The Lost Fae (The Twisted Crown #3) - A.K. Koonce Page 0,77

Lincoln walks directly through the quickly growing mass of blood. His boots stick to the floor and leave behind red footprints in his wake.

When the hall comes to an end, I know it's a clear and straight shot. Shouldn't there be some sort of fear... or excitement... or something? Shouldn't my thoughts be suggesting some form of the anxiety I've always had nagging in the back of my head?

Somehow, that feeling is gone now. Replaced with a much more tranquil emotion. There isn't any shaking in my hands nor do I have the overwhelming urge to turn and run for the hills.

This feels... right. Maybe it's that I know that Lincoln has seen this very moment. Maybe it feels like I'm finally fulfilling my destiny. Whatever the feeling is... I know it's going to kick Queen Cordelia's ass.

Our steps are silent.

Deadly.

As the long hall gives way to the large open rooms, we slip into the large foyer. The cages Lincoln and I had been kept in are raised to the ceiling once more. Multiple people are shoved into each cage, none of them moving. Only when I catch the ruffle of blonde messy hair inside one of those cages does my heartbeat pound harder within my ears.

Cordelia's throne remains as it was, with the exception of the second throne that has been set beside it. The shadow of her crown follows her as she stands, abruptly ending her conversation with the traitorous prince at her side.

The Fae fucker.

Kai lounges back in his seat, forcing his expression into nothingness. His gaze avoids mine. Avoids all of us, really.

She doesn’t, though. The queen’s tone slices into the silence.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Every guard stationed around the room reacts to her rage. They react. As do we.

Barnabus storms forward. He moves like water around the guards burling toward him. He’s quick. So quick that he’s in front of the queen in seconds. Whatever scathing question on her tongue hardly leaves her plump red lips before his fist soars through the air and hits its mark square. It’s a slap of sound and a gasp of air as he rattles her. Cordelia's loose blonde hair falls across her face as her head snaps to the side with a scream. Waves of heat roll off of her into us as her anger rises.

Kai takes a deep breath in, but doesn’t move.

"Is this the queen?" Barnabus leans back and laughs, his wings ruffling as the sound rattles through him.

"Barnabus!" Lincoln yells as two guards slam him into the wall. “The Prince!” he struggles to shout between my clawing nails and rising magic that is tearing the men off of him.

With a flick of Barnabus’ wrist, he motions for the group of bandits to hurry up the small dais. Many of them wrap their hands around Kai's arms and wrists, holding him still. Kai remains sitting, looking up at them before he slowly turns his head to Lincoln and myself.

Cordelia growls, her palm glowing white-yellow. She cuts her hand through the air and Barnabus’ body lifts off the ground. He bellows in surprise, but tumbles to the ground within seconds. Boots storm over glossy floors. Swords are pulled from belts. Guards encircle us, only inches away from the edge of their blades striking out against our skin, the bandits interjecting themselves between us.

We’re surrounded.

"Briar." Cordelia's eyes glow, flicking in sync with the magic that lights her palms. "I'm so glad to see you, sister. We've waited for your return."

Above us, the metal cages creak with movement but I can't turn my face away from the queen even for an instant. Not even once to see if it's Jase looking down on me now.

My heart hurts, but my anger is too loud to think about the painful pounding in my chest.

"There is time for you to step down from your throne willingly..." I start. "Give the true heir the crown."

She chuckles dryly and it grates against my nerves, ringing inside of my ears. "I worked for my throne. I’ve killed for it. If you want it, you'll have to be just as powerful and bad as I am to take it from me.”

Just as bad as her? I don’t want to be just as bad as her. But maybe some things are in your blood. Some things can't be helped.

I reach to my right and pull a blade off the belt of one the bandits. It balances in my palm easily and I know with certainty that