"Or Dragoon, Your Beloved General's Shadow Captain!"
"Riley," I breathed inside Skyler’s mind, not surprised.
I knew this story.
He had confessed it all to me the moment I returned a few days later with the news the shifter queen had been murdered and we were going to war with The West Isles.
Searching, Skyler’s gaze fell on the head full of green curly hair and calm hazel eyes, Riley’s features too beautiful standing next to the others, his face a flawless mask of indifference in the rigid black leather he wore. A swirling silver pin, attached to his high collar. He did not bother to step forward to appease the crowd, he did not showboat, he did not even spare the queen a glance.
Deirdre turned the stone slab that Skyler hung from towards her. "It is clear who the people choose Skyler, but I like to consider myself a merciful ruler, so I shall leave the choice to you. Pick your executioner, queen of shifters."
Skyler’s chin rose, defiance raging in her heart and in mine. "Use whatever hand you may, but my death is still by yours. Are you not Queen enough to claim your own work? I would have thought you'd want this claim for yourself."
Deirdre grinned, trailing her hand over Skyler’s face, the touch cold and nauseating. "I was so hoping you would say that. And you are right, I do want this for myself. It is what I am owed after all and I am going to enjoy watching every suffering moment of your death, Skyler." Stepping outward upon the balcony, she raised her arms and immediately the court fell silent. Their fear palpable even this high up. "My fair dear court, the traitorous shifter queen has requested none of my favored executioners!"
A select few were brave enough to boo and Deirdre allowed it, nodding sadly. "Indeed she has asked for my merciful execution instead. I have accepted her request! Is not your queen generous?"
The fae below cheered and a small whisper of wind, grazed against her ear, a tender and sympathetic voice carried with it. "I am sorry I have failed you, Queen Skyler."
Idid not need to look to know my former shadow captain's voice, and apparently neither did Emon's mother.
Skyler’s response was barely a breath of air. "My son will be vulnerable, she will come for him one day."
There was a slight pause while Deirdre basked in the delighted cries of the fae below. "I vow I will do what I can to protect him."
Skyler hummed as her lips mouthed two words. "Thank you."
Deirdre turned with a wide manic grin on her face. "It is time now, dear shifter queen. Be at peace. I will make sure your family, especially your son gets everything he deserves in this life."
Skyler did not bother to look at her, instead she watched the waves, their white caps cresting in the bay, the water stirring angrily as if it rebelled against the treasonous acts being performed.
"Ignire!" Deirde roared.
White hot flames burst around her, crawling up Skyler and instantly blistering skin. I was no stranger to being burned by Deirdre’s fire but even I could not hold back my scream until it died out in silent agony.
The fire seared slowly and hot, melting her clothes, her hair, the lashes from her eyes. Her sight went next, the smell nauseating, and she jerked in the chains she hung from, the need to vomit strong.
I whimpered, the taste of it filling my mouth.
"I am sorry, my daughter, I cannot hold back this pain from you." Skyler's voice echoed in my mind while I curled inwardly, attempting to block out the worst of what she felt.
"Hold tight Queen Skyler. I am not powerful enough to stop her but I can ease you into this death." Riley's whispered voice was full of sadness when it reached Skyler beyond the flames.
"To this day, I shall never forget the peace your shadow captain gave me andhow he upheld his vow." Skyler whispered when not even tears of relief from Riley's words could fall. They simply evaporated just as quickly as they escaped before darkness took her.
With his merciful air, Riley had rendered her unconscious, sparing Skyler, and myself, the pain that was to come and the mocking laughter of Deirdre who claimed the shifter queen was so weak she fell before her torture even started. Those were the exact words she told me in her chambers, days later when I confronted her about Skyler's death.
I wept with uncontrollable sobs for the queen of shifters who could not have the horizon to look out upon. A horizonwhere her adoring soulmate and little golden prince would be waiting, watching for her return home—a return home that would never come.
Chapter 51
Iwatchedasasecondshadow exhaled from my soulmate's lips and morphed with Talgira's who had been playfully occupying Riella while I held Remnant's still form—waiting, waiting for her to come back to me alive.
It was nothing short of fucked up. While my soulmate experienced death over and over again, I was cursed to watch it—all my nightmares coming to life on repeat.
And this time fate thought it would be fucking funny for me to watch the reflection of my mother’s death, to witness the tears and to hear the echoes of her painful screams when she was burned alive.
My wraith form trembled, not from sorrow but from rage, and I could feel the insatiable hunger start to rise again. The whisperings of Eve's worries scratched at the back of my mind."I feel that I must speak plainly about what it is you will be giving up, what you mightbecome—"
