Page 139 of Reaper's Quest

My chest tightened, sensing—anticipating—the words about to flow from the matriarch’s lips. My entire body braced for whatever secret the queen thought she knew.

“I met with a young gentleman not so long ago,” the queen continued. “His bone structure, coloring, and style of attire not so dissimilar to your own. His last name was Badden. Perhaps you know him?”

Chace.

She spoke of Chace. Had seen Chace.

Was that before or afterthe two of us had fought? Before or after Aldine and Aoes had last seen him?

She made no mention of Aldine. Only Chace.

My heart slammed in my chest, even as I maintained acasual stance, concealing my anxiety and tension. Had the queen locked up Chace...in that awful, dark place depicted in Myla’s drawing?

“Your friend…associate…” The queen smirked. She studied my features, clearly looking for a reaction to her word choice. “He was not the first Badden with whom I have crossed paths. His family has been here before.”

What? Oh…shit. She knows.

My chest collapsed in on itself, and I held my breath.

“It was then, during that first encounter, that I learned of your kind’s existence, and I have not forgotten. Shall never forget.” She spoke the last sentence with harsh solidity. “Your kind takes from us those whom we love.”

Something in her eyes flared.

I fought the responding widening of my eyes. Had she hurt Chace in some misguided act of revenge?

Her attention flickered behind me, and her shoulders drooped. She took a small step back, granting me a smidgen of breathing space.

At my back, nearing footfalls crossed the room.

I’d bet the queen had stepped away, quieted her temperament, because ofwhoapproached. If she meant to intimidate me, she didn’t want anyone to witness her doing so.

She raised a beseeching hand toward the approaching person. “Thank you, my dear.”

Winter stepped to our side and handed over the towel. “Of course. Your request is my command.”

As the queen used the towel to dab at the smear of tonic left upon her hands, he turned to me, a twinkle of humor inhis eyes. “How are you holding up? Are you in need of rescue?”

Rescuing? Seriously? I should scoff at his words. He might have rescued me once?okay, twice if I counted the first time I’d met him?but by my estimate, I ranked ahead in the rescuing, having saved his ass at least three times now.

From the specters in the tunnels—despite the mad Watcher’s involvement, I still claimed that win—to dragging him all the way back to the pub for help, then ultimately pulling him out of his afflicted state.

All of those times might have taken place today, but I would still count them individually.

And by the time I finished with this citadel, I planned to save his soul and possibly even restore his access to his magic. Save everyone’s soul and access to their magic.

His fingers reached for mine, brushing lightly against my skin. A slight rush of heat rose through me, and I spied the queen’s judgmental gaze.

“Raven? Are you okay? Still with me?” he asked.

I arched an eyebrow. “Do I strike you as the damsel-in-distress type?”

“No. Never.” He regarded me with a scrutinizing gaze, and I detected a slight purr in his delivery.

The queen cleared her throat. “As much as I may find this exchange between you mildly entertaining, I have other matters that demand my attention.”

She held the dirty towel at arm’s length, pinched between the tips of two fingers. A servant rushed forward, collected the discarded cloth, and departed with a low bow to both royals.

Without another word, the queen turned and strode from the room. Something in my gut told me she was not yet finished with me.