The Fae King's Dream (Between Dawn and Dusk #2) - Jamie Schlosser Page 0,119
mine. Like I don’t love him more than life itself.
For a second, I feel bad for them. Obviously, they’ve never experienced true love. If they had, they’d know it’s not some menial assignment fate chose for us.
“What happens if I don’t go with you?” I challenge, trying to keep up the appearance of some realistic resistance.
“But you must,” the Extractor intones, probably trying to use her powers on me.
Thanks to my mind shield, I feel nothing. “Why?”
“One of the king’s parents will die if you don’t. We’ll even let you choose who—will it be the former queen?”
“Of course, we could kill both,” Merina says in a sing-song voice as she wiggles her fingers at Silas and Tehya. “We had only wanted to take one head. That way, the other would suffer longer, but a double decapitation would be satisfying as well.”
“But why?” I sound desperate, and that’s because I am.
Between my dream earlier and the lightning shock, I’ve seen so many different versions of tonight, I’m having trouble keeping the events straight. As I sift through all the information packed into my brain, I can’t find their motive for killing Silas and Tehya.
Obviously, they want their misery, and it seems personal.
“What purpose does this serve?” I ask, waving a hand at the incapacitated couple.
Merina cocks her head. “You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Revenge, my sweet.” She directs her next spiel at Silas. “At least we spared the children from the plague. You weren’t so merciful. I was only twelve when this happened to me.” Snarling, she stabs a finger at her scarred face.
“I didn’t do that to you,” Silas counters. “It was the Day Realm soldiers. I never wanted you to be hurt.”
“But you offered us no protection after we did your bidding.”
“What’s she talking about?” Confused, I look to Damon.
“Oh, your man didn’t tell you?” Merina laughs. “We didn’t cause the plague because we’re evil. Silas ordered it. We were only doing what he hired us to do.”
“Tehya knew nothing of it,” Silas says, his voice rough with emotion. “I hadn’t even met her yet when I came to you. At least let her go.”
Merina keeps going like she didn’t hear him. “And then when the Day Realm soldiers found us, they retaliated by mutilating us forever.”
I didn’t think it was possible for me to be blindsided tonight. Maybe I got too confident, thinking my visions showed me everything of importance, but I didn’t see this coming.
My gaze bounces from Silas’ guilty eyes to Tehya’s bloody, tear-streaked face, and I know everything Merina’s saying is true.
I glance at Damon. “Is that the disagreement you talked about? The one that divided the kingdom?”
Nodding, he confesses, “I should’ve told you. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to judge my parents before you got to know them. They’re good people—”
“Don’t defend us, son,” Silas interrupts. “Whitley, I was young, impulsive, and angry. After King Zed ordered the murder of my parents, I wanted them to pay. I thought the coven would only sicken the royal family.” His eyes go to the trolls. “I never would’ve agreed to it if I knew you meant to cripple an entire realm.”
“Details.” Merina waves dismissively before facing me. “So you see, we’re the victims here.”
What a bitch. At least Silas has genuine remorse for what happened. Merina doesn’t give two shits about the fact that she’s killed thousands of innocent people, including some I cared about. People I loved.
“Damon, don’t you dare make a deal for us,” Silas says, his voice full of father-like authority. “You either, Whitley. Say nothing.”
“Better decide fast or one of them will lose their heads.”
More words from my premonition. The time for me to make a choice is getting close.
“My son,” Tehya whispers, “sometimes kings have to make hard decisions. I taught you that. It’s time to apply the lesson. Let us go.”
She doesn’t mean release them. She’s telling her son to allow them to die.
“Mother, no.” Damon’s entire body is tense, like he’s ready to pounce forward at any second. “We can make a different deal.”
The word, along with a snippet from my dream, sparks an idea. Bargains—the witches aren’t the only ones who can use them to their advantage, and thanks to my premonition, I already have one on deck.
As the blade digs in on Tehya’s neck, blood starts trickling down her pale skin. I watch it pool above the shackle before spilling over the metal. She whimpers and closes