As always, there were more important things to worry about than those who did nothing but pray and sacrifice their lives to air.

The door to the privy chamber slammed open and the king stormed in.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”

Beatrix snorted. “It only took you two years.”

He came across the room toward her but the captain of her guard stepped between them and the king reared back in stunned rage.

“Have you lost your mind?”

The captain said nothing but he didn’t let Marius near her either.

“You need to understand something, dear husband,” Beatrix said, stamping her seal in hot wax. “You are king of this territory and, of course, that will never change. But everything else is changing. And I fear you are just not ready to keep up with that.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means”—she looked up from her scrolls and papers—“stay out of my way. You and I will get along a lot better if you do.”

“There is no way you can seriously think I would—”

“Ivan, please show the king out. I have a meeting in a few minutes and I need to get ready. We can talk more later tonight. About his new duties and what I expect of him.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Ivan stood and walked past Beatrix. He gestured toward the door. “Your Majesty, this way, please.”

Marius looked back and forth between them, but he wasn’t quite sure what to do. He never was when he was faced with others’ confidence. But he knew Beatrix well enough to know that she never made a move without securing her situation.

He started toward the door, Ivan behind him. When he reached it, he stopped and asked, “Where’s my mother?”

“On a long trip. To see some distant family. I was concerned for her safety. What with my sisters making such a bold move in that attack.” Beatrix looked directly at her husband. “I knew you wouldn’t want her to be in danger. You do love her so.”

Marius left, Ivan went back to his seat behind her, and the captain continued to monitor her security.

“Any word on my tunnel?” Beatrix asked Ivan.

“We found some remains of the soldiers that went after your sister. All dead. Nothing yet on the tunnel, though.”

Beatrix nodded, continued writing. “And the other tunnels?”

“No evidence your sister found out about those.”

“Good. I need a new assistant, Ivan.”

“I will find you one, Mistress. Much more loyal.”

Beatrix put down her quill and said, “Can I admit something to you, Ivan?”

“Of course you can.”

“I usually don’t waste my time on anger and resentment. There’s so much to do, you understand.”

“Of course, my lady. You are very busy.”

“Exactly. But I have to say, when it comes to my sister Gemma . . . I hate that fucking bitch.”

* * *

Gemma rode through the gates and let out a sigh. She was glad to be home. They reached the castle and found Ainsley standing outside, holding their parents’ youngest.

“What’s going on?”

“He’s teething again. I was hoping walking him around would help.”

“I’m not talking about the baby. I’m talking about the state of our sister’s queendom.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

Gemma frowned. “What happened to your neck? Why is it all bruised and swollen?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Where’s Keeley?”

“Daydreaming on the ramparts again.”

“Give me the baby.”

“Why?”

“I need Keeley to stay calm when I talk to her.”

“Things went that badly?”

“Just give me the baby.” Once she was holding her youngest sibling, she stepped close to her sister and said in a low voice, “Look, I need you to find someone to take care of Kriegszorn. Someone we can trust.”

“But not care if they go missing?”

“That is not what I meant. Just find somebody.”

“Okay. Anything else, Lady-In-Charge?”

“As a matter of fact, Princess Demands-A-Lot, yes.” Gemma motioned to her team. “Make sure they get rooms, food, anything they need. Understand?”

“Does that include whores?”

“Why do you test me?”

“It’s my nature and you never say please. But I’ll take care of them.”

Gemma leaned in again and added, “Be extra gentle with Agathon there. The new one. He’s sensitive and easily startled. He’s been through hell with Beatrix, so . . .”

“Got it.”

Gemma tracked Keeley down to the ramparts just as Ainsley had said. She was gazing out over her queendom but Gemma couldn’t tell from her expression whether she was happy or sad. Or simply pensive.

“Keeley?”

Keeley looked away from the world outside her gates and focused on Gemma. The smile that bloomed on her face made Gemma feel surprisingly happy.

“You’re back! And alive!”

Keeley smothered Gemma and the baby in a hug.

