THE SUNDERING

fo

n-laden throne. In front of her cowered one of her courtiers, the presumptuous man caught in bed with one of her

at she'd believe anything he told her. A smile hovered beneath her pinched lips, ready to

and his head bowed to the floor. It delighted her that with few words, she had the power to make mighty me

as almost too quiet to hear. "S

ward. "Then tell me,

him and to seal the man's fate. They were apparently smarter than th

lancing up at her. Gathering courage, his protest rallied

quickly lowering his head ag

voice shaking.

steps forward, down her metal and stone pedestal to reach the man below her. Without another word, s

ndsome, and as she examined him, another thought came into her mind. Using him. But that was too easy, and

d

e deserved her warrior's attention. She deserved the devotion from her whores, and from

lature that his armor didn't hide. A fine soldier, indeed, al

yet he stole from her anyhow. If he thought she was capable of mercy, he

est the door. "Bring in the sl

is voice reverently hushed. "W

w of them left. My patience is short, and you've almost extended it.

corated with heavy chain, her eyes blank and empty. Beautiful, with hair the color of sunse

o her knees. The woman's breath hitched and caught, tears running down her alabaster c

gue in disapproval. "Caref

rds the accused crossing his face. "Of

o her prized whore. Damn. He was bold. She'd a

imilar, laden with gems, twisted and grotesque. She wanted to horrify those that gazed upon her magnificence. By the gasps of the c

ster. No one could go

against the Regent? She'd show them how

is voice broken. "Please. I b

k, watching as sweat dripped from the man's forehead down hi

and control all that she worked for. Not that she'd let him live. The destiny for the pair who waited for her verdict, their hands reaching

Obedience, fear, the ability to lie, to tell her whatever she wished whenever she demanded it: that is

as her harem were blinded, those who protected her were stained by the jealousy of her hand. Ruined. Under her

troy, she'd gain everything. Each breath of life. Every soul that existed both in this realm and the

r and destroy. She sent her Assassin there, to penetrate the forgotten portal and to massacre the world that paralleled and mirrored the

n, parlay, and destruction, that is what brought her joy. Few things did anymore, and more so as her

If the warrior had been faithful to her, they both might have lived. But taking a w

. I know who you are. You, who had such po

be given grace. His body slumped; his eyes

ith explanation, the

painted lips. The

len

h disgust and dark hatred. If he were wise, he'd accept his fate. But b

their bodies stiffening further. Their imminent destruction didn't stop the man from clasping his wife's fi

fingers, grinding her boot, hearing, and enjoying the pop of bone, the conjoined gasps of

n right a

band as tears rolled down her cheeks. "We have to-"

rookedly distorted, showing a peek of ivory k

regnant. That would

wife in arm. A frown crossed over Nyssa's face. As their fo

one takes what's mine, never. Let this be a lesson. As for my heartsick warrior?" She paused, the room waiting for her verdict. Succinc

rn

e the weaponry turned against him, Surrey yanked two guards to the ground. Not that he'd be able to escape, for more soldiers lined the o

s arms held behind him, his face bleeding and taut as he warned her of an impossible fate, vicious hatred in his voice. "You may kill the two of us, but y

d commoners took their shovels and mining picks, fighting a battle she'd longed to have for years. She was weary, and so, so bored. Noth

ly take mo

ting for the next demonstration. None came,

caped. "It's time the king learns a t

ows of the room. The child was eleven, so his confidence was unfounded

attend," he told her.

he didn't have the balls, she'd spare him the public humiliation of a can

his reply. "Though I don't thin

's your duty, so do it." His grin irked and annoyed, his attitude plowing over her authority and smiting it with aplomb. Her sharpl

h his personality than her implication of threat. By the gods, children revolt

aw and sentence for any commoner that dared enter her sanctuary and letting the haze of her boredom consume her.

ned in her seat, poised once more. It would never do for him to see any weak

king against the wall in the corner, then faced the throne. The coward. He never used his royal power and privil

but directed her wry venom at the boy that hovered by the king's side. "Leave. You

y smooth umber-brown skin. She saw through him, past the youth and

retch. If he were hers, he'd eat nothing but stale bread and drink brackish water for a week. But

to the exit, her

iers liked and tolerated him. She'd never allow herself a similar sort of sentiment. Having any considerat

rning it with a closed iron fist, at least until her son reached his majority at twent

the gods. The home of the Dark Queen. She never intended to hand her power over. Tiran must die. Anyone who opposed he