Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“Of course they’re going to fight back,” I cried. “They’ve been raised their whole lives to believe faeriken are evil, bloodthirsty beasts. They will not take kindly to one slaughtering their kings and forcing them under his rule.”
She inclined her head. “There will be rebellion, yes, but those would be easily quashed if you proceeded with developing a weapon with the siren’s voice.”
“Excuse me? You can’t possibly be suggesting I torture an innocent, beautiful creature to create a weapon of genocide!”
She appraised me calmly. “It is not for me to suggest, my queen. Merely to inform you of the resources at your disposal, and how they can be used. The decision is only yours.”
“No one touches the siren.” A thought occurred to me. “And if I ever say otherwise. If I rant and scream and order you to hurt that poor creature, ignore me. Matter of fact, tell me to shut my horrible fucking mouth up.”
She laughed. “What an odd request. But your point is made. You will not step on the throat of the innocent to ascend the ladder of power. It’s what makes you a good queen, my lady,” Treasa said, surprising me. “Maybe even a great one.”
The barest smile tugged my lips, and I deflated—slumping next to Alisdair. “A great queen would have another solution except the obvious one. One Alisdair said himself all those days ago.”
She gave me a look like she already knew, but needed me to say it out loud.
“The curse has to take Elva,” I rasped. “All of it. Everyone.”
“Why?”
Again I had the sense she knew the answer, but wanted to hear me say it.
“There will be rebellion. There will be attacks and war from those who want Elva to stay exactly how it is, but those of us who have been stepped on so others could ascend the ladder of power... they’ll fight beside us because our kingdom is the only kingdom that wants them to be free.”
“Free and changed?” she reminded. “Living in a land without sun or warmth. Forever cut off from the forests. Some things are worse than that to a summer fae, but not much.”
“The worst is having your magic bound,” I flung back. “It’s screaming and crying and begging with the trapped power inside of you to save the people you love. But you can’t. Because it’s just as trapped and useless as you are.”
I tossed my head. “The women of Elva have to be free, and the curse is the only way to free them. Even if there is rebellion. Even if there is war, it’ll be put down and stamped down quickly, because thirteen million faewomen are not going back to the way things are now.”
“Is it your wish, then, to wait until after the change takes Elva to enact our plan?”
“No.” There was no hesitation. “That would take centuries. We must claim the seats of power now. Start the process of change now. If only to get monsters like Salman off the throne. The things that he’s done. Atrocities that he planned, carried out, and then blamed on faeriken—knowing that no one would question him, and executing anyone who dared to anyway.” I shook my head. “He’s a monster the likes of which would sicken a worthless piece of shit like Meallan.
“The throne of Lyrica never belonged to him. He’s not going to sit on it for another day past his due.”
“What is your decision, then, my queen?”
I opened my mouth, and asked the question that sealed my fate. “Is there a way to spread the curse faster and wider? As in within the next few months while we wait for Mahoun to pass?”
“There is,” she replied, smiling enigmatically. “But of course I cannot tell you. The cursed can’t speak of their affliction.”
“You don’t have to speak it if you can do it. Can you do this, Treasa? And can you do it quickly?”
“I can do both. But I need you to say it plainly, my lady. Say that this is your decree and you will accept the consequences on both your behalf.”
I paused. “Will anyone be hurt?”
“I believe many people will get hurt when they wake up one day with unbound magic and pig snouts where their nose used to be.”
That reply earned her a hard look. “I know you knew what I meant. Will whatever you have to do to trigger the fast spread of the curse risk innocent lives?”
“No,” she replied easily. “No one innocent will be hurt.”
“Then yes. I decree that you spread the beast curse far and wide to every corner of Elva. Whatever the consequences may be, we both accept them.”
Bowing slightly, she turned to leave.
“Treasa?”
“Yes, milady?”
“If you’d like to take a break, rest, or get something to eat, you can leave the babies with me for a few hours.” I spooned a little more broth past Alisdair’s cracked lips. “You already know they love their Ana Haeowen.”