Chapter 48

Chapter

Forty-Eight

ALYX

I know I should not enjoy playing these games with Queen Mother, but I do. Maybe that makes me wicked, but when Joha and I share a smirk over our teacups, I know he is enjoying it too.

We can be wicked together.

She peers at her cup worriedly, making every excuse not to drink it while we brazenly drink ours. She suspects they are filled with poison since she had them laced this morning, but before she even had poured the poison into the tea, I’d sneaked into her rooms and changed it. It’s a simple herbal liquor for stomach aches instead, and it smells and looks the same. She’s getting bold, the deaths of her accomplices making her act out.

“Queen Mother, you offend me by not drinking with us. Is there something wrong with your tea?” Joha murmurs, watching her as he downs his cup and pours another before pointedly looking at hers.

She smiles tightly and grips the china. She expected us to drink it and die before she had to sip it. The fool. I stare into her narrowed eyes and wonder if her beauty really blinded so many to the evil in her gaze.

It fooled us for a little while.

“Of course, my king,” she murmurs. Her sudden invite for tea last night was expected. She is desperate to kill Joha, and now, it seems, me as well. She knows we are getting close, and from the tightness of her shoulders, I can tell she’s worried.

She takes a sip, holding it in her mouth, and I stand. “It’s such a pleasant day. How about a walk, my king?”

“Sounds wonderful.” He stands, and both of us tip back our cups, swallowing the contents.

“Such a lovely blend of tea, Queen Mother. You will have to share it with me.” I smile widely as she nods, refusing to talk. I almost burst into laughter at her puffy cheeks filled with what she thinks is poison. “Are you quite okay? Oh no, are you choking?” I hurry to her side, hitting her back harder than necessary. “Oh gosh.”

She coughs, swallowing and spluttering, and hits the table, making the china jump. “Thank you, you are so kind,” she sneers.

I smile. “Of course,” I reply demurely. “I am glad you are okay now.”

“My love, you are too sweet.” Joha sighs and smiles at Queen Mother. “We will allow you your peace once more.” Joha offers me his arm, and I take it, letting him lead me from her garden which we were summoned to.

As we wander away, our arms linked, I hear her coughing up the liquid, and we share a wicked grin. No, we won’t kill her this way, but we are playing her games and pushing her as far as we can so we can catch her in the act.

This time, we are one step ahead.

There is a prearranged trip into the kingdom today to show our faces. It has been scheduled all week, and I know Queen Mother has planned something. She is getting more desperate by the moment, and each day, there is a new threat. Yesterday, she tried to have us killed by arrows. Little did she know, I invited all her greatest supporters to walk with us. The panic as one arrow flew before they realised it was hilarious, and I pretended to fall and pull Joha with me, so it went overhead.

Today, I smile brightly as we climb into the palanquin—the palanquin she ordered to be damaged last night. I simply swapped ours with hers with Crux’s and Orion’s help, and we observe with glee as she eagerly heads towards hers, thinking today will be the day.

Pulling out a bag of roasted nuts, I offer it to Joha, and we both eat as we watch with anticipation. “I’m enjoying this way too much,” he admits.

“Me too,” I agree as she climbs in. A few moments later, just as we pass the gate into the kingdom, her damaged palanquin shatters and breaks. I have to hide my head against Joha’s shoulder as I burst into laughter at her surprised yelp as she tumbles out of it, over the short wall, and into the river below.

After I school my expression, we hop from ours and turn to the guards. “Oh no, Queen Mother has fallen into the river! Help her!” Joha commands, his lips trembling with laughter as she screams. Peering over the wall, I see her struggling and spluttering in the water, her dress holding her down but not drowning her.

I chew a nut as I watch the guards leap in and wade after her. “Are you okay, Queen Mother?” I call.

She’s pulled from the water and set on the ground, breathing heavily. Her dress and makeup are ruined.

“Don’t worry,” I call to her. “You still look wonderful as always.” Her eyes narrow on me as I grin innocently. “Doesn’t she, my king?”

“Of course, Queen Mother, do not worry. I will ensure the palanquins are checked thoroughly from now on.” Turning to the guards, he orders sternly, “Escort Queen Mother back. We will continue on alone. My love.” He offers me his hand, and we get back into ours and set off, leaving her staring after us as we giggle to ourselves.

She really is desperate , I think as I stare at the food sent to our palaces that night. The kitchen staff was ordered to tell us it’s an apology for ruining the parade. Apparently, she feels horrible. In return, I order medicines to be sent in case she gets sick. She will not take them, but the threat is there, hidden behind innocent gestures.

“It looks delicious,” Crux remarks. “So much food, what a waste.”

“What a waste indeed.” A vicious smirk curves my lips, and Orion groans.

“I know what that look means.”

“So do I,” Joha and Crux say at the same time before sharing a narrow-eyed look.

“Please take the food to her personal guards. Tell them we are full and send our apologies. We do not want it to go to waste,” I tell Orion.

“They are my men. They could die,” he protests.

“Nah, I spoke to a rat in the kitchen. This was simply supposed to make us indisposed, no doubt to later slaughter us when we were weak. He said the kitchen staff wouldn’t dare kill us. They’ll simply be . . . very uncomfortable for a few days, leaving her weak and anxious.”

Orion sighs but gets up to do as ordered.

Sitting back, I sip my wine. “I wonder what her next move will be.”

“I guess we’ll see,” Crux replies, staring sadly at the food.

We don’t have to wait long. She is furious about her guards, and her anger and desperation makes her quick to act without thinking. Honestly, it is almost too easy. After all, she is not used to being beaten or outsmarted.

She called a hunt to welcome in the spring, undoubtedly planning a fatal hunting accident for both Joha and me. Little does she know, I am an excellent hunter.

When we successfully avoid all the assassins within the woods and return with the biggest haul of all, the nobles cheer for us.

She, however, sits on her chair, her face tight and eyes narrowed.

Holding up a bleeding animal to her, I grin triumphantly at the arrow through its eye, perfectly placed—a warning, even if she doesn’t know it.