Chapter 238

No longer frightened of the woman who used to terrorize her, Kit raised her arms between her mother’s bringing them down to the sides quickly so as to prevent her mother from ever making contact with her neck. Rona’s arms snapped down and she winced in pain. Her eyes bulged in surprise at her daughter’s strength. Kit took advantage of her mother’s stunned expression long enough to plant her fist in Rona’s right eye. Her mother rocked backward, grabbing at her face as Kit felt Eli’s familiar hand on her shoulder, seeking to calm her. Clearly, the older woman was no physical threat to Kit or anyone else.

The bejeweled, golden crown atop Rona’s head wobbled as the queen staggered from the blow. It slid free, tumbling toward the floor. Kit reached out a hand and plucked it from the air. “The goddess have spoken!” she declared, ignoring the fact that it was the force of her own strike that had dislodged the crown. Nearly everyone in the room erupted in cheers, including the councilwomen.

Two of the men commanded by Jecob moved at his order, taking the former queen by her forearms as Kit held tight to the crown, waiting to step outside where her subjects may see before she placed it atop her own head. There would still be much work before her. She’d need to secure an agreement from the council, have a formal crowning ceremony to be declared queen, and take care of anyone still showing loyalty to Rona, but she was confident that the future would see all of those events fulfilled.

Kit was still considering all that lay before her when she realized Pierce was coming her direction, tears streaking his face. “Katrinetta, please, listen, I’m so sorry. I never.... I didn’t have a choice. I never meant to betray you.”

She stared at him for a moment, not sure what to say. He looked so pathetic, not at all the mighty advisor who’d stood at her mother’s side before. “Were you not given the same choice Cassius was given?”

Pierce shook his head, wiping at his eyes. “I’m not as strong as he is, Katrinetta. I would’ve never survived the dungeon. And you wouldn’t have come for me. I swear, I never told her anything, even though I knew about the revolt. I could’ve warned her, but I was—I am—loyal to you, Princess Katrinetta, Queen Katrinetta. Please believe me!”

Kit glanced around and saw several of her Representatives standing just behind her, hands on hilts, other men waiting to take Pierce into custody as those who had her mother by the elbows waited to watch this scene unfold and for Kit to tell them where to take Rona. She swallowed hard, wishing to believe him but not sure she could ever trust him again. “I suppose you will just have to prove your loyalty to me then, Pierce.”

He nodded, and Kit held his gaze for a moment, hoping he understood she was giving him another chance. With her eyes locked on his, she failed to see what he was doing with his hands until it was too late.

Pierce reached into the sheath at his waist and quickly withdrew a long serrated knife with a decorative handle. Confused, Kit’s forehead crinkled as she considered what he may be doing. She felt hands pulling her back but didn’t move of her own accord until after Pierce had made his move. With all of his strength, he plunged the knife through layers of gown, chemise, stay, flesh, and bone. Kit screamed, covering her mouth with both hands as Eli and Cassius dodged around her, both tackling Pierce to the floor. The princess fell backward into Jate’s arms as Landon and Reeve moved around the princess to her mother.

Rona grasped at the knife protruding from her chest, her mouth hanging open in shock and terror, her dark eyes locked on Kit’s face. The princess struggled to keep her eyes on her mother as Jate fought to turn her away. She clawed at his shoulder, straining to see around him as Landon and Reeve lowered Rona to the ground, blood covering the front of her gown. Shouts for Armant rang through the hallway, but Kit knew, even if the physician reached her quickly, there would be nothing he could do.

“Let me go!” Kit insisted, pulling away from Jate. He turned and looked over his shoulder, and seeing the state of the former queen, he must’ve recognized her imminent demise. His hands loosened their grip on Kit just as Rona pulled the knife from her own chest and dropped it onto the floor.

Kit rushed the few steps and dropped to her knees at her mother’s side. Taking Rona’s hand, she felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. “Mother, I’m so sorry. I never... I never meant for this to happen.”

Rona’s face was snow white, and when she opened her mouth, nothing came out at first as she struggled to draw in a breath. Her palms were sticky with blood as she squeezed Kit’s hand. Armant was on the other side of her now, examining the wound, and Rona cringed at his touch. Her eyes rolled back slightly, but she fought through it. Parting her lips slightly, she spoke, her voice a gravelly whisper. “May... the... goddesses... go... with you... daughter.” A gurgling noise emanated from her throat, and then Rona’s head slumped to the side.

Kit covered her face with her hands, unable to control the sobs that broke free. Landon slid his arm around her, pulling her head to his shoulder, and Kit buried her face there, mourning the loss of the woman who had given her life. Despite all of their differences, Rona had still been her mother. The idea that she was gone from the world was impossible to comprehend.

Around her, she heard the sounds of Pierce being dragged off to a cell, to be dealt with later. Had he truly misunderstood Kit’s meaning, or was his strike against Rona for vengeance’s sake?

Minutes passed. The sound of other footsteps came and went, people doing what, Kit wasn’t sure. She stayed nestled in Landon’s neck trying to regain control of her emotions and losing the battle. Had it been worth it? She’d gained the crown but lost her own flesh and blood. Would the people understand she’d never meant for Rona to die, or would they accuse her of regicide?

After several minutes, clarity began to settle in. Her mother was gone, but the reign of an evil dictator had ended. The people of Yewforia could go on with their lives now, assured that Rona would never be back to do them harm. Kit had paid a heavy toll in taking the crown, but it had been for the good of her citizens, of that, she was assured.

As her tears began to dry up, she realized there were other hands on her, that she and Landon were not alone. She recognized each of them without even lifting her head. Danyen’s fingers rested gently low on her back in stark contrast to Drake’s solid palm on the top of her head. They were all there with her, giving her their strength, as she knew they would always be.

Raising her head, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and then turned so that she was sitting against Landon’s chest. His arms slipped around her waist, and the others adjusted as well, though their hands were still touching her. “Thank you.” She looked around at the faces of the men she loved, seeing nothing but concern in their eyes. “I couldn’t have done this without any of you. I would be a lucky woman to have just one of you, but to get to spend my life with all seven of you.... There are no words to explain how grateful I am to the goddesses for allowing me the privilege.”