They each squeezed her hand, and she froze as the large doors in front of her opened without them knocking. Well, that made sense, as they had been just standing there for a bit trying to prepare themselves. There was no way they had gone unseen since then. She was just happy that she’d had the little time she had.
Tristan went first, and she followed with Seth close behind her. They might be one unit, but Tristan had far more experience in courts and the like. The large stone building had ivy running along the outside and vines with roses and other deep red flowers on the inside. The beauty of it would have awed her, if she hadn’t known the person in charge had killed Amara’s entire line before she’d even been born.
If Amara hadn’t been struck by lightning, the queen never would have noticed her. But if she hadn’t been changed, hadn’t been altered in some fundamental way, she never would have met Tristan and Seth. And they were worth far more than what the queen had to offer.
The queen only held death and banishment and Amara knew there would be no future there for her.
Ahead of them sat a throne that rivaled any royalty’s she’d seen in movies. A tall woman with long, raven hair wrapped in an ornate ponytail that slid over her shoulder sat in the chair. Her green eyes weren’t a normal color, but rather a bright shade that seemed to light from within. She had strong cheekbones and pale, pale skin. If anything, she looked like a true Evil Queen. And that only worried Amara more than she already was.
“I cannot believe you have the audacity to walk through my doors as you have,” the queen crooned. Her voice was a deep, throaty purr, and it scared the hell out of Amara.
“Queen,” Tristan said deeply. “We are here—”
“I know why you are here,” she cut him off and stood. Her long dress draped around her, showing off her curves. “You’re lucky you’re a Conclave member or I’d sing you to your death, fae.”
Tristan growled. “I’m far older than you, Queen. It’s best you remember that.”
The queen snapped her teeth then smiled at Amara. “You’ve come to me, young siren. You didn’t glamour yourself, I’m surprised.”
Amara raised her chin, knowing it showed off her marks even more. She’d decided to come as she was now, rather than who she’d been before. They were there for a future and to face their problems, hiding her ink and skin would have been counterproductive.
“Queen,” she said. She didn’t bow. For some reason, she knew if she did, the queen would think she’d won. “I am here to ask for you to break the curse you put on my line before I was born. I do not want your throne or any life other than the life I could have with my mates. I won’t come for anything you hold dear or rise to power like you thought the others would. I am just me. Amara. I ask this of you. Please.”
She hadn’t rehearsed what she would say, but that seemed like the best thing. Maybe her pleading would work. Because if it didn’t, she’d have to decide if running for her life with her two mates without a bond would be worth it. If she didn’t do that…well, then she’d have to end the curse one way or another. And from the snarl on the queen’s face, they both knew it.
“You want me to break the curse? And why do you think I’d do that? Your line earned that.”
“How did they do that?” Seth asked. “By trying to take down a monarchy which clearly threatens the realm? Amara wasn’t alive then. How do you blame her for the past?”
“I can do as I please,” the queen snapped. “Your line was eradicated. And yet the Conclave chose to give you powers? You’re an abomination.”
The lightning hadn’t exactly worked like that, but Amara wasn’t about to correct her. It seemed as though she were on the edge as it was.
“There are other ways to break the curse,” Amara said softy, her voice calmer than she expected. Both Seth and Tristan stiffened, though they’d done it so subtlety she wasn’t sure anyone would have noticed. She just happened to know their bodies well.
The queen tilted her head. “You’re threatening me, young one? You don’t even have full control of your powers, and yet you come to me with your threats.”
“We’re here because it’s protocol,” Tristan bit out. “A new member of the realm needs to present his or herself to the powers that be. We’re here, and now you’ve seen her.”
“And yet you want me to remove a curse.” The queen shook her head. “No, I don’t think I will do that. In fact, I do believe a lesson is in order.” She raised her head and opened her mouth.
Amara didn’t have time to think before the queen began to sing, her voice a haunting melody that spoke of powers Amara might never understand.
Seth grunted from her side before a scream ripped from him. Amara turned to him and let out a scream of her own. The queen continued to sing, and with each note, it looked as if Seth caved in on himself.
“She’s drying him out!” Tristan called out and took a step toward the queen. Amara moved to Seth and caught his head as he fell backwards. His skin began to look brittle, as if he were losing all the water in his system. As a merman, it was even more dangerous for him.
Tears slid down her cheeks and she did the only thing she could do.