"That’s the look," Deirdre cooed, approaching closer and smiling viciously. "The look your face will have as your head is placed on a pike outside my city gates."
Skyler’s body sagged, the smell of her flesh burning sickening, and I could feel my own panic rise. This was too close to what I had already suffered and I wished to fight, to claw my way back, but all I felt from Skyler was a gentle acceptance of the fate that would unfold.
"You gave up," I whispered inher mind.
"I knew I was not leaving the City of Light alive. She had requested my life in retribution long before this time, when her mother and son were found dead on Asher's watch."
Her body started to violently twitch, fighting for sweet air that would not come. The panic was almost unbearable—and then Deirdre's powers eased.
I sighed internally.
Coughing and sputtering fiercely, Skyler sucked in as much of the precious air as she could, tears falling with each wretched gasp.
Cold fingers with purple painted nails encircled our chin, their sharp tips cutting into our flesh as she jerked our head up. "You are pathetic. Not fit to be anyone’s queen, unwilling to fight for your life and your court. I do hope your son has more fight in him."
I felt Skyler roar to life. "You will regret this day and every day after, especially if you come anywhere close to my son! I will make sure of it, even in my death you will not be free of my wrath if your eyes even turn his way."
The queen of Faerie snickered, her nails digging harder into Skyler’s chin. I grimaced. "I hear he is quite handsome, your little Golden Prince—not so little anymore fortunately for me."
This time both Skyler and I's rage consumed us and she roared, her shifter side manifesting past the irons restricting her power just like my soulmate’s—Emon must have inherited this unique gift from his mother.
It was enough for her to sink her sharp piercing teeth straight into the flesh of Deirde's hand, the queen of Faerie's royal blood filling her mouth and trailing over her chin while she shrieked loudly with pain.
I savored the taste, as did the queen of shifters.
A sharp sting of Deirdre’s fire power seared the side of Skyler’s exposed face and sent her head snapping sideways, but it was enough to rip a chunk of Deirdre’s flesh with it.
Skyler turned her head slowly back to the queen with a feral smile. I watched with satisfaction through her eyes when Deirdre stumbled backwards, clutching her wounded hand to her chest—the dark stain of her blood blemishing the perfect silk dress she wore.
"You fucking rabid bitch," Deirdre, hissed.
Spitting out the chunk of the queen's flesh forcefully, it splattered against her flawless face, leaving behind bits of blood before it plopped sickeningly to the floor, marring its smooth white surface.
I could not stop my inner dark laughter. Oh I liked Emon’s mother very much.
Skyler grinned, "I may be a rabid bitch but even I am not mad enough to ingest any piece of you. You are rancid to your very core, Deirdre Tatianna Maeve Seelie."
Deirdre reached up to wipe her face, staring at the blood smeared on her fingertips. The room fell silent, the very air poised for her next move before a deranged giggle escaped her red lips. Weaving water she cleaned her face, hand, and dress, wiping away all evidence of violence, her hand already healing quickly from the queen of shifter’s attack.
"This will be even more enjoyable than I had already thought it would be." Her laughter simmered into a coo, before waving at the stone that anchored us. "Come shifter queen, your audience is waiting, and you are the headlining show." The marble stone above Skyler, from where she hung in chains, dislodged, and dragged her across the room, searing her flesh anew and sweeping her feet against the smooth white floor.
Blinking against the sun, a sudden roar rose up, cries of excitement and boos of despair drowning out the winds that forced Skyler’s body to suddenly sway like a pendulum upon the balcony of the City of Light's tower. Finally able to adjust her vision, she peered out to see thousands of fae with their faces upturned towards us, like a swarm of pixies searching for their next fix.
Deirdre waved at the mob below, her voice low as she leaned into her. "Smile, Skyler, look how they adore us." Grinning with sickening sweetness, the queen of Faerie blew kisses, small blossoms of fire sparked from her lips and floated on the wind, sparkling all the way down towards the cheering crowd.
Disgusted, Skyler’s eyes drifted beyond the nauseating display, towards the bay, towards the waves of the sea, towards the west, and a fierce ache tightened her chest. Even in facing her death, she was seeking the solace of her West Isle home, where her soulmate and son were safe…away from this tyranny and manipulation.
"My court, the City of Light, who shall you choose this day?" The queen of Faerie's voice was amplified by her air power and the crowd fell silent. "Executioners, step forward!"
The mob cheered wildly.
"Verdugo The Butcher!" Deirdre roared.
A tall fae, with veining muscle and pale skin, stepped up, his chest covered in blood with a cleaver in his hand. Long pink hair falling to hiswaist also stained with blood flew around him. Fire, water, air and earth shot into the sky around us while the court voted.
"Shahin The Slicer!"
Another fae, this time thin and lean, stepped forward. Covered in black flowing fabric with only their glowing yellow eyes showing, they raised up two long thin blades. More elemental power rose, possibly higher than the rest.
