had been desecrated by their unforgiving, overlarge boots. Snarls of all types of wild animals took the place of the drums’ war song, displaying just how much they didn’t give a Fae fuck who we were.
Father didn’t give a damn.
He stepped forward and flicked one finger.
Instantly, the twenty-six shifters were surrounded in a circle of thick fire blazing blue as it burned hot.
“Quiet,” King Traevon bellowed.
The murderers had some type of self-preservation, as they all skittered closer to each other, away from the leaping flames, and shut their mouths, their disturbing growls quieting.
I took an uncertain step to stand beside my father.
I was here as I had wished. It was time to do my duty.
Sweat trickled down my temples.
Faces…people…stared back at me.
I could do this. I could.
They had killed my grandmother.
They weren’t good. They were murderers.
Frightened eyes flicked in my direction.
They were murderers. I could do this.
My hands clenched into fists down at my sides.
Perspiration swamped my entire face now.
King Traevon sneered at his prey. “How did you enter my kingdom?”
A tall female shifter stepped forward, her eyes blue as the day sky, no white showing as elven eyes had. “Our king is true and intelligent. We came as part of the carnival troupe. And you will release us and let us go. King Athon said you’d have a message for us to bring back.”
The elven king laughed without humor. “You are correct…and wrong. Your king is intelligent, but he is not true to you. King Athon sent you to your death as a sign of peace for my kingdom to not retaliate against yours for this action.”
The blue-eyed beauty didn’t understand, shaking her head in aggravation. “What do you wish us to tell him?”
The modest, golden ring of my father’s crown reflected the moon’s glow as he stated simply and without remorse, “Your bones on my castle’s gates will work just fine to soothe my soul.”
I quickly wiped the sweat that was dripping into my eyes.
Father lifted both hands, though he didn’t need to. He did it just to scare them, to let them know what was coming for them. Death. He was so powerful he could have done it with only his mind.
He was right. This wasn’t pretty or nice.
It was ugly and cruel.
What had been snarls, turned into wretched screams.
Fire raced from the circle surrounding them, eating at the closest to the wall that held them captive. The stench of burning flesh attacked my nose, and I choked on it. Their cries for help brought tears to my eyes. Red flames burned so high into the night that surely all five kingdoms witnessed the fury that is my king.
The circle closed in even further as the shifters who remained tried to escape. How I heard my father’s next words over their terrible bellows for mercy, I will never understand.
King Traevon said patiently, “Now is the time to exact justice with me, if you wish, Trixie.”
“I…I…” I blinked repeatedly.
I ducked behind my father and placed my back to his, my lungs pumping hard, sucking in death-filled oxygen. I trembled where I stood, pressing harder against him, and covered my ears with my hands, trying to keep the sounds of anguish away.
But they only grew louder as the fire burned brighter.
They were murderers…
They were murderers.
Murderers.
And I was hiding from our justice.
They killed my grandmother.
Bile slicked the back of my throat as heavy as my shame.
I dropped my hands from my ears and opened my eyes.
I would do this. I must.
My chin lifted. I turned and stepped beside my father.
I kept my eyes on the few shifters remaining and lifted my arms—because I needed to. Bright and furious fire shot from my hands, joining the king’s fire, the combined flames now touching the stars.
I ordered, “We get this done. Quit playing with them.”
King Traevon grunted, his emerald eyes now on me and not those he was killing. “As you wish, my heir.”
The king watched my face, never peering away, as we killed the last four shifters. I knew what he was doing. He was watching to see if I cracked, ready to protect me—even my mind—if need be. Father did this every time he introduced something new, a form of training I had never experienced. This time was no exception.
The four shifters dropped to the ground, dead.
“Keep going,” King Traevon said, his power abruptly cutting off. He crossed his arms and tilted his head; those eyes penetrated my soul. “I want all of them down to their bones. No more,