Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,96

to heard but not be seen. They pulled the chairs out, and the guests sat, only after the king and queen had first.

This was wrong. I could feel it in my bones. The way Tatiana moved, spoke, and even teased—this was not the same crazed woman I had met in the forest of thorns. But someone else. An imposter.

Tatiana sat right below the king and queen’s head table in a spot reserved for the guest of honor.

There. Down a few seats from the fae queen was the one that I had seen die in Isla. Vasili. But there was something off about him. If only my head wasn’t foggy, I could hear their thoughts.

The servants filled the guest’s goblets with dark red wine and handed one to each of the guards. Liam was only a few chairs down from the queen and he looked uncomfortable. His eyes found mine, and I could read the sadness within. He knew something was wrong.

Almost time.

“A toast.” The king lifted his goblet. “To Tatiana of the Lesser Fae Court, may we find the answers we seek.”

He drank first, followed by the queen. Glasses raised, and the room followed suit, one by one, each taking a sip. Liam caught my eye, and I carefully shook my head. He brought the glass to his lips but did not drink.

Neither did the fae queen, I noticed.

Dinner began with the soup course. Light chatter and the scrape of spoons across the bowls filled the air. Then came the salad course. I refilled glasses multiple times, but I watched as Tatiana only brought the spoon to her lip, but never drank, or she moved food around on her plate, but never took a bite.

Not having been commanded to eat, I stared at the closest candelabra on the table and fixated my gaze upon it. One wick had fluttered out, and I focused my power.

Fiergo, I whispered under my breath.

The candlewick relit, and no one noticed. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was getting easier to use magic.

Drink, darn you! The king was becoming impatient, which only confirmed my suspicion that he had drugged Tatiana’s food and drink with the devil’s breath.

Dessert came, and it was more of the same. She never ate or drank a bit.

Clever, the king thought, but not clever enough.

The king nodded, and each servant moved to a red lantern. They pulled a silk ribbon, releasing a hidden compartment within. The lantern shifted, a flume of powder fell onto the flame and burned. Immediately an overpowering aroma filled the air.

Devil’s breath.

I covered my mouth and nose with the sleeve of my dress and tried my best to not breathe in anymore. All around the hall, silverware clattered to the table as the drug took its victims one by one. First their limbs became heavy, then their minds would begin to cloud over. Liam staggered and fell back into the wall before drawing his sword and attacking the closest paper lantern, knocking it from the hook and stomping on the flame. Other soldiers followed suit, but it was too late. The damage had been done.

Tatiana slumped forward in her chair, her chin dropping toward her chest.

The king stood, his hands held open, and he bellowed, “All that hear my voice must obey me.”

Wide, blank eyes stared back at him. Over a hundred guests were now in a drugged state, easily controlled by the king of Rya.

The king stepped down from the high table and moved to stand over Tatiana. He withdrew a knife and held it to her throat.

“Now that you’re under my command, tell me how you murdered my child, or I will kill you now,” he said, seething.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Tatiana looked ill. She stood up. The chair tipped and fell to the floor with a thud. Her dress flickered in and out. The lace disappeared and was replaced by a dark blue wool. Tatiana’s white hair turned lavender as the glamour wore off, and the mermaid known as Velora stood before the king.

“A glamour. What is this?” the king bellowed, his finger pointing at the betrayer. “That’s not Tatiana.”

The double doors burst open, and a powerful voice filled the room.

“No, Your Majesty. It’s but a decoy.” The real Tatiana entered, wearing head to toe black, her pale eyes glowed with power. “I knew you. This talk of peace was nothing more than a trap. The one who calls himself Allemar said you would betray me.” She pointed to