A Love From A Different World

Chapter 73

The middle-aged one stuttered, eyes wide with shock, mouth gaped. "I beg your pardon?"

"The fact that you idiotic fools are responsible for an entire kingdom is far scarier than Hybern attacking us. The fact that your morons run a country is utterly terrifying." Celeana was seething with anger. Her face was white with rage. She did not yell, was not aggressive. But her lethal calm was most definitely more frightening than if she were screaming.

Mor was terrified. For what the human might do to her queens.

Almost too quietly, Celeana said, "Give them the book."

The queens blinked, stiffening.

She snapped. "Give them the book."

And the eldest queen hissed, "No."

"Then I hope he comes for you first."

Despite herself, Mor silently agreed. They were nothing like their ancestors. These women were cruel, arrogant, and selfish.

Mor tried one last time, standing up, "Is it a sum you're after? Name your price, then."

The golden queen snorted as their guards closed in around them. "We have all the riches we need. We will now return to our palace to deliberate with our sisters."

"You're already going to say no," Mor pushed.

The golden queen smirked. "Perhaps." She took the crone's withered hand.

The ancient queen lifted her chin. "We appreciate the gesture of your trust."

Then they were gone.

Mor swore. She looked to her cousin. But his eyes were elsewhere. His violet eyes were on the chair where the golden queen had been seated.

Beneath it, somehow hidden by her voluminous skirts while she'd sat, was a box.

A box ... that she must have removed from wherever she was hiding it when she'd leaned down to pick up her handkerchief. Rhys had known it. Had stopped speaking to get them out as fast as possible.

Before she could wonder how the queen brought it to them, the voice of the second and final piece of the Book filled the room, sang to them.

Life and death and rebirth Sun and moon and dark Rot and bloom and bones Hello, sweet thing. Hello, lady of night, princess of decay. Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn. Love me, touch me, sing me.

Rhys smoothly picked it up and set it on the golden queen's chair. He did not need Amren's power to open it— because no High Lord's spells had been keyed to it.

Rhys flipped back the lid. A note lay atop the golden metal of the book.

I read your letter. About the woman you love. I believe you. And I believe in peace. I believe in a better world. If anyone asks, you stole this during the meeting. Do not trust the others. The sixth queen was not ill.

Mor had been surprised when they had mentioned Rhysand's letter. She had not known that her cousin had sent them anything. Nor did she know the contents of said letter, but it was clear it had been about Celeana. She wondered if the human woman knew it too.

But that was not important right now. Because they had the Book of Breathings. Both halves now. And because they could not stop Hybern. But not everyone was pleased with their predicament.

"You made a mistake," They turned towards the human, whose eye was curiously not on the book, but on the note. "We weren't to trust them, but you've just divulged information about your secret city."