I gripped my mom’s hand. “You and Dad go on back. It’s not safe here. If Ethano captures you, he might kill you in the blink of an eye, just to hurt me.” I took a moment to regain my composure, then continued. “I have the ring, so I can come back and visit you anytime. I still have the necklace that will get me past the guardians.”
My mother’s gaze shifted between me and Liz, and she shook her head. “No. That simply will not do. Both of you need to come home, or I’ll be worried sick. I thought I lost you once, and I can’t bear to wonder if I’ve lost you again.”
“
Mom,” Liz said gently, “we can’t leave just yet, if at all.”
“
Mom, my life is here,” I said.
“
What life? Victor has passed away, and there’s no reason for you to stay. Come back home, to the real world.”
I blinked, shocked that she just expected me to give it all up. “There are plenty of reasons for me to stay, Mom. My people need me.”
“
How are you going to help them if Ethano captures you? He’s closer than ever to breaking through the castle walls. We need to leave immediately.”
“
I know, and that’s why I’m going to arrange that you and Dad are taken to the portal first thing in the morning,” I said.
My mother sighed heavily. “I suppose I can go, as long as I know you’re safe. Promise me you do not plan to stay in this death trap of a castle.”
“
I won’t,” I assured her. “My soldiers are going to hide me out somewhere while we gather troops to fight and take back what is ours.” The plan was still being discussed, but I knew I needed to leave soon.
It was difficult for my mother to accept that I wasn’t coming with her, but I could not desert my kingdom, Victor’s legacy. All of my emotions came running out of me, and I hugged my family tightly until the wee hours of the morning. They were my rock, my support, and I loved them, even when we had a difference of opinion.
Chapter 8
I was sad to see them go, but I knew it was the right thing to do to convince my parents to go back through the portal. Ethano would never be able to touch them. They were safe, and I could breathe a sigh of relief. I considered that it might have been better for me to go with them, but I just couldn’t bear to leave. I loved Tastia and its people dearly. Besides that, part of me was bent on revenge. I focused my attention on becoming stronger, eager for the day when I could make Ethano pay.
Weeks passed, and I continued to mourn for Victor. Every breath and movement took effort. Some days, the pain was so overwhelming that I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t function, and couldn’t control the tears. No one understood what I was going through, but everyone tried to be of some comfort on the rough days, and I appreciated that. On other days, I felt like I could manage. I hardly ate and woke up in a sweat, left over from my nightmares. I knew I’d never get over the loss of my husband, and I’d learned the hard lesson that in the blink of an eye, one’s whole world can change. My life was perfect one minute, and in the next, it was shattered.
How will I ever move forward?
I wondered. My heart was torn. Sometimes the grief was so paralyzing that I had to remind myself to breathe. I knew there was no roadmap to get me through the throes of grief, but I hated that it hurt so damn much—and for so damn long.
I touched one of Victor’s shirts and could still smell his scent. “I love you, Victor…and I miss you,” I whispered. “Not a minute goes by when I don’t think about you.”
I missed Victor’s beautiful face. Everyone told me it would get easier in time, but it hadn’t—not after all those weeks. I knew I’d never feel Victor’s touch, see his beaming smile, or hear his laugh again. I missed the way he said my name, and it pained me that I wouldn’t feel his hand in mine. I’d never be able to look into his beautiful blue eyes again. There would be no more romantic dinners under the stars, slow dances, or birthday celebrations. Ethano had taken him from me, leaving me with a giant, gaping hole in my heart.
How could fate give me the love of my life, only to yank him away from me? Life can be so cruel.
* * *
I was sitting at a big, round, stone table, surrounded by members of the Council. The high-pointed arch windows let in lots of light, so there was no need for torches. In an effort to look halfway presentable, I’d tossed my hair into a bun and dressed myself in a long, velvet dress. It was hard to put much thought into my appearance when I felt like every day was a slow death. My heart was nothing more than stone. There were so many matters that needed my attention, and I resented the fact that Victor was gone while life went on as usual for everyone else. His subjects loved him and mourned him, but life had to go on. Our city was close to being overthrown by Ethano. That was only one problem; a million more had sprouted up all around us.
As we plotted to send out more soldiers, a man burst through the doors. “I have the most distressing news!” the tall man declared.
“
What is it, Lyhi?” I asked.
“
Ethano has taken over Plyth and Myrr!”
My jaw dropped as the room erupted in gasps and mutters. “Two more countries? He’s growing stronger by the minute.”
“
We have to stop him,” one of the Council members shouted. “He wants nothing more than to take over Tastia.”
“
He’s coming back for you, my Queen,” Lyhi said.
I shuddered at the thought. “He needs me for something beyond revenge, though I have no idea what.”
“
We must put you in hiding,” Lyhi said, concern written all over his face. “We will not have our beloved queen taken from us.”
The others nodded their heads in agreement and starting whispering ideas to one another.
I was impressed by their concern and loyalty, and I adored them, but I wasn’t a coward. I made eye contact with them. “I will not run and hide. I must fight.”
“
But your life is at stake,” one of them retorted.
