Page 4 of Kill the Queens

Red rubies sparkled back at her from where the light was hitting the top of her dress. For any normal outing, this dress would have been considered far too obnoxious. However, when it came to meeting with her sisters, the goal was always to dress to impress. Not to mention, Idalia always tried to claim the color red as hers. Farah much preferred green or even sometimes a nice deep navy blue. Still, she wore red to get under her sister’s skin.

Tap.

Farah arched a slender brow at her reflection.

Tap.

She smiled at herself as she felt the way her power recognized the magic making its way up the stairs toward her.

Tap.

Taking a hold of the red velvet material, she snapped the curtains closed, covering the mirror. She swiveled on her toes as the sounds came nearer and nearer. Her skin buzzed withexcitement that sent a pulse up the staff and to the globe filled with clear waters. The water rippled as if a pebble had been cast upon its surface.

Tap.

Dark frizzy curls came into view first. A silver crown made with several sparkling emeralds nearly hidden within the mop of hair. Large doe eyes, framed by thick lashes, then a small pointed nose, and that wide wicked grin.Ambrose.

Tap.

Her sister’s staff, swirling with vines that pressed to the edge of the glass, hit the stone floor Farah was waiting for her on. They locked gazes.

Farah's chest swelled. This was it. This was her happy place. Ambrose was not only her sister but her very best friend. Since taking over her kingdom, they'd only gotten to spend a handful of moments together. Every time they parted, Farah felt as though she was sending off a piece of her heart.

"Farah," Ambrose breathed as she lifted her arms and crossed the room. Her ivy green dress hugged her body, thin slips of material falling off her shoulders. Sparkling ruby shoes—as if she also wanted to get at Idalia—poked out. She was beautiful. And she was here. That’s what mattered.

Farah's cheeks ached as a smile stretched from ear to ear. A long inhale filled her lungs only to be crushed out as they collided in one massive embrace. Farah's arms tightened around Ambrose. She was smaller than she remembered.Had she lost weight?

Slowly, Farah pulled away to examine her sister more closely. Her eyes were perhaps a little bit more sunken in, glassy and tinged red as if she'd been crying. The way Farah's hand could wrap around so much of her arm also surprised her. Yes, her sister looked like she'd begun to wither away.

She swiped her thumb across Ambrose's cheek beforeshe pinched her chin and looked down at her. Ambrose may have been older but Farah was certainly taller.

"How are you?" Farah asked. "Really?"

"I'm great." Ambrose smiled but her eyes told an entirely different story. Farah noticed it and it formed a knot where her heart should be.

"Don't you dare lie to me. I can always tell when you're lying."

Ambrose's nervous laugh filled the small room. Farah followed her sister's gaze to where she'd pinned those large hazel eyes on Sienna's staff. Farah didn't think Ambrose had been particularly close to their sister, but she did understand one thing about her. Ambrose cared. She cared more than anyone else cared and that was why sometimes she seemed like she was off her rocker.

"You know, just normal things. Worried about this whole finding a king situation. My head's been whispering some scary things. Then there's poor Sienna. Did you even know she was in danger?"

Of course, Farah knew. Ambrose had known too. Did they do anything? No. Ambrose must have been beside herself when she received the news.

"What's the whispering all about?" Farah tried to avoid the question. They didn't really need to talk about that...not right now. Not yet.

"Same old, same old. Impending doom. Men with glowing fire eyes. And carnival games. Or maybe that last bit had been a dream?" Ambrose shrugged and pulled away from Farah to look around the tower.

"That all sounds more like a nightmare." Farah shivered. She knew that Sienna had hosted a carnival. Maybe that was why Ambrose was thinking and dreaming about one. The voices that spoke to Ambrose had been around for the last year. Sincethey'd gotten their magic.

Farah wondered if it was some consequence of it. Though the fact that their kingdom was on the verge of throwing them off their thrones might also be seen as a consequence. Another reason why Farah didn't like to leave her castle.

Ambrose nodded her agreement as she kept her attention on Sienna's staff and made her way to her own seat. A shadow stretched from the doorway into the room. Farah's gaze followed the dark curves all the way to the feet of the woman standing there.

Idalia narrowed her eyes at her sisters. Farah hadn’t even heard her arrive and now here she was. Her jaw pulsed as she clenched and unclenched her teeth. The fire at the top of her staff roared at a full blaze as if she'd poured oil onto it. That wasn't a good sign, Farah noted.

Farah was often skeptical of her eldest sister. She repeatedly had sent spies to attend any social gatherings Idalia held. She needed to keep an eye out to make sure she didn't get any ideas about taking land. Maybe Idalia knew and that was why she watched her with such intensity. Ambrose might seem like she was half out of her mind most days…but Idalia, well Farah was pretty sure she didn't even have a heart. She doubted her sister felt remorse or thought about anything other than herself.

The conversation that had been started was stopped as the eldest sister glided into the room and took her seat. Ambrose hadn't looked away from Sienna's staff and Farah was still standing, letting Idalia get a good look at her in the red gown.