snapped, but he ignored me. Suddenly, he was somehow past Jeremy and had Cerenah’s face gripped in his hand. Her body stiffened and I knew his magick had her by her bones.

“Hey!” I shouted, my shadows exploded around me, but he was too close to her, he could snap her neck before I was able to sever his hold on her. Jeremy spun around, cocking his gun, but there was no clear shot. He could accidently hit Cerenah.

“I’m officially taking over,” Rycon mocked me in a child-like voice, before glaring at me pointedly. “You’re killing it, Kitten. Really. Excellent work.” The sarcasm was palpable.

My fists were clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. He was right. I had fucked up. We were forced to watch, while Zayne rested his forehead on Cerenah’s as if she were a cherished lover. The waves of terror and revulsion that rolled off of her said otherwise.

She was terrified of him.