An Immortal's Song (Dante's Circle #6)(31)

Tristan growled. “I’m far older than you, Queen. It’s best you remember that.”

The queen snapped her teeth then smiled at Amara. “You’ve come to me, young siren. You didn’t glamour yourself, I’m surprised.”

Amara raised her chin, knowing it showed off her marks even more. She’d decided to come as she was now, rather than who she’d been before. They were there for a future and to face their problems, hiding her ink and skin would have been counterproductive.

“Queen,” she said. She didn’t bow. For some reason, she knew if she did, the queen would think she’d won. “I am here to ask for you to break the curse you put on my line before I was born. I do not want your throne or any life other than the life I could have with my mates. I won’t come for anything you hold dear or rise to power like you thought the others would. I am just me. Amara. I ask this of you. Please.”

She hadn’t rehearsed what she would say, but that seemed like the best thing. Maybe her pleading would work. Because if it didn’t, she’d have to decide if running for her life with her two mates without a bond would be worth it. If she didn’t do that…well, then she’d have to end the curse one way or another. And from the snarl on the queen’s face, they both knew it.

“You want me to break the curse? And why do you think I’d do that? Your line earned that.”

“How did they do that?” Seth asked. “By trying to take down a monarchy which clearly threatens the realm? Amara wasn’t alive then. How do you blame her for the past?”

“I can do as I please,” the queen snapped. “Your line was eradicated. And yet the Conclave chose to give you powers? You’re an abomination.”

The lightning hadn’t exactly worked like that, but Amara wasn’t about to correct her. It seemed as though she were on the edge as it was.

“There are other ways to break the curse,” Amara said softy, her voice calmer than she expected. Both Seth and Tristan stiffened, though they’d done it so subtlety she wasn’t sure anyone would have noticed. She just happened to know their bodies well.

The queen tilted her head. “You’re threatening me, young one? You don’t even have full control of your powers, and yet you come to me with your threats.”

“We’re here because it’s protocol,” Tristan bit out. “A new member of the realm needs to present his or herself to the powers that be. We’re here, and now you’ve seen her.”

“And yet you want me to remove a curse.” The queen shook her head. “No, I don’t think I will do that. In fact, I do believe a lesson is in order.” She raised her head and opened her mouth.

Amara didn’t have time to think before the queen began to sing, her voice a haunting melody that spoke of powers Amara might never understand.

Seth grunted from her side before a scream ripped from him. Amara turned to him and let out a scream of her own. The queen continued to sing, and with each note, it looked as if Seth caved in on himself.

“She’s drying him out!” Tristan called out and took a step toward the queen. Amara moved to Seth and caught his head as he fell backwards. His skin began to look brittle, as if he were losing all the water in his system. As a merman, it was even more dangerous for him.

Tears slid down her cheeks and she did the only thing she could do.

She sang.

Seth gasped for air as Tristan worked his magic, trying to stop the queen. And while this happened, Amara sang a song of healing. Again, it was innate to her, as if the songs had been etched on her bones, in her soul. She would have to think later about why she knew these songs without ever hearing them before, but for now, she would take what she could and try to heal one of the pieces of her heart.

The magic slid over her skin like a warm blanket as she let her voice do the work. Seth gripped her hand and met her eyes. Tears slid down her cheeks, but all she could feel was Seth’s pain. She lowered her voice, letting the song take root as Seth began to fill out again, his breathing calming.

The queen cursed and took a staggered step back as Amara raised her chin. Tristan had his arms up, fae magic swirling around him. He looked like a god, a fae prince with a power that should bring fear and awe; instead, it only made her love him more.

“You should never have been brought to us,” the queen spat. “I will never break the curse. Your whole line should have learned its place long ago.”

Others began to crowd around them, but the look of menace and fear on their faces wasn’t directed toward Amara…but at the queen. It seemed what the others had said was correct, the queen wasn’t in favor.

“I will kill you, Amara. I will take your breath, twist your soul. And when I’m through with you, I will do the same to Seth and Tristan. They should never have brought you here. It just made it easier for me.”

She held out her arms, but Amara didn’t flinch. She knew what she had to do. She’d known it from the beginning. The queen would never relent. Even if they survived what was to come and hid, they would always be on the run. The rest of her family, Lily, Jamie, and the rest, would always be in danger because of her. The others had all faced their fears when it came to those that had wanted to hurt them, and now it was Amara’s turn.

Amara stood, her own arms out. “I’m sorry,” she said to her men. Tristan moved toward her as Seth stood up on shaky legs. “I’m so sorry.”