I’m not here to win beauty pageants or attend royal dinners. I’m here to kill the queen, destroy the three and go home with my Raven Guard to live happily ever after.
That’s the only fairy tale I want.
Nevis, on the other hand, has other plans.
“Her primary weakness is your sexuality. The way you’ve embraced it and your harem of lovers, her former soldiers. Your connection with them drives her mad. But most of all, it gives you strength. And you must play to your strong points over the next three days.”
The Morrigan announced that the binding ceremony will take place in three days. Apparently the best time to perform such magic is during the three full moons. Once the spell and ceremony take place, Anita, the Morrigan, and I will join together into one badass queen.
Oh, and then we’ll conquer the Earth realm by spreading plague, death, and destruction, just like the Morrigan did in her own world all those years ago.
At least, that’s her plan. I have another. Well, sort of. It’s being formulated and relies heavily on my guardians returning with an army, Nevis and her underground dwellers, and Bunny.
Yes, I’m relying on Bunny, my conflicted and confused guardian, to take down the Morrigan. What possibly could go wrong?
“So, what?” I ask Nevis, who can’t stop staring at my ample cleavage. “I’m supposed to flaunt my tits and she’ll back down?”
“No,” the woman says, rolling her eyes. She’d been assigned to me when I first arrived, and she saved me from a violent assault from Casteel, the Morrigan’s commander. I learned soon after that she was part of an entire underground community that had lived and prospered after the Morrigan ravaged their world eons ago. Nevis is clever and knows the Queen well. She has spies everywhere, and although it’s uncomfortable to treat her as my slave, we both know it’s for a greater good. “It will unnerve her and reinforce the fact she can never get over the Cu’s rejection. That betrayal consumes her every moment and every deed.”
“
Won’t that just make her angry?” The last thing I want is to end up in the dungeons. “And seriously, that girl needs to get over it.”
“She’s already angry. Your strength—your sexuality—is something she desires more than anything else. Think of how strong she would be with the true love of her own lover, much less a harem? Her jealousy will keep her focused on the ceremony and taking that strength for herself while giving us time to get ourselves in order.”
I nod, hoping she’s right. And I hope my Guardians return in time.
Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I tug up the bodice of my dress, hoping to cover my chest a little better. Nevis steps forward and yanks it right back down. I sigh and hope I can get through the meal without passing out from the tight corset.
“Okay then, dinner. Anything else I should be prepared for?”
Nevis looks like a young woman but is much older. The healing springs below the castle keep her youthful but she has the wisdom of decades of life. Her eyes are steel, holding mine steady as she delivers her final directive. “One small thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re going to have to forgive Bunny.”
3
Morgan
“It’s not possible.” The words come out in a low hiss, as we’ve left my quarters and are walking down the hall. Nevis is three steps behind me, partially because of her height. The rest is due to the fact she’s my servant and shouldn’t walk near me anyway. At least, that’s what she says. I’m not well-versed in slave/prisoner etiquette.
Nevis doesn’t reply and keeps her eyes trained on the ground. Two guards walk within striking distance and I know I should keep my mouth shut, but forgive Bunny?
Hell. No.
Just thinking about it makes my blood turn to a raging boil.
We arrive at the main hall and the doors open wide, revealing two long tables down the side of the room and one up on a dais, overlooking the floor. Three ornate chairs wait in the middle. There’s little doubt one of those is for me.
Although the soldiers are nearby, I’m not in shackles. There are no weapons pointed at me (at least that I can see) but a wave of panic rolls over me when I spot Anita coming down the hall toward us. I reach for my blade normally tucked by my side and come up with nothing but a handful of silk.
“Oh here we go,” I mutter to myself, because only the gods know what kind of mindset she’s in today.
“Hello, Morgan,” she says, swishing my way in a beautiful gown of her own. The fabric is in a similar cut to my own, but instead a deep emerald green that looks flattering with her blonde hair. We assess one another, physically as well as mentally. Despite her smile, I catch the tic in her left eye.
I grunt in reply.