Page 24

I n the gaslight great hall, shadows danced across the walls. Lady Divine, clad in an elegant gown that showcased her new tattoos, lounged comfortably in an armchair. It was the day after the wedding, and they’d decided Lady Divine had laid low long enough.

Zelda sat with her, a slight smile playing on her lips. The air was thick with the scent of perfume and intrigue.

Lady Divine said playfully, "So, do you think my act was convincing enough? And you thought I couldn’t do it!"

Zelda chuckled. "Convincing? You were brilliant! The Beast Queen never saw it coming. Her guards were so shocked by her death that you almost got away with proclaiming yourself their queen." Yes, the girl was preening, but she really had done an excellent job.

Lady Divine shook her head regretfully. "If I hadn’t faked my death, it would have been a knife in the back for real one day.

Those cultists were a treacherous lot.” She smiled in reminiscence.

“It was fun, though.” She sipped her wine.

“Though playing a villain does have its drawbacks.

The rumors of my treachery have sparked quite the uproar. "

Zelda waved a hand dismissively. "I’ll take care of that. You’ll be admired when they realize we planned this before I ever arrived.” Zelda’s mother had planned years in advance of her daughter’s potential return, laying careful groundwork. Truly, she’d been ahead of her time.

But alliances were delicate things. While the sisters were on the same team now, there was always the possibility that one day, their paths might diverge. Lady Divine really was an ambitious soul. Thankfully, Zelda had a plan for that.

Lady Divine stood at the entrance of her newly constructed mansion, the sunlight catching the intricate carvings on the stone door frames.

Each one bore her name and scenes of her legendary exploits.

She had everything she had ever wanted: fame, recognition, and the appreciation of the people.

After all, she’d bravely entered the Beast Queen’s lair and assassinated her at a crucial moment.

She was a hero, and there were already songs and stories being told about her. Her book would be done soon, too.

“Like it?” Zelda asked, her tone casual, but her gaze intense.

Lady Divine smiled, her eyes tracing over the carvings. “You kept your word. The people sing my praises, children read my story, and I live in a palace fit for a queen.” She paused. “Of course, I earned it.”

There it was. Lady Divine’s charade hadn’t all been an act. Zelda smiled slightly. “You did. Your name will be etched in history forever.” Although she might not live long. There were some concerning signs of ego there.

Lady Divine's eyes sparkled with a mix of satisfaction and ambition as she walked through the halls of her magnificent home, her footsteps echoing on the marble floors. She’d taken to wearing golden bangles, and they chimed with her movements. She did love shiny things.

Lady Divine trailed her fingers over a wall carving. “I earned every bit of this,” she murmured to herself.

Zelda didn’t bother to reply, but later, when she was talking to Ozzy, she said, “She’ll never be satisfied.”

They were enjoying a ride, savoring the grasslands that were finally free of briar wolves. The herds were still thin, but they would recover.

“Of course not. It’s why you built her house at the base of the castle. She’ll be easy to squish if she gets uppity.”

“When, not if. There’s no way she’ll be satisfied with a house at the foot of my castle. Her ego won’t allow it.” Zelda glanced at the house as they rode by. What her sister didn’t realize was that the house was in the castle’s range. It would be child’s play to collapse it.

It was possible it wouldn’t come to that, of course. Zelda wasn’t an oracle. The future held many possibilities. Who knew? Maybe her sister would grow up and settle down.

“Hey,” Ozzy said, reclaiming her attention. “Today is about us. Why don’t we have the good wine and dinner and go to bed early?” He grinned. “You look tired.”

“Oh, do I?” she asked with a smirk. “You have a plan to fix that, do you?”

“Absolutely,” he promised smoothly. “Anything for you, my love. Anything at all.”