frantic heartbeat.
The voice of the singer was wickedly smooth, but the words were unintelligible to her.
There were beautiful men and women all around her, mixed with the twisted graylings and other things that appeared to be demons of some sort.
But the woman who caught her attention most was the one beside her who wore a dress so red, it didn't look natural. It looked as though the material itself were bleeding.
The woman's long blond hair was worn in tiny braids that were held in an intricate design around the crown of her head with jewel-tipped pins. She approached Seren with a sinister twist to her lips. The woman grabbed Seren's long blue manche sleeve and pulled at it angrily. "Who put her in this?"
Kerrigan came instantly to his feet as his eyes turned a vibrant red that matched the woman's dress. "I did."
The woman hissed at him. "You know the laws here, Kerrigan. I am queen of the fey, and no one wears such a color in my world. No one!"
"And I am the law here, Morgen. It goes with my crown. That is, unless you wish to challenge me for it."
Seren swallowed at his words as she stared anew at the woman who held her sleeve. Could this truly be the famed Morgen le Fey? Sister to Arthur and mother to Mordred?
If she was, then this sorceress held wicked powers that could enable her to take the form of beasts and enchant anyone she chose. There was no telling what she could do to them.
It was a sobering thought.
"I will challenge him for you, my lady," one of the handsome knights offered as he moved forward in the crowd.
Morgen arched a brow at that as a slow, evil smile curved her seductive lips. "A challenger. Why, Kerrigan, it appears your reign may be over." She grabbed Seren roughly and pulled her toward a door.
Kerrigan moved toward them with deep, angry strides. "Release her, Morgen. Now!"
Seren fought against the woman's hold. When Morgen refused to let her loose, Seren bit her.
Morgen screamed and released her instantly.
With nowhere else to go, Seren ran toward Kerrigan. He met her and placed himself between her and the other woman. The sound of steel scraping steel rang out as he drew his sword forth to confront them.
Seren trembled as she looked about for somewhere else to flee to, but the crowd of people wasn't conducive to such. They completely encircled her and Kerrigan. No doubt they would fling her back toward Morgen if she dared to run. Therefore, her safest course of action would be to stand with Kerrigan.
Morgen arched a brow at Kerrigan's raised sword. "Well, isn't this interesting? I haven't seen fire in your cheeks in centuries, Kerrigan. Tell me what it is about this pathetic little human that you would dare raise your sword against me in protection of her?"
"You gave her to me, Morgen. Remember? You said she was mine to do with as I please until she ceases to be of use to us. And I protect what is mine, whether it is this throne, my sword…or her."
"That's far from comforting," Seren said in a tone she was sure Morgen and the others couldn't hear.
Kerrigan passed her an irritated glare.
She stared her own ire back at him. "Well, I'm not your shoes," she whispered. "I am a person…with value."
The withering look on his face said he might not share her view.
"Are you rebelling?" Morgen asked him.
He turned his heated stare at the fey queen. "Are you?"
Her insidious laughter rang out over the music and echoed in the hall. Morgen crossed the distance between them. With an unparalleled daring, she brushed his sword aside with her hand so that she stood toe to toe with him.
"Careful, my lord," she said in an almost sweet tone. "Remember who it is who gave you your power. Damé Fortune is fickle. One day a peasant, the next a king, and the day after, a peasant again."
He didn't flinch. "One day a sorceress, the next a bad memory."
Seren gasped as the Morgen's eyes slithered between yellow and orange.
"Tostig," she snapped at the knight who had agreed to fight Kerrigan. "Don your armor. Kill the king and you shall replace him."
Seren sucked her breath in sharply at those words. She was quite certain that if the black knight was dethroned, she wouldn't fare very well.
Kerrigan shook his head. "Stand down, Tostig. I've no wish to thin my army needlessly."
Black armor, the likes of which Seren