Onyx Eclipse (The Raven Queen's Harem Book 5)(38)

I’m shocked at her youth, at the lack of any lines on her face. No scars or blemishes. She’s physical perfection, and although I see the resemblance, I’m nothing but a human duplicate. Sure, power runs through my veins, helped by my immortal lovers, but the Morrigan is a warrior on her own. She doesn’t need anyone else to make her strong.

Or at least, that’s what she wants everyone to think. She takes the elixir from underground to keep her young and virile.

There’s another person on the dais that I recognize and I have to force away any reaction: Anita. She sits directly next to the Queen, in a smaller, less magnificent throne. There’s no denying who should be in the empty seat on the Queen’s other side, most likely set out in celebration for the ceremony Casteel mentioned. The one where we join.

I sense the presence of the weapon Bunny shoved in the back of my pants, refusing to leave me unarmed. It was foolish. I regret it now. She’ll detect it immediately.

“What do we have here?” she asks, staring down at us from her massive, obsidian throne. Her eyes are deep pools of hate and anger. I force myself to hold contact. “Where is Casteel?”

“There’s been a breach,” Bunny says. “Casteel has been injured. Your prisoners are gone.”

“Gone?” She doesn’t blink.

“Yes,” I say. “And I would be gone too if I hadn’t taken the time to hunt down this little worm.”

She watches us carefully. “You bested her?”

“Yes,” Bunny replies. “She was distracted.”

A wide, deranged grin splits the Morrigan’s face, making her look like a jester or clown. She leans forward, laughter on the tip of her tongue, and she says, “I felt them. I felt them together. Their power and strength, it shook the castle like an earthquake. I know about Casteel. What do you think this celebration is for? It’s a death watch, you see. He failed me miserably and when he finally bleeds out for good, we’ll dance on his grave.”

The audience cheers and everything about the moment is perverse and wrong.

She tilts her head. “Do you really want to tell me you bested her at the height of her strength?”

“I did, just like I stole her Guardians out from underneath her. Just like I opened the gates over and over again without her understanding or notice.”

The Morrigan thinks this over, resting her chin on the back of her hand. “So tell me, Fallen Guardian, what am I to do? Reward you for delivering back what is mine? Punish you for allowing the others to escape? I’m not exactly sure what is happening here.”

There’s a pause, the entire audience is waiting for what comes next, but not even I am sure what will happen. I reach for the hidden blade and slip out of Bunny’s grip. I toss him to the ground, punching him twice in his confused face, and then hold the dagger to his throat. Staring at the Morrigan, who is watching the scene like a patron at the theater, I flick my wrist, allowing the spikes to extend on one hand. She doesn’t react to the move but I know she’s impressed.

I press down on his chest, curving my nails like spoon to dig out his betraying heart. Without looking at the queen, I say, “You’re right. I let him catch me to give the others time to get back to the other realm. They’re on a ticket provided by the Shaman back home. I needed them out of here and it was easier to trick them than to kill them.”

“Why?” she asks. The soldiers are inches away. “Why would you do all of this?”

“Because this is about me and you, Your Highness. It always has been, don’t you think?” She doesn’t look convinced. I nod at Anita. “I delivered the Third. Why would I bring her here if I didn’t plan to unite with you?”

The Queen looks down at Bunny, who is frozen under the points of my blades. “What about him?”

“Kill him, hang him from the trees, use him for target practice.” I spit in his face. “But you may want to thank him first.”

“And why, exactly, would I do that?”

I stare down at Bunny, not having to make up an ounce of the anger and venom I feel just looking at his face. Rage rolls across every inch of my body and I make no effort to hide my emotions. “When Bunny betrayed me, I finally understood everything you went through. I felt what it was like for you that day, eons ago when your wrath took hold.”

The Morrigan moves, slinking down the dais to stand before me. Her dress is tight and long, fabric trails behind her like snakes slithering across the carpet.

“Tell me what you felt.”

“He was my mate. He used me. He humiliated me. He…”

“No!” Bunny shouts, his face red. “You favored the others. You never cared about me like you cared for them.”

Quick as a viper I slap him across the cheek, my nails scraping the skin and leaving red, angry welts. I stand and face the Queen.

“The pain from what he did…it’s too much. The anger…is consuming.”

“Even with the love of the others?” she asks. “I know you fornicated with them earlier today. Your pleasure radiates off you, even now.”

“To get them to leave and to build my power.” I glance at Bunny, who hasn’t moved even though I’ve released him. “And to make him jealous.”

She stares at me for a long moment and then jerks her head. “Take her to my quarters. We’ll see if she’s telling the truth.”