Cold Queen

“The billibone tonic takes away the pains in her stomach. The voxin leaf tonic gives her energy. The yellowberry tonic is known for attacking hidden diseases. When taken daily, she could keep death at bay.” Yanna laughs cruelly. “Poison, poison, and more poison.”

Our king.

I don’t correct him because he is my king, and I his queen.

He knew.

Ryke saw inside me and knew all this was possible.

The only one to believe.

The only one to love the beast, to pet the beast, to coax it out of its cage. The only one to make me see that being powerful was a gift, not a curse.

Ryke didn’t coddle me.

He provoked and maddened me.

He saved me.

He loved me.

From the moment I saw her, I knew she was mine. I never planned on taking her sister or leaving her. No, I was going to make her my queen in every way possible.

Her eyes are lit up with more hatred than I’ve ever seen.

Still fiery.

Still fierce.

Still beautiful.

My beautiful, fiery, fierce lover.

I could stare at her forever.

“If I die on the battlefield…” she mutters against my lips.

Then I’ll die too.