I look back at the falcon. “You don’t mean the ones on the ground, do you?”
He flexes his wings, spreading them wide. The fight below has turned into a blood bath. Five of my soldiers now against three of theirs.
“Get ready, the battle is coming for you. Make sure you’re as strong and as prepared as they are.” He launches from the ledge, soaring into the night. I look back down just in time to see Hildi run her sword through the gut of her victim. Turning for the falcon, I search for him. I have more questions. More thoughts. But my feathers start to fall, gloss black into the night. With the sound of the arena still in my ears I wake, arms spread across my bed, the coppery scent of blood in my nostrils.
My army is coming.
17
Morgan
Dressed in another ridiculous gown, I await an escort to take me to dinner. Well, the word “dinner” downplays the scene in the grand hall. Really it’s a formal banquet, everyone dressed in their finest, including Anita, who looks like a beacon in a blood red dress.
“Where do all these people live?” I ask Nevis as we enter the room.
“The Queen has surrounded herself with a court of loyal citizens. They stay on the castle grounds, under the protection of the Queen’s magic.”
“What’s it like out there? Beyond the walls?” Anita asks. I’m surprised at her interest.
“Cold, dark, and dangerous. There are some small villages on the outskirts of the kingdom. Wild areas that the castle does trade and barter with. But no one has traveled further than the Queen’s territory in many years. Beasts roam the hillsides, thieves and dark magic lurks in caves and the barren fields.”
Anita shivers and I suppress one as well. It’s hard the shake the chill of the castle. Some of it real, other parts psychological—like a dark depression. I know now though that some of this is the actual Darkness. The power wielded by the Morrigan. The one I had a faint taste of back at the Nead, the one my guardians helped quell with their love and affection. But even after my moment with Bunny earlier today, I feel the desire for a taste of her power. It’s the one thing that makes me know, she and I are one. And from the dark circles under Anita’s eyes and the red scratch marks on her arms, I know she’s jonesing for another hit too.
“How was your afternoon?” I ask. I’m carrying the weird dream I know the Shaman sent me deep in my chest. “Do anything interesting?”
“I spent time in the royal antiquity room. Jewels and artifacts from throughout history.” She leans in. “Did you know the Hope diamond is actually a fossilized dragon’s eye? The Morrigan has a matching one that she uses to control the beasts.”
I wait a beat for Anita to laugh and tell me that was a joke, but no, she’s serious.
“Wow. No, I didn’t know that.” I do notice that she sways a little and I reach to hold her steady. “You feeling okay?”
She stabilizes herself and replies in a low voice, “I’ve been a little rocky since that power blast earlier today. Like, I was never into drugs and stuff. Okay well, maybe a little bit of OxyContin back in college. A little boost to get through exams, and obviously Xavier dabbled, but I never knew what real cravings felt like. Not until today.”
I don’t reply right away but Nevis discreetly presses her heel against my toe. The pain is sharp but I bite it back. I should have the same cravings as Anita and the only reason I don’t is Bunny helping me out. I can’t let her or the Morrigan know I have an outlet. More than ever, she needs to think I hate him.
With the warring feelings in my heart, that won’t be so hard to do.
“Yeah, I felt shitty all day. I had to take a huge nap.”
She nods. “One more day and all that delicious darkness will be ours, all the time.”
Instead of arguing, I lift my skirts to walk down the aisle, but Nevis holds me back.
“Tonight you’ll follow the Queen down the carpet in royal formation.”
“What?” I glace at Anita. She’s smoothing her hair and adjusting her bodice to reveal more cleavage. Obviously she knew about this.
“It’s just a formality,” the servant says. “Just follow behind her. Smile and nod.” Nevis narrows her eyes at me. “You can do that, can’t you?”
I have no idea when I got the reputation of being uncooperative. I’m about to ask when the hallway falls silent and the Morrigan is ushered in by her protective unit.
Led by Casteel.
My instant reaction of rage and anger answers that question. These people made me uncooperative. They made me the woman I am today, one who is vengeful and determined.
The Morrigan once again wears her signature black, in a dress made of slick leather that molds to the curves of her body. It’s interesting that she has me and Anita dress in such formality while she looks like a demon from the sex realm, but whatever. I guess that’s her style.
“Dears,” she says when she sees us, and my first reaction to her isn’t hate. It’s desire. Desire for her power and the dark energy that lurks in her every move. “You look outstanding. Perfect little princesses for the court to love and adore.”