How could I kill my friend?
She had been instrumental in shaping me as a Queen Novitiate. Books, training, conversation, devil’s advocate. Adelie had been there through all of it and even got over her habit of keeping pet humans to bring me blood and memories when I woke. I knew that had been hard for her. But she did it. Because she was my friend. She was my heart-sister. She was Adelie. And she wanted me to ascend to the throne as much as anyone could have.
She wanted me to win the crown.
Adelie would have given anything to help me get the crown.
Her life, though? Her life? It was a step too far.
Wasn’t it?
I couldn’t imagine life without her. She was always there, always my friend. From the day I arrived at my grandfather’s citadel outside of Luxor, she befriended me, the daughter of Pharaonic blood and a vampire, her viciousness even at our age then had impressed me. And yet she still kept human pets and had a soft side for them. When she found out I was a princess to the crown, she insisted I needed to take the job as queen one day—when I was old enough to be called upon. It became our obsession. Hers as much as mine.
And now, here we were. At the brink of victory.
The crown hovered above my head…
All I had to do was kill her, and it was mine.
It was law.
If I didn’t kill her, I didn’t uphold the law.
And I didn’t get the throne.
This was the bull that kept the males in power. They cut off their females at the knees before they married them and bred them, so they never had a chance to truly mourn.
Would Adelie hesitate to kill me if we were in each other’s shoes?
Yes. Of course.
Any woman would hesitate to cut off their right hand.
What would I tell her if I knew this was her last test before the finish line?
Kill me.
Of course. Kill me in a heartbeat and take the crown.
I started to regain a sense of balance, calm scratching at the edges of my senses.
I centered my breathing and tested myself once more.
What would I say?
Kill me. Take the crown.
Make the males realize what they are doing. Find a way to change the law so no one has to die for the Black Heart. Make an amazing queen. And kick Nial in the balls for me.
Well, maybe I’d hold back on the last part.
I let out a laugh in the empty forest and wiped my nose of the snot.
Fine. They wanted me to kill her. The law said I had to.
Then I would.
We’d both worked for me to take this crown.
And we would both do anything to put it where it belonged—on my brow.
*
I found Lord Otto and Lord Xenon in the formal dining room. I stood over them, fists clenched at my sides.
The two other people in the area fled, my wild hair and red-rimmed eyes enough of a warning for them to skedaddle.
I stated quietly, “I have three conditions.”
Lord Xenon shook his head slightly and sighed. “There are no conditions.”
“I have conditions. Will you hear me?”
Lord Otto shrugged. “Fine. Tell us your conditions.”
Glancing between them, I didn’t falter. “I will not have this done in public. I request a small party of witnesses. The overlords, the Monitor, and two other people of the Council’s choosing so that there is no bias.”
“That is not how this is done,” Lord Xenon grumbled.
I leaned in close to the two of them. “Does the law tell me how I am to commit murder?”
Both shook their heads, their brows puckered in thought.
“Then I will choose how I will commit murder against someone who is a sister to me.” I straightened, shoving my shoulders back. I peered down my nose into their eyes. “My first condition is that you give me the space and set up exactly as I said—witnesses and the victim. That’s all.”
With a simple glance, they spoke volumes to each other.
“A small gathering is granted.” Lord Otto’s words were smooth and cold. “What is your second condition?”
“I am left alone for a week to mourn. There will be no contact from the Councilors or their agents.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Nothing from anyone. Alone. To mourn.”
Rapidly shaking his head in the negative, Lord Otto looked ready to explode. “The ceremony—”
I cut him off rapidly, “Unless it’s in the law—that is my demand.”
Lord Xenon put a hand on Lord Otto to hold him in the chair. “It is not in the tradition. The ceremony is usually the day after. We can only accommodate an uncrowned queen for four days. At the most. That is our compromise.”
It wouldn’t matter how many days they could manage. It would never be enough.
My head nodded in a stiff jerk. “Fine. Four. Uninterrupted by anyone.”
“And your last condition?” Lord Xenon prompted me to finish.
“I crown myself. No one places that crown on my head but me.”
Lord Otto nearly jumped out of his seat. “Unheard of!”
The unshakeable, unreadable Lord Xenon cracked. “That’s not right. That’s not the way it’s been done in the past. The queen should be crowned by the eldest overlord. Lord Otto is correct—this is unheard of.”
“Well, hear of it, or you lose this Queen Novitiate.” I wasn’t budging.
Another glance at each other, and they nodded at the same time accepting the terms.
“Set up a dinner,” I said.
“This—”
I slammed my hand on the table. “I’m doing what the law asks. I despise it, and if I could find a way around this, I would. In a heartbeat. So you’ll work with me, or you can find a new Queen Novitiate and hope they can pass your stupid trials.”
Again, the synchronized nod.
“A dinner. Tomorrow night, with the witnesses there. No one else. Set the table, but do not expect to eat. I will not give her a last meal like some pig to the slaughter.” Spinning on my heel, I headed for the exit but paused. I tossed my last words over my shoulder at them. “Tell Lord Belshazzar it will be quick.”
A creeping chill ran up my hardened spine, noting the small smiles they now wore.
Perhaps I should have demanded more.
Cunning fucks.
This vampire was seeing much of the porcelain god. Lots of time hugging the toilet.
I hid and cried and hid some more. I avoided all contact with everyone. Nial tried to hunt me down several times in the next few hours, but there was no finding me. Mostly because I hid outside the stronghold after barfing for thirty minutes, slinking down the side of the mountain as the day wore on. I wanted the cold to strip me of all feelings, take the flesh off my bones.
Anything not to feel.
I snuck in a few times to see if I could find a bottle of liquor strong enough to do anything to me—but would leave empty-handed, instead. I could have gotten shitfaced, but then that would only diminish the act I had to commit. I had to honor Adelie in some way.