Page 129 of The Serpent Prince

A muscle in his jaw ticked, but he said nothing because it was true.

Imani continued, undeterred, “Oh, I know more about you than anyone alive,” she said, throwing his words back in his face. “You might have used to know me, but I have some new, nasty secrets I managed to keep from you.”

Her skin tingled with the Drasil’s magic as it amplified her own. Kiran was going to see just how powerful she was now.

A burst of bright, raw magic erupted from her new wand as she called forth the nascent magic of the crown—the power she knew wasn’t really hers, but she’d claimed it, anyway.

A dozen huge roots jutted out from her skull, and the crown fluttered and vibrated around her head. The flowers lay delicately, encircling her head, magic radiating off them.

That day in the forest, on the way to Niflheim, Imani had felt the crown take control through her connection with Meira, and now it was likely she had either stolen the power from Meira … or Meira possessed the same magic. Their strange connection since Imani had taken Meira’s divination magic had unforeseen effects neither sister could have anticipated.

She wouldn’t know for sure until she faced her sister in Essenheim. So, for now, the power was hers, and hers alone.

Kiran’s eyes widened, brimming with emotions. Mostly betrayal, bewilderment, and … fear.

A voice murmured in her head; it sounded like Ara. If it feels this good to have one person look at you this way, imagine how good it will feel to see a kingdom look at you like this.

“You’re the …” He trailed off, an odd look settling into his features. Imani couldn’t decipher what it was. Suspicion? Bemusement? Something entirely different? He narrowed his eyes. “You’re the missing Essenheim heir,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “All these months, you kept it glamoured with flesh magic. It was so powerful that I couldn’t sense it until I became king. And not even the king could truly sense it. How?”

“It was never flesh magic—it was my shadows,” she replied then paused, fixing her unrelenting gaze on him.

He swallowed. “Have you been plotting against me all these months since the crown appeared?”

“Absolutely,” Imani said while holding his stare.

“What are you plotting, Imani?”

“I’m planning to bring this kingdom to its knees, and I will do it while you watch, unable to prevent it from happening. I will protect the innocent witches from you and slaughter the others while you stand outside a barrier, as you did before. I will kill Tanyl, the pretender king, and I will send you his skull to ease your need for revenge. I will bind myself to my kingdom and protect it until I’m dead … and even then I might just surprise you.”

“So, it’s true … the monarchs are mated,” he murmured before narrowing his eyes at her.

“I suppose it is, at least in this instance,” she sneered.

“I fear I cannot forgive you for this lie, nor can I let you leave.”

“We’ve reached a head, a point of no return, where neither of us is willing to budge. So, let me go my way, and you go yours.”

Kiran’s face contorted in rage. “I’m now the king, monarch of the Niflheim Kingdom and other mortal realms, and I will destroy you if you try to leave.”

Imani tried to keep the panic, the pain, from her voice. As airily as she could manage, she murmured, “And I’ll always rise, from everything. I’m the queen, monarch of the Essenheim Kingdom. I’m unconquerable now.”

They both stared, a thousand broken promises within their eyes.

Kiran gave her a curt nod. “Very well. Have it your way, Your Majesty.”

She blinked, stuffing down all her fear, and when she looked at him again, the hunger was still there, but his broad chest rose and fell with each heavy breath he took. As if he struggled with the idea that he wasn’t going to get what he wanted. Not this time.

She wouldn’t give in. Not when she couldn’t trust Kiran any further than she could throw him.

“Kiran, you have to understand why I’m doing this⁠—”

“No, you have to understand,” he cut her off quietly but emphatically. “You have no idea how dangerous it is for you out there, Imani. I can’t protect you.”

Her voice was ice. “I have the power of the crown. I don’t need protection from you or against Tanyl. He’s a pretender sitting on that throne.” My throne. With the Drasil, she was powerful enough to take him—or anyone—who challenged her claim. That was the way of the monarchs, especially those with powerful wands.

“Not him. Not against the monsters controlling his strings. You must believe me—I have your best interests in mind.” His hand fisted tightly around his wand.

“What lovely, meaningless words. More secrets you’re keeping from me?”