CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Thirty-Four

[MAGGIE'S  PoV]

I'd prepared myself for all sorts of things to go wrong in Lumina. But this, staring into the stone face of Queen Amaranth while she says my real purpose, my real name, without even a hint of doubt or emotion... I was so not prepared for this.

I opened and closed my mouth once, twice, three times, trying frantically to come up with a response. But I could hardly think at all. My heart beat against my ribs like a terrified bird, and the world itself seemed to tilt under my feet. Was I going to faint?

"Have a seat," Amaranth said, gesturing to the plushy chair in front of her desk. "And don't bother with whatever lie you're attempting to formulate, I haven't the patience."

I dropped into the chair, my icy fingers finding the armrests and gripping with all my might, as if I could hold myself to consciousness. This was the end. She was going to kill me.

Silence trailed on. Long, too long.

Amaranth raised an eyebrow. "Well? I'm sure you have a multitude of questions. I won't answer any, but I would like to hear you speak them anyway-- just so I can assure myself you haven't swallowed your tongue."

"How..." I took a breath. "How do you know my name?"

She smiled. Or, I think it was a smile. There was no warmth, no humor, just a twist of her lips. "Shadows listen," was all she said.

Right. Okay. She had already said she wasn't going to answer, but I hadn't expected whatever that cryptic nonsense was supposed to be. Still, there was a more pressing question at hand. "You're going to kill me now."

It didn't come out as a question.

"Lord Solanum would like to see you publicly hanged, but he's sought that for far lesser crimes, so I wouldn't take it personally if I were you." Amaranth waved a hand.

My own hand went to my neck. So it wasn't just the queen. Favaro also knew why I was here and wanted me dead for it. Did Raini know? Did Cas? A quiet whimper escaped my lips.

"I'm going to offer you an alternative," Amaranth continued. "It's not ideal, for either of us I'm sure, but it will save me the hassle of an execution."

My eyes flicked back to hers, but I didn't dare let the hope show. Banishment, please be banishment. If she banished me I could go back to the manor. Back to Kindle and Faye. Seraphim might not let me go home without Amaranth dead, but that was fine. At least I would still be alive to figure out an alternative.

"You are to betroth yourself to my son, Casimir."

"What?" I blinked. All the panic jolted out of me and was replaced with absolute confusion. Was she insane? She knew I was here to kill her, knew I'd spent the past several days lying about who I was. Her court sorcerer wanted me dead, and if he did then surly her daughter wanted it too. In what world was me marrying Cas a solution to any of that?

After another long moment of silence, Amaranth shrugged a light shoulder. "If that arrangement is not to your liking, we'll simply allow Favaro to go through with his execution. I'm sure the people of Lumina would love it; they so adore mindless violence."

"But why?" I asked. "Your highness, I'm here to kill you, why would you want me to marry your son?"

"Marry? Oh, gracious no." She chuckled lightly, shaking her head. Even with that motion, there was still no humor in her ashen eyes.

"Then--"

Amaranth raised a hand and I fell silent. "Betrothing yourself to a Lousvar will make Lord Solanum unable to touch you, it most certainly won't be a permanent arrangement. I just require a little more time, and this will give it to me."