Page 9 of The Incendiary

Damond pursed his lips and gave me a chiding stare. “To some of us, you’ll always be more than the queen.” He picked up his coffee. “Besides, if he comes back and finds out you’re injured or weakened or remotely inconvenienced because of me… My head’s too pretty to be chopped off by the Butcher, don’t you agree?”

His levity was lost on me.

“If he comes back.”

Damond’s smirk faded. “Are you sure you still want to do this?”

“I have to go,” I said, even though staying hidden away with Damond in this cabin sounded more appealing some days.

Hide in plain sight, he’d written. You’ll figure out how.

The obedient student I was, I heeded his advice and decided to go as someone else. Another of my twelve abilities was camouflage thanks to Autumna, Goddess of the Hunt. The power wasn’t advanced. I could change only my hair and eye color, but it was enough to hide my identity in the presence of those who’d never seen me before. Once I changed my appearance, it stuck like a tattoo until I willfully changed it back, so the chances of slipping up were slim.

“Are you absolutely positive?”

“My people deserve to be free,” I told him, staring into the fire. “I will do what I have to do to ensure they are. And I’ll do it as one of them.”

My friend sighed in defeat. “Some of them may be paranoid and unstable thinking their queen is gone. They could be dangerous⁠—”

“I am dangerous.” I knew I sounded childish, but it was true. “I’m ready.”

“I’m not doubting that you’re ready. I’m nervous about them. All of their hope has been in their queen.”

“And they will have her! I will reveal myself eventually. I will be their queen.” I stood to my feet, equally unwavering in my decision as I was terrified of failing. “But I will prove myself first. I won’t be Simeon’s puppet. I’m doing this my way, and I will leave in two days.”

I left my other reasoning out, because I felt like I was betraying both Gavin and Damond by even thinking about it. But I couldn’t consider marrying Elias Winterton until I knew who he truly was. The only feasible way to discover that was by getting close to him when he didn’t know I was his queen.

Damond opened his mouth to object, his tender eyes sad. He only feared for me like the dear friend he was. It didn’t matter if he challenged me again. I was going. I needed to show them, and myself, that I could lead, and I needed to know what kind of alliance I was marrying into.

Finally, Damond nodded in agreement. “Two days.”

THREE

ELIAS WINTERTON

My queen was dead, and Gemma Tremaine knew more about her death than she was letting on.

Months ago, she had been planted with Phillip and Elowen Gold by Simeon to assess the queen’s state of mind and report back. Gemma Tremaine had known the queen better than anyone.

She entered my office, shoulders straight, face poised. She wore fighting leathers, all black, just like the thick curls tied up on top of her head in a knot. The lean, shapely body I’d always admired stood poised and waiting for direction. A few years ago, I might have pursued her for a night of fun. But I saw the way Finn Sinclair looked at her. I had no desire to fuck that up for him just for a good lay.

Besides, I preferred blondes.

Gemma met my glare with a fearlessness that would make most men cower. “You requested my presence, Commander.”

“Gem‑ma.” Her name was an agitated warning on my tongue. “What can you tell me about the man named Smyth?”

Her shoulders tensed and sorrow flashed through her amber eyes.

“Not much.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Simeon sent him.”

“And how was that verified?”

“He came with a note sealed with Simeon’s emblem. The handwriting was Simeon’s.” Her eyes traveled to my fingers, tapping restlessly on my desk. “I’m sure it was from him.”

I had no way to know if this was true. I hadn’t heard from Simeon for months myself. But it was hard to believe that Simeon would hand over our queen to his worst enemy’s executioner.

“Was he the Butcher?”