Page 42 of Black Hearted
I nodded, pleased to find the queen was warming up to me.
“Lorelei is one of the sweetest souls you will ever meet. The thought of her—” Glori’s voice broke.
I nodded. I believed her. I hadn’t had the chance to get to know Lorelei well yet, but I wanted to. I knew that when I did, I’d probably fall madly in love.
Chapter Thirteen
Lorelei
Icould only sleep in snippets, and I had no idea what time of day it was. Not because I could not see. My eyesight was mercifully almost fully restored, thanks to my rapid healing ability as a royal.
Queen Liliana hadn’t been to see me in some time. Maybe she’d already accomplished her task and opened the portal into Ethereum early? I was torn about what that meant. That would be awful for Dawn, but it might mean I would actually survive this.
Just as I had that thought, the door scraped open.
I spun from my place in the corner of my cell as two large fae stepped in, both clutching swords in their hands. I’d never seen them before, but with their fair features and tanned skin, they looked like Summer fae. Loyal to Queen Liliana, no doubt.
“What’s going on?”
Without a word, they grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out of the room. I tried to fight, but the tip of one of their swords pressed against my throat, and I relented.
“Where is Queen Liliana?” I asked.
They said nothing.
“I can break the curse. Destroy it forever. Just let me go, and—”
The blade returned to my throat. I gasped at the sharp sting and felt a warm trickle slide down my neck.
No talking. Message received.
My heart hammered in my chest as they hauled me down the familiar corridor toward the room where the queen kept the mirror portal.
When we reached the door, I steeled myself.
Inside, it was the same scene as always. Queen Liliana stood in front of the mirror portal, holding my faestone dagger. Books, papers, and diagrams were strewn all around her in a chaotic mess. But this time, she wasn’t frantic or unhinged like before. Instead, she was deadly calm.
The men deposited me at her feet, and I peered up at her.
“We will be right outside the door, Your Majesty,” one of them said. She nodded, and they left.
I knew better than to fight her, so I just kneeled before her, waiting for whatever torture she intended to inflict.
“I’ve just received some interesting news about your handsome lord,” she said, her tone cold and deliberate. “I did not expect him to join forces with your mother and her army. Bold move.”
A sliver of relief worked its way into my chest.
Then it had worked. Zane had made it to the Spring Palace and teamed up with my mother. That meant there was hope.
Reading the excitement in my gaze, the queen clicked her tongue. “But don’t you realize this is bad news for you, my dear?”
I stayed silent. The cunning look in her eyes made my stomach churn.
What was she up to now?
“You see,” she continued without needing any prompting, “I had intended to use the last of your magic to open the portal early, but only if I couldn’t get the heart of the dark lord who is coming to rescue you.”
My blood ran cold.The last of my magic.That would probably kill me.
