Reign Check

Queen Sephina’s gaze moved to my glowing hand. “And what, precisely, do you intend to do right now?”

“Whatever I have to,” I said flatly.

“Your father won’t be pleased that you’ve made such a fuss here today. This was supposed to be a pleasant meeting.”

“A pleasant meeting? Demanding that I show up and be grilled by you and your friends?”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” But she didn’t look sorry. She looked annoyed.

“I never should have come. I wanted to let you see that I’m nice and not somebody you have to worry about. But maybe I was wrong about that. Maybe you should worry.”

She studied me for a long moment. “Kassandra, dear, what shall I do about your new friend? She’s very headstrong — a great deal like her father, in fact. However, I’ve never seen anyone get so distraught about the fate of a servant. She looks positively ready to explode.”

“You’re right. It is a bit strange.” Kassandra watched our discussion with a look that was either troubled or excited. I wasn’t sure which.

“I’d prefer not to explode,” I said, and a swirling red and orange energy ball began to form in the palm of my right hand. Maybe I’d bust a lamp or two to show I was serious. “But whatever does the trick. I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be.” Queen Sephina eyed my show of power and then smiled thinly at me. “Enough of this nonsense, child.”

She waved a hand at me, and every ounce of my power and strength disappeared in the blink of an eye. I lost my Darkling form and stumbled forward, bracing myself on the edge of the white sofa so I wouldn’t fall.

“What—?” I managed, gasping for breath. It was one thing to change back with my own power, but to have my power forcibly yanked away from me was much more painful.

Queen Sephina shook her head. “Are all humans this rude and disrespectful? You may be powerful, but this is my castle, my kingdom, and I hold dominion here. Please don’t forget that again, or you’ll be very sorry.”

I looked down at my hands. They were normal human hands. No talons, no glowing power. I looked up at Queen Sephina. She must have seen something in my eyes because her expression softened and she patted my face.

“This Michael is just a servant, child, and a Shadow one at that. His life is meaningless. Now go home. I’m sure this will all seem much better tomorrow.”

She picked up the parchment. A quick glimpse told me it contained the rules Groden had been jotting down during the meeting today. More proposed rules for her to approve or deny to help the Underworld run in perfect order. Unbelievable.

Without another word, the queen turned from us and went into an adjoining room.

I felt an arm come around my shoulders, and Kassandra led me toward the elevator. I felt numb and defeated.

Michael, I sent out telepathically. Are you okay? Please answer me.

But there was no reply. We must have been out of range.

“My mother can be a serious pain,” Kassandra said. “People say I’m just like her, but I don’t believe it for a minute.”

“I need to go,” I said. “I need to talk to my father.”

He’d be able to do something about this. As king, he could demand Michael’s release.

Or would he? He also stuck very closely to the rules. He may have been a stubborn, dragon-slaying rebel at one time, but he was different now. He’d let Michael slide the last time he’d broken this particular rule, but would he do it again? Maybe he’d use this as an opportunity to get rid of him once and for all.

I shuddered at the thought.

“I don’t get you,” Kassandra said, frowning. “I’ve never seen anybody so concerned about the fate of a servant before. It’s almost as if you …” She blinked and her brow furrowed. “It’s as if you … you really like him.” Her voice hushed. “You like him as more than just a servant, don’t you?”

Uh-oh. More broken rules coming my way.

“No, of course not,” I said quickly.

“You do. I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before. But he’s a Shadow. It’s against the rules.”

My mouth felt dry. Kassandra studied me soundlessly, apparently stunned at her successful mental investigation into my social life.

The elevator door opened in front of me, and I stepped inside. Kassandra made a move to get on with me.

“No,” I said as firmly as I could. “Stay here. Please. I’ll see myself out.”

I half-expected her to call for security and have me arrested as well. She didn’t. A moment later the doors closed between us and I felt myself begin to move downward.

20

Unfortunately, the elevator didn’t stop at the lobby level. It came — or rather, lurched—to a stop at the same floor the council meeting had been on. The room seemed empty now.

I hissed out a breath of frustration and looked around the elevator for buttons or something to make the doors close again. No buttons. No numbers. How were these things controlled? By royal command?

Finally, I got out. Maybe there was a gazer I could use to contact somebody to help me. Demonic technical assistance.

The moment I got off the elevator, I heard a deep voice.

“Sorry to divert you from your course, but I wanted the chance to speak to you. In private.”

Prince Kieran casually leaned against a support beam to my left, by the small statue of his mother. A quick glance behind me confirmed the elevator doors had closed.

Dread engulfed me. “You stopped the elevator here?”

“I did.”

I guessed I was right about the “royal command” thing. “What do you want?”

“Your servant killed my hellhound.”

“Your hellhound almost killed me.”

He flinched. “That was an unfortunate mistake. Elizabeth was supposed to be watching him, but she was distracted and Fernando got away from her.”

“Elizabeth?” I said, my stomach sinking. “Oh, well, that explains everything. You both want me dead, don’t you?”

“Let’s not be overly dramatic, Princess. Anything that happened between you and your aunt in the past is just that. The past.”

“The past?” I repeated. “It was a week ago.”

“Ancient history.” He smiled. “Besides, that regrettable incident had nothing to do with me.”

“You’re such a liar!” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “You were in on it. You wanted Elizabeth to kill my father, too. Don’t even try to deny it.”

“You have no proof of any such allegation. And saying these things in my castle is very disrespectful.”

“Your mother’s castle, you mean,” I corrected.

His neutral expression slipped a little to show something much less pleasant. “I am the prince here.”

“I swear, if you try to hurt me, my father will tear your head off.”

The cool, handsome exterior was again back in place. “My mother promised King Desmond your complete safety during this visit.”

“Then let me leave.” Being stuck here with Kieran of all people made me more nervous than I already was.

“But I haven’t gotten to my point yet.”

My eyes narrowed. “Then get to your point.”

“I have the strangest feeling that you don’t like me very much, Nikki.”

I just glared at him. “Still waiting for that point.”