COLD (Twisted Forbidden Tales) Book One

Chapter Thirteen

QUEEN ( Fatal Strike)

The war was a serious one, but, I knew Snow was still safe, I could firmly push forward. The kingdoms that Finnigan and his mother had kept in forced suppression were freed one by one. Taking them by storm, they had no plan and no allies to help with what was in store for them.

Along the way, The Seven, our allies, and I found out even more stunning information. Prince Walden’s mother was none other than Rose, the servant who betrayed him in the past. King Finnigan himself was not of royal blood and only obtained my father's kingdom through lies and deceit. His son couldn’t even be considered a contender for the throne. This made the long-suppressed kingdoms infuriated. They had been lied to and made to fear a good-for-nothing fake king. After they heard my story and learned the truth about the real heir, they were even more incensed and determined to get justice.

Unfortunately, Rose had thought too highly of herself throughout the years as she continued to serve her stepmother, adding to the many innocent lives that were lost in order to preserve the Queen's life. Remembering the blood she had stolen from me, I could only smirk at the irony. Rose had always been a tool, just like I was. She honestly thought a child would keep her in my stepmother's favor. The only thing that did was solidify her death, the minute she tried to stake her place by using the child after its birth.

The Queen’s death was imminent, no matter how she tried to prolong it. The second she ingested my blood it was her untimely demise. The first effect was when she took it without permission, the second was when my soul's mate arose and awakened me, and the third and final nail was when Snow and I completed our mate's bond, bringing the curse on her into full effect.

I stood there looking at the kingdom that was strange yet so familiar to me. The happy aura surrounding it had long since dissipated, leaving behind darkness and despair. Finnigan had the nerve to call forth his guard and, as expected, the Night Wolves. They stood in a united front as they blocked the kingdom's entrance. The seven, our allies' army, and I stood our ground firmly and with confidence. I wondered what they would do once they saw my true face.

Finnigan stood among them. His armor and sword are at the ready. His fighting skills were subpar compared to mine, but I knew at that moment I wouldn’t need them.

“ Stand down” he yelled at us. His threats and demands were futile at that point.

Our eyes connected for a moment. I could feel his fear rising. I smirked that this would be quite satisfying. I slowly removed the silk-like thin mask from my face that hid my true identity. Upon doing this, the true power within me and my real self was unleashed.

“Fools!” was the only word I needed to say.

Finnigan fell to his knees the minute he saw my face. The many surprising gasps from behind me could be heard as well. Even though the suppressed kingdoms had wanted justice and heard my story. I had been pronounced dead for so many years it was warranted that they would be skeptical of my identity. At this moment they could not deny me, for my hair alone was our kingdom insignia. My flaming red hair cascaded down in curling waves to the waist and my silver-gray eyes were sharp as I held the Finnigan guards and the Night Wolves in place. The wolves began to whimper as the guards repeatedly murmured in fear and confusion.

“Your majesty?” I gave our army the go, to subdue and imprison them. I still needed information from them before reforming my father's kingdom. My assumptions about the Night Wolves were correct. They were being controlled.

Finnigan was left to me, no words needed to be spoken. He begged me in his final words to spare his son as I slit his throat with a smile. If only he had known that his precious son Walden wasn’t his son at all. His body was left at the kingdom's entrance as a warning to all who dared to betray or hurt me, our people, and the people I cared about.

My stepmother Christine, lying in bed in my mother's old chambers, was on her last breath, as I stood before her. The foul stench of her blood from my curse had revealed her true face. She was nothing but rubber skin and bones. The deterioration of her body was indeed fast and fierce.

“You…You” she could barely utter as she lay there. Her expression was completely stunned.

All her sins were now coming to a head a thousandfold. Her death would set Mother Earth unbalanced. She had long since overstayed her welcome. Greed was an ugly hungry demon that could never be truly satisfied. Her stunned look turned to hatred, but there was nothing she could do. She used to be a powerful earth witch once loved, revered, and then feared by all.

The day the real Hannah died, she gifted her power to me. I already had my own magical abilities, but hers just made me even more astounded. This transference included her memories. The blood Christine had stolen from me had given me the ability to see my stepmother's deepest secrets. I watched her shrink a bit in fear as

I slid a chair over to her bedside. If she could kill me with the look she gave, I would be dead.

“Payback is a b***h… isn’t it, my dear aunt?” I arched a brow up at her as our eyes met.

To see her shocked again pleased me. She really thought she would take these secrets to her grave. Hannah’s memories held the truth of how an insane rivalry among siblings began. The siblings are Hannah, my mother Delia, and my stepmother, or shall I say aunt, Christine.