Queen of Light (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, #3)

Twenty-Four

Cal sat on the ground, her back to the altar. She held her mother's golden crown in her hands.

She looked up and saw Akaljot and Matias standing in the doorway. "She's dead," she said numbly. "Queen Marilyn is dead."

Matias knelt down in front of her and took the crown into his hands. He set it aside and hauled Cal to her feet.

"You're the queen, Cal," he said. "We fight now. Mourn and bury the dead later."

She strode past her father and brother. She picked up her pace to a jog, and then a run. The doors to the throne room were closed As she slowed to a rapid walk she threw the doors opened and stopped several steps in.

"I thought I told you to get the hell off my throne," Cal snarled.

At the foot of the dais, Luna reached for her sword. And atop Cal's rightful throne was none other than Melania Andhera. The two Andheras were nothing alike. Whereas Luna had her long white hair plaited back in a braid and cold turquoise eyes, Melania had long raven black hair cascading over her shoulders, her ebony eyes soulless.

Melania raised a deathly pale hand. "Not yet, Luna."

Luna's hand returned to her side at her mother's command.

"Luna," Lance said softly.

Her ice cold gaze snapped to his.

"Is this your lover?" Melania sneered.

Luna stiffened. "No," she whispered.

Cal drew Azar. "Surrender, and I might just have you executed in the dungeons."

Melania shook her head, smiling. "No. You know what to do, Luna. Kill them."

Luna drew her sword, shadowfire sparked up on her left hand. "With pleasure, my queen."

Luna flicked her wrist and a low-burning wall of violet and black flames separated Cal from her companions. Cal charged to meet Luna, and their swords collided. Melania had Luna trained well. Cal flung her flame out to Luna, the fire being met with shadowfire.

The force of their magic sent them skidding back, their ears ringing.

"Where did your light go, Light-Bringer?" asked Luna, burying Cal in a barrage of attacks.

Cal blocked and dodged the attacks. She couldn't tell them. She couldn't reveal to the rest of the world what she had done. The bargains she had made.

Luna knocked Azar out of her hand and swept Cal out from under her feet. She crashed to the ground, bones singing.

"No!" shouted Akaljot.

Cal scrambled back from the princess of shadows. Her father slid in front of her, his arms thrown a out wide. He looked down at her, sadness in his eyes.

"Dad, no!" Cal shrieked.

A single tear slid down his cheek just as Luna's sword went through his chest.