Cold Queen - K Webster Page 0,13

did my mother in the end—and the only thing that helps is my farsop tea and my tonics. If it weren’t for Yanna’s desperate knowledge of what stole my mother from me and her desire to make sure I don’t meet the same fate, I would’ve been dead long ago. Yanna’s nose is always in a tonic book, searching for anything to help with my condition. The billibone tonic takes away the pains in my stomach. The voxin leaf tonic gives me energy. The yellowberry tonic is known for attacking hidden diseases. When taken daily, I keep death at bay.

“I need my tonics,” I mutter. “Please. My sister would be all alone if I died.”

“She’ll have me,” he retorts, a wicked glint in his eyes.

“Not willingly,” I bite back. “Perhaps we can come to an agreement. One that suits us all. But I can’t do that from beneath the dirt.”

Before he can answer, there’s a rap at the door. For one moment, my heart flutters as I hope it’s Yanna. But then I remember she never knocks. She is my sister and she goes wherever I go. We’re two halves of a whole.

“Enter,” Ryke barks, releasing me so he can sit up.

A man enters carrying a tray. Another one follows behind him. Their curious stares find mine. One of the men’s gaze lingers at my breasts. I yank the covers over me to keep him from staring.

“Where are Jorshi and Fayden?” Ryke demands, prowling over to the two men.

“Meeting with Danser,” the one with curious eyes states.

Ryke’s jaw clenches as he glowers down at him. “How do I know this food is safe for consumption, Gorten?”

Gorten jerks his head to the doorway. A short, pudgy man with a red face waddles in.

“You must always trust in Yashka,” the short man says. “You know this.”

Ryke visibly relaxes. “I trust this meal is fit for a queen?”

Yashka gasps as though Ryke has struck him. “I beg your pardon, your highness? Do you dare insult the finest chef in all the lands?”

Gorten and the other man stiffen. As though they’re afraid of Ryke’s wrath. But apparently Yashka has freedom to speak freely with Ryke because his king simply chuckles.

“My apologies, Yashka,” Ryke says. “We look forward to your meal.”

Ryke dismisses the three of them. As soon as they’re gone, I sit up and attempt to stand. The room moves in a slow circle around me.

“I’m n-not eating t-that,” I tell him, pressing my hand to my stomach as another pain slices through me. “It’s probably dripping in poison.”

Ryke lifts the lid of something savory and picks up a piece of meat. He tosses it into his mouth, chewing obnoxiously, and sucks the grease off his fingers. “I’m still alive.”

“Unfortunately,” I grumble.

He plucks another piece of meat from the plate and saunters over to me. His free hand grips my hip as he holds up the steaming meat. “Eat.”

The pains are becoming too much. I need my tonics. Hot tears flood my eyes. I’m going to die a painful death like that of my mother. Yanna will be all alone. Ryke will scoop her up and there’s no telling what he’ll do with her. Rape her? Force her to carry his children? The thought has bile rising up my throat.

“Eat,” he barks out, his voice no longer playful like before. “You’re wasting away, Dead Queen. This chicken has more meat on its bones than you do.”

Shaking my head, I press my lips together. There’s no way I can eat. Not right now. Not when I feel like the pains are going to make me vomit instead.

He grabs my throat and squeezes. I cry out in shock. The moment my mouth opens, he shoves the meat inside. Salty goodness hits my tongue and I nearly moan from the taste. How long has it been since I’ve eaten anything this delicious?

Years.

And for good reason.

Heavy foods worsen my condition.

I whimper and gag on the food. His grip on my throat loosens as his lips near mine. Hot breath tickles me as he speaks.

“Swallow, Elzira.”

I manage to choke the food down. My stomach clenches violently. Tears roll down my cheeks. The beast within me rattles its cage somewhere in the depths of my soul. Kill him. Kill him for humiliating you. For exposing our weakness.

Instead of killing him, I sit on the edge of the bed, trying desperately to free my beast. Nothing. Ryke walks over to the table and then he’s back with a plate filled with