Stomach turning inside out, Viori dragged in a breath. Ignore your inner clench. And the urge to lash out. And the desire to pet the tiny animal.
“Before you freak,” the other woman said, her hands lifted in a gesture of innocence, “don’t. I’m not here to hurt you. Technically, I can’t. You’re married to Micah, so you’re considered an extension of him. His truce is your truce, amirite?” she ended with a forced laugh.
Conflicting emotions bombarded Viori. Run away. Race to the girl. Hug her. Shake her. Threaten to flay the flesh from her bones.
Kaysar probably loved this woman. Definitely considered her family. All well and good, but was this Cookie worthy of his affection?
Was anyone? Not even Micah had proved to be honorable.
Viori’s insides compressed, making her feel hollow. Did Cookie know Kaysar had a sibling? The one who coldly, callously murdered her husband’s beloved parents?
The queen puffed up her chest and snapped, “Look. I’m newly married, too, so I get it. You want to spend your days in bed with your hubby, not on the battlefield. Well, good news. I’m here to make your dreams come true. Tell me where Micah stores his trolls, and I won’t display his head above my mantel when the truce ends.” Her tone hardened, every word as heavy as stone.
The trolls. Yes! Viori should find the trolls. Rip the army from Micah’s control, and he had no weapon to use against Kaysar. Tremors invaded her limbs. “You are newly married to Kay—King Kaysar?” Saying his name still hurt.
“I am.” A wicked smile curved the other woman’s mouth. “Some call me the Uncrumbled. Though for some reason more people refer to me as the Really Unhinged One.”
That smile... Threat! Viori lifted her chin, gearing to unleash a horrifying song.
Cookie must have sensed the rise of aggression. Vines coiled over her arms, black thorns extending from her fingers. Leaves stood at attention, the tips as sharp as blades. Even the cat’s fur stood up.
When seconds passed without incident, hostilities muted. They straightened, one after the other.
Cookie cleared her throat. “As I was saying.” Her eyes dipped to Vee’s new collar. “I see you like to play dress-up, too. Except, I prefer to make my husband wear the collar.”
Did the other woman refer to...? Viori almost gagged. She didn’t need to hear about her brother’s bedroom adventures. “Have no fear. I’ll find the trolls.” Did Kaysar dread the unleashing of Micah’s army? Had he sent his wife to negotiate a deal?
How did Micah force even a single troll to serve him, much less an incalculable number, anyway? And he must force them. Trolls were notoriously malicious to...everyone and everything. Basically, they thrived in destruction and chaos.
“You’ll tell me where they are?” Cookie asked. “If you do, I’ll grow you a paradise like mine. For the record, yours will be smaller.”
She glanced over the (other) queen’s shoulder and struggled to hide her awe. Had she ever beheld such a beautiful land? Flowers and water for miles. A field overflowing with fruit and nut trees.
“I might.” Guilt singed her. If she betrayed him, she betrayed his people. The orphans. What would become of them? “But I might not.” She could handle the trolls on her own and earn the paradise another way.
A place to raise her children. At some point, she and Kaysar would reunite. Maybe they’d even grow to be friends.
“Vee!” Micah’s voice boomed through the forest.
Her guilt burned hotter, along with the collar, but they were no match for her rage. He’d found her.
Cookie winced. “Guess break time is over since Big Dog has returned from his minivaycay.” The doorway slowly closed around her. “I’ll let you two lovebirds resume your honeymoon. But I’ll touch base real soon, and we’ll finish our chat. Maybe you’ll be wiser by then. If not...well, it’s your funeral.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
MICAH SPRINTED THROUGH Grimm Forest, ice crystals sloughing from his skin and garments, warmth returning to his extremities. Bark sliced him, tearing his clothes, his flesh. Blood trickled and ceased as wounds opened and healed, leaving thin white lines in his skin.
A wildfire stormed through his veins. The scent of citrus filled his nose, acting as a combustible fuel to his every thought. So close to Vee. The cuff around his wrist heated with increasing intensity as he drew nearer, his eternastone desperate to be reunited with hers.
Minutes ago, he’d returned to the Dusklands to discover Vee was no longer caught in the loop of invisible doorways. Or even in the area. Had Cookie visited her to give the “hard sell?” Maybe. Probably. But there’d been no sign of the queen, either.
A growl vibrated in his chest. The sandcats were long gone, too. And he didn’t miss them. Not even the tiniest bit. Good riddance! He only wished he’d had the chance to use them against their creator, as planned.