Page 158 of Treasured

Just as the ruby was about to hit, the queen stopped chanting. Silence fell upon Hoarfrost Hollow, and Queen Marguerite turned towards me. Her eyes flashed with darkness. Blood-soaked hands rose in the air. She snarled, “You—”

The magic slammed into the jewel, and it exploded. Thousands of minuscule red shards turned to dust and rained over the snow.

Less than a second later, the shadows binding me weakened. My heart beat once again, and I felt… better. Stronger.

“My ruby!” the queen shrieked. Her voice was higher than I had ever heard it. She grasped at the air, but it was too late. The jewel was gone. She clawed at her chest. She tore her clothes, her nails leaving red trails on her skin, and she sobbed, “No, no, no, no, no. This can’t be happening!”

She ripped out her hair in clumps. Mad. The queen was utterly mad.

I couldn’t watch her devolution into insanity all night, though. I stretched my arms, trying to break the bindings. Inch by inch, they moved. More. I funneled every bit of strength I had into this. I needed to be free.

Then, Luna groaned. It was the best sound I’d ever heard. Her hand inched up her chest until the dagger’s hilt was within reach. Her fingers curled around it. I held my breath. She yanked it out.

Hope became a burning flame within me.

“You!” Queen Marguerite dove at Luna. “Your blood is mine. Your soul is mine. Everything you are is mine!”

“No.” Luna gripped the shadow dagger, crawling away from the queen.

The ruby, she whispered. It must’ve been strengthening her magic and stopping us from healing.

And now, it was gone.

Without wasting another moment, I reached for the Tether again. This time, the connection between us flew open. Dark magic rushed through my veins. Having my power back was intoxicating, but I did not keep it for myself.

I sent wave after wave of shadows to Luna. The red markings glowed until they rivaled the moon in its radiance.

More, more, more, I gave until I had nothing left.

Queen Marguerite stood on shaky legs, still screeching.

She looked… wrong.

Her face was sunken, her skin stuck to her bones, and her hair was graying rapidly. Like a corpse brought to life, she raised a thin finger and pointed it at Luna.

“I will destroy you,” she declared, her voice filled with madness and anger and death.

Clambering to her feet, Luna held out her hands. “No, you won’t.”

She twisted her hand, and ribbons flowed from her palm. But they weren’t shadows, and they weren’t dark.

Pure sunlight wove around fingers, forming a stake that glowed so brilliantly my eyes burned. Luna lifted her weapon. Without hesitation, she plunged it into the queen’s heart.

A horrific scream filled Hoarfrost Hollow. It echoed off the tombs. Goosebumps erupted over my arms.

Queen Marguerite stumbled back. She grabbed at the stake, her hands burning on impact. Her flesh sizzled, and steam rose in the air.

The queen’s skin changed. Fissures made of pure sunlight spread like golden wildfire from the point of impact until every inch of her body was covered in web-like lines. She glowed like a star about to explode.

Luna wrapped her hands around the stake and pulled the weapon out. The sunlight vanished, dissolving into the night air.

But the queen…

Her body shriveled upon itself. Her skin turned black. Her eyes sunk into her skull. Her nails turned as dark as death itself.

And she fell with a horrible, final thud to the ground.

Time seemed to stop for a long moment. Stillness unlike anything I’d ever experienced fell upon Hoarfrost Hollow. Not even the wind dared whisper as Queen Marguerite died.