Page 69 of A Fate of Wings
“Stand down,” Thea commanded. “And let your queen enter.”
“But,” one stammered. “You’re already inside.”
“How?” the other guard shook her head.
“Now,” she snapped with a click of her teeth.
They hurried to do her bidding as they sheathed their swords and opened the large doors. Inside, every head turned our way. The room was enormous. Great columns lined a row to the throne at the end. Melanie sat on a throne made of jagged obsidian rock and a seat of black fur. Thea’s staff, the one I’d made, balanced against the throne by Melanie’s legs. The gold handle glittered under the candle sconces and the red rubies I’d embedded in the piece winked at me.
My mate would reclaim that too.
“Melanie.” Thea marched down the walkway. Every siren gasped and skittered back from her, their eyes wide and scared.
They should be alarmed. They’d been worshipping an imposter.
“What is the meaning of this?” Melanie said. “Who is this imposter?”
“Imposter,” Thea roared, halting a half-dozen steps from the throne. “You’re the imposter. How dare you use a witch’s glamor to fool everyone into thinking you’re their queen?”
I strode up behind Thea, giving every siren a wary look. Would they believe Thea? Or would they fight to protect the woman they believed was their queen? How many were in on Melanie’s coup?
Murmurs broke out amongst the sirens.
“I’m not using glamor. You are.” Melanie stood and picked up the staff. She waved the luminous gold and glittering rubies at the crowd. “Guards seize this imposter.”
The guards from the door who’d followed us inside stepped up behind us.
I turned to face them, revealing my wings from my back as I did. “Choose cautiously which one you believe for I’ll protect my mate.”
They exchanged another glance and then lowered their swords.
“This is preposterous,” Melanie said. “Look, my sister, Melanie, is right next to me.”
A woman stepped forward, a replica of Melanie. Behind her stood their two handmaidens. Whatever spell Melanie had gained was a good one. She’d glamored not only herself, but two other sirens to fill the positions people would miss.
“Where are your guards?” I whispered to Thea.
“Good question. Where are Arine and Raefa?” she called out.
More whispers rippled through the crowd.
“You two.” I pointed at the guards. “Don’t you think it’s strange the queen’s personal guards aren’t here, you know, being her guards?”
They exchanged another look and then ran from the throne room. At least they exhibited some sense in them.
“She is without a doubt not Raelin.” Thea pointed at the handmaiden standing to the side. “Whoever you are, you will pay for betraying your queen.”
The woman glamoured to look like her handmaiden flinched. Melanie shot her a glare, making her tremble. I flared my wings from my back. The talons were so sharp they would slice heads from bodies. If anyone rushed Thea, they wouldn’t get anywhere near her. Not with me to protect her.
I’d like to slice her sister’s head from her body, but that was Thea’s call.
The guards returned with Thea’s personal guards in tow and the real Raelin. Gasps rippled through the crowd of sirens. The air grew hostile and filled with anticipation of the battle about to unravel.
Raefa bowed to her queen. “Your majesty, we’ve been searching the many realms for you for years.”
Ailine bowed too. “We’re sorry we didn’t protect you. When Raelin and the Beast escaped the dungeon, we hid her. We knew your mate would find you.”
“Your majesty. I’m so happy to see you.” Raelin fell to her knees at Thea’s feet.