I stood, as if to make a bold statement. “Yes, but I will have no kind of life if Ethano gets away with what he’s done. I will hunt him down and cut off his head for killing Victor.”
The Council members cheered me on for my bravery in demanding Ethano’s blood.
“
We will put a stop to Ethano’s reign of terror,” I said. “We need to find his weakness and devise a plan.”
“
Victor’s brother should be here in a few days,” one of the men said. “He’s agreed to take Victor’s place. Perhaps we can reason with Ethano, convince him to leave our land alone.”
“
And why would Victor’s brother make a difference?” I asked.
“
He is on peaceful terms with Ethano.”
“
Then who’s to say he wouldn’t hand me over to the lunatic?” I said. I’d never met Victor’s brother, but trust was not something I gave so easily in a land where revenge and betrayal were running rampant.
“
Ethano has also accused
you
of Victor’s murder,” Saul said.
My heart lurched.
How could anyone ever accuse me of that?
“What?”
“
He and his men said
you
lured Victor there with romantic intentions, then poisoned him. He claims that when he walked in the temple, Victor was already dead. Some of us have been wondering what you did with his body.”
I gasped as murmurs and shocked whispers broke out across the room. “How could you even say that? And why would you believe our enemy? I loved Victor more than anything in this world or mine!”
I could not fathom that some members of the Council were actually turning on me, believing Ethano’s ridiculous lies. The Royal Council was free to say whatever they wanted at meetings, with no fear of punishment or reprimand, but their accusations nearly shattered me.
Lyhi stood up in my defense. “That is nothing but nonsense!” He motioned to one of the soldiers. “Get this traitor out of my presence.”
“
No, wait. He’s allowed to state his opinion,” I said.
“
Not when it borders on treachery!” Lyhi said. “Ethano is trying to divide us. It’s the oldest trick in the book.”
“
Throw me out of here if you wish,” Saul said, “but that won’t stop the rumors from circulating. No one witnessed this supposed ceremony except the queen and her sister. Think long and hard about that. The whole thing sounds ludicrous! Why would Ethano want to be a shape-shifter?”
“
I didn’t say that he wanted to become one. I said he wanted shape-shifter abilities. It would be a whole new kind of power and deception that he could wield. You all know how power-hungry and insane he is!”
Lyhi pointed to the door. “Get him out now!”
The soldiers escorted Saul out as I tried to calm my racing heart.
“
My Queen, would you like a glass of water and a short break?” Lyhi said.
I let out a long sigh. “No, let’s continue. I only hope none of you believe those lies. We have other items to discuss, and we should go on with the meeting now.”
I didn’t think things could possibly get worse. As if Victor’s loss hadn’t already ripped my heart in two, now I was being accused of killing him. Just as horrible, Ethano’s plans to take over the world were coming to fruition. I did not know how we could possibly fight someone who was becoming so powerful so quickly, his armies growing in number every day. He was coming for me, and I didn’t even know why. Ironically enough, the time when Victor was gone was the time when I needed him most; I had no idea what to do or what commands to give. I had no choice but to let the military handle the battle plans and our defense. They would fight to the end, and so would I. I absolutely refused to give up.
Lyhi met my gaze. “I may also have some good news, milady,” he said.
“
What could possibly be good news in all this mess?” I asked.
“
One of Ethano’s men has a loose tongue. He mentioned that Victor is alive and is being held captive.”
I froze, except for my heart, which thundered at the thought. I’d been desperately searching for any glimmer of hope, and Lyhi’s words had given me that. Suddenly, all sorts of questions flooded my mind. “What?” I asked. “But…how? I mean, I saw—”
“
Pay no mind to those rumors, my Queen. You shouldn’t grasp for false hope. It’s only a trick,” one of the members said.
“
Yes, I fear Ethano is behind this loose-lipped accident. He’s playing with your emotions,” another said. “He’ll do anything to get you to come out of the castle.”
“
I don’t care. In case it’s true, I want to talk to this soldier,” I demanded.
Lyhi’s shifted his stance, as if he was afraid to deliver more bad news. “We tried to bring him, but we were attacked, and he was killed.”
“
Oh. Do you think they killed him on purpose so we couldn’t question him?” I asked.
“
Either that, or Ethano staged the entire thing. He doesn’t care who dies in the wake of his mind games.”
I didn’t know what to make of it. I started to feel faint as a wave of dizziness rushed over me. Somebody handed me a glass of water. I took a sip, excused myself, and rushed out of the room, overwhelmed all over again.
Music floated through the air as I walked through the double-doors to an enclosed courtyard, trying to make sense of everything. I refused to allow Ethano to trick me ever again. I wasn’t sure what kind of sick game he was playing, but I had to know if there was any truth to the soldier’s claims.
I stared at the arches and columns that were wrapped in green ivy with tiny white flowers. The sun shone brightly as fair maidens stroked their harps and played their dainty flutes on the terrace. I was surrounded by blooming flowers and birds, singing happy tunes as they fluttered about. It was so peaceful there, and it brought back wonderful memories. Victor and I often ate lunch in that very spot, then talked for hours. My gaze lingered on the place where we’d often sat, under the shade of an oak.
Liz approached and placed a hand on my back. “I heard the news.”