“I’m so glad you survived!”

“Same to you.”

Keeley stepped back and Gemma shoved the baby into her arms.

“Why did you give me the baby?”

“We need to talk.”

“Who died? It wasn’t you. Gods, was it Quinn? Please tell me it wasn’t Quinn.”

“It wasn’t Quinn. He’s gone off to find his siblings.”

“They’re running with the herd and then bathing in the river.” Keeley gasped and whispered, “Did you kill her? Did you kill Beatrix?”

“No! I didn’t.” She shrugged. “I did try. Very hard. Very, very hard.”

“Gemma.”

“I said I didn’t kill her, so let’s move on. But you were right, Keeley. About her. She was doing something very bad.”

“What was she building? How bad was it? Was it a giant tower? A giant evil tower?”

“What she was building was only part of the bad.”

Keeley studied Gemma. “What are you talking about?”

Gemma moved close to her sister and gently stroked the baby’s head. “She was using slave labor to build her tunnel, Gemma. Child slaves that she had taken from the barbarians her armies killed.”

Keeley shook her head and moved a few feet from Gemma. She finally sat down, her back against the wall, the baby tucked against her chest.

Gemma sat next to her.

Keeley didn’t bother denying what Gemma had told her because she knew Gemma would never lie to her about something like that. Not now, not ever.

So they just sat there like that. Neither speaking. Gemma put her head on Keeley’s shoulder and Keeley just stroked the baby’s back.

They did speak once, though. But only once.

When Keeley finally said, “We can never tell Daddy.”

And Gemma replied, “I know.”

* * *

“This is going to kill Keeley,” Laila said as she moved out of the river to stand beside Caid, her tail flicking back and forth.

“She’s strong enough to handle it,” Caid said. “But I think we’ve finally found the one thing she can never forgive her sister for.”

“Where was this tunnel going?”

“We’re not quite sure,” Quinn said, finger-combing his wet hair off his face with his hands. “Although we’ve all got some solid guesses.”

“Guesses? You didn’t ask?”

“There was some anger there, when the soldiers began running out of the tunnel. And once those mystical doorways opened . . . the witches and virgins simply went to work. So no, Sister, we did not ask.”

“You know what we may have to worry about, though?” Caid suggested. “A test attack on us from Marius. We should be ready for that.”

“A test attack?”

“Yeah. He may send some troops here, hoping that we lost so many men in our clash with Cyrus, we’ll be too weak to fight back.”

“You’re right.” Laila motioned Cadell and Farlan over with a wave. “We’ll get everyone ready for that just in case.”

“Even if they do, the war monks are fresh and ready,” Quinn reminded them. “They stayed behind to protect the territory and can handle a fresh battle.”

“Speaking of which,” Laila asked, “did you lose anyone?”

“Nope. We all came back safe and sound. Just some wounds. But nothing missing. Gemma got a bad burn, though. But again, the witches and virgins are working on that. Oh, and before you hear it from anyone else . . . Gemma’s madly in love with me.”

His onetime battle unit gazed at him for a very long time until Laila rubbed his arm and said, “Awwww, my dear brother, don’t you worry. We’ll find you someone.”

“You don’t believe me?”

Laila scrunched up her nose as if she’d smelled something strange but didn’t want to admit it. “Gemma? Really?”

“Yes. We’ve been together. It was glorious.”

Caid just laughed. “You and Brother Gemma, the war monk? You’re such a bad liar.”

“I know I am. That’s why I don’t lie. I’m annoyingly honest. I’m telling you, she adores me.”

Now Laila patted his cheek. “We love you so much.”

“I don’t,” Caid muttered.

“And we’ll find you a lovely mare who adores you for you.”

“Or adores you because she thinks you have power and wealth because of our queen mother,” Caid added. “That’s just as good . . . right?”

* * *

Gemma handed the baby off to her mother and hugged her tight.

“Glad my baby girl is home.”

“Me too. Everything been all right?”

“Now that my girls are back safe.”