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ETAN

Etan's ears rang suddenly, his pulse throbbing in his head. Images flashed in his head of Ayleth, opening her arms to her mother, only to receive a knife between her ribs. "Y-you can't be serious. You would kill your own daughter?"

"I would happily kill her if my only remaining choice is to leave her with you. I will not see her made… Summitran," she spewed the word as if it tasted foul. "I will not see her provide you an heir! Do not try me, you childish pup. Do not convince yourself that I am not ruthless enough to do it."

"I do not doubt your ruthlessness," Etan snarled. "I hoped that your love for your daughter would outweigh your hate."

"Then you are almost as naïve as my daughter. And you would do well to learn from me: I foresaw this day, or one like it. From the day you attempted to take her, I have prepared."

"Prepared what?" he demanded. "What vile work have you done?"

The Queen smiled and straightened herself, patting her hair as if she had been flustered and was returning to herself. Then she took a step to the side, to a small bowl of dried flower petals that had been placed on the low table and gathered a small handful of them. When she turned back to Etan she seemed much more relaxed, but Etan didn't fall for the act. He remained on the balls of his feet and poised, ready for whatever disgusting plot or power she might throw. He prayed fervently for the Father's protection in the event she attempted to bespell him. And he vowed to take her through the heart with his sword if she tried to leave and find Ayleth.

But she only stared at him with that tiny smile and rolled her shoulders back as if she were suddenly pleased.

"Can you see the irony?" she asked softly, stroking the petals in her hands. "It was your father's attempt on her life that forced me to it. She was so terrified, so weak following that. I knew if anyone was ever successful in taking her, it would break her beautiful mind. She could not bear the hands of a strange man on her—or the fear of what might come at the hands of an enemy. And so, I placed a spell on her." She sidled even closer to him so he could hear her whisper. "It took days, and three sorcerers to prepare the draught. But once she took it, I held her heart in my hand." She held her palm up with the small mound of dried petals within it. "Make no mistake here, Etan. Do not lie to yourself, or gamble, because you will lose: I took my daughter's heart so that in the event someone else ever took her or attempted to use her, I could kill her cleanly.

"She is given into my hands, and I have protected her because I love her. But I will. Not. Give her. To you. No matter where she might be, no matter how far, if I crush the piece of her that I have, her heart will stop as surely as the sun goes down tonight. And it will be easy as this." She closed her fist suddenly, the tiny petals crunching and snapping within her grip. 

Etan stared, horrified, as darkness filled the gaze of the Zenithran Queen, and rage tightened her beautiful features, twisting them into a mask of death.

Etan shook his head. "No."

"Yes," she hissed, turning her hand over to allow the dust of the petals to drift to the floor over Etan's boot. She watched it drift and settle like snow on the carpet and she sighed as if it were only a sad truth she was unable to control, or deny. Rage pulsed in Etan's veins, but she wasn't finished. 

Turning her eyes back to his, he saw that light within her again—the sick, putrid light of her power, but also the light of vengeance and rage. When she locked eyes with him, it was a battle of wills and he met her head on as she spoke the worst words he had ever taken breath to witness.

"If you remove her from me, I will kill her," she said, her voice hard, cold, and clipped. "If you publicly announce her as your wife, I will kill her. If you take any action that leads people to find or defend the marriage contract, I will kill her." 

She took a single step toward him, hands clutching her skirts. "Do not trifle with me, Highness. I do not play games. Do not underestimate my appetite for this. I love my daughter. But I will not allow her to be the mother of your Heir, or a power for you or your Kingdom while I draw breath—and before you begin to plot my demise, know that when I learned of what had passed between you two, that you were claiming an attachment and plotting in secret to marry, while I planned to corner you, I made arrangements. Hear me. I came to you alone so we might speak true, but know that if I am not safely back in my quarters within an hour, or if anything happens to me while you or your family remain in the castle, the spell will be triggered by those that would help me. And there are many. They may not know what they do, but they know their role should I disappear, or die." She smiled again, pleased with herself.

"You cannot escape this, Etan." She tilted her head and folded her arms under her breasts. "It is not your fault. You are young. Your only hope is to work with me. If you truly vow your life for hers, if you truly vow her safety over your own, this is your moment to prove it."

She stepped closer again, her words piercing and insistent, as if she would press them into his skin. "Leave my daughter. Refuse her. Take another. Allow her to take another. Forget your love. Forget your devotion. Forget anything within you that would claim her. Save her heart, or save her life. You cannot do both."

*****

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! Thank you for being willing to come on this very up-and-down ride with me. And thank you for purchasing privilege for the extra chapters, and your summoning pens. I am so humbled by your kind words and dedication to these characters.

In September I am going to try and make sure you have at least a couple updates a week. If I gain more time, I will release more chapters.. But we'll have to see how it goes. Regardless, I wanted to throw an extra chapter to you today to say thank you for still being here! I hope you enjoy!