My heart rate spiked when Peter stepped aside, and allowed the Queen to enter the sitting room. Of course I knew why she was here. Or rather, what occasion had brought her here? I just wasn’t sure if she was here to administer punishnt or banish .
The Queen moved gracefully, just like always, entering properly into the room. Her eyes never left mine. The room seed to hold its breath as she approached . I felt a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. What could she possibly want to tell ?
"Maya," She said, her voice gentle yet commanding. "We have much to discuss."
My family stood by, their expressions a mix of worry and fear. But not confusion. Not that. They had known that it was only a matter of ti until the Queen had visited.
There was not a word said to break the silence, not even a greeting to welco the royal woman into the house. They watched, still standing, as she walked to the sofa nearest to and sat down.
"Please have your seats."
Everyone moved to theirs as if they were being remote controlled. Except . Actually, I had remained sitting when she had co in. Not in disrespect per say, I had just been too shocked to move. Unlike the others, I hadn’t expected her tonight. Maybe tomorrow at school, or at the palace, but not tonight. Wasn’t she at risk in the hands of the beasts? Or hadn’t she released them today? I checked the ti. A few minutes past eight.
"How are you doing, Maya? I actually ca to see you."
I swallowed hard, struggling to find my voice. "Why?" I managed to croak out, my throat tight with anxiety. "Have I done sothing wrong?"
I knew I had ignored the first question she had asked, but I didn’t believe it mattered like the second statent. She had seen the video, she knew that I was fine. It had just been a formality question.
To my surprise, the Queen smiled, a genuine warmth in her expression. "Quite the opposite, Maya. I am here to comnd you. The display of power we witnessed today was extraordinary."
I blinked, taken aback by her words, taken back by her smile. The only ti I had seen Queen Aliana smile was during the pack party when I had disregarded the King, when I had laughed the ass out of Claire. I hadn’t been able to tell if it was out of happiness for racking her mortal enemy, or just plain amusent. But she was here now, to comnd ?
For what? For putting Chyra in an unconscious state?
My mind flashed back to the chaos earlier in the evening, the surge of energy that had overwheld . I had expected reprimand, not praise. What was the Queen up to?
"You have shown a remarkable ability," The Queen continued, her voice tinged with awe. I have never heard that before, that awe in her voice, had never seen that. And from the fidgety looks on the faces of my family, I was sure it was a rarity. It was rare for the Queen to be in awe of anything.
Diana didn’t look too happy about that. Her expression spoke of jealousy, and I sighed. Not this again.
"Such power is rare, even among our kind. To see it manifest in soone so young and inexperienced is nothing short of astounding."
I didn’t care about that now, not after seeing Diana’s solemn expression.
"It must only be from the goddess."
Okay, that got my attention. I was relieved that she wasn’t here to punish of course, but her words only raised more questions than they answered. Why did I have this power? What did it an for ? What was the goddess’ deal with ? When had the gifting happened? When I was in a coma?
I sighed again. I could feel a headache coming.
The Queen’s expression grew more serious as she continued. "Maya, do you rember anything from your past? Any mories that might explain your abilities? Any deals you might have made with the Lycan’s pack?"
She must have seen the surprise on my face, because she smiled shortly and then began to speak again. "You don’t think I’m slow now, do you?"
I said nothing, made no face, or any inclination that she had hit so kind of nail on the head.
"I had seen the way you had acted in the pack, the way you had treated the king’s sons as re animals, and nothing else. There must be a history there, and you must rember them. That can only be the explanation of your attitude back there." She paused and looked at Laura and Peter who were of course surprised by this deduction. The couple stared at , and then at Diana, as if knowing that we were close enough to share so secrets.
"Tell , Maya. What went on in the Lycan’s region? Why do you hate them? Why had you been found in the borders separating our community from theirs? Who did that to you? What did you do? Are you from there?
Her questions made annoyed. I shook my head slowly, acting like I was trying to make sense of her words.
"No, Your Majesty," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside . "I don’t rember anything like that. I have no history with those boys. I just hated them for their stinky audacity."
The Queen studied intently, as if searching for any sign of deception. I t her gaze, willing her to see the untrue truth in my eyes. I genuinely didn’t want her to know about or my history. I didn’t trust her, not when I knew nothing of her, and not now I knew what she had done about Zande, and what she might be planning to do to Diana.
ntally, I made a note to discuss Diana’s lessons with Laura and Peter. They needed to know everything, even if it ant Diana would be furious with . I couldn’t keep these secrets any longer, not when they might put Diana’s life in danger.
The Queen sighed, her expression softening. "I had hoped you might rember," She said, almost to herself. "But it doesn’t matter. We will uncover the truth in ti."
Lies. She knew I rembered sothing, a lot maybe. She just didn’t want to make uncomfortable, not in front of my guardians. She didn’t want to make uncomfortable with her.
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