chapter 64

Amra's POV

The flames danced on, casting flickering shadows that stretched and writhed on the cobblestones of the courtyard. The heat from the pyre licked at my skin, a searing counterpoint to the icy tendrils of fury that coiled in my gut.

Von's booming voice cut through the thick silence and only angered me more.

"While we mourn the loss of Ember," he declared, his voice heavy with solemnity, "we must not forget the darkness that took her from us. Our Queen, Ari, remains missing, and the people who took them both remain a danger not just to us, but to all shifters."

My nails dug into my palms, a silent growl rumbling deep in my chest. Queen? Ari? What a farce. I couldn't wait until they realized that she wouldn't be coming back, when Von would come to his sense about who should actually be his queen.

With a surge of cold fury, I slipped away from the throng, the smoky haze blurring the path before me. Finding a secluded corner of the courtyard, I reached into a hidden pocket and retrieved my phone and dialed Jasper's number, but he didn't answer.

I typed out a message, growling to myself, picturing Jasper's face in my mind.

Get it done. I snarled. Finish her. And deliver my payment quickly.

I didn't get an answer, and it irritated me even further.

A feral smile stretched across my face, a stark contrast to the tears that streamed down Amree's face back at the pyre. They could mourn Ember all they wanted. I had my own agenda.

With a final, scathing glance at the flickering flames, I turned and stalked away from the ceremony. The night air felt cool and invigorating against my heated skin was a welcome contrast to the suffocating display of grief. Garren and Von would keep Amree company. They wouldn't miss me.

Right now, I need to be alone. I headed to my room. Stepping into the cool sanctuary of my room, I slammed the door shut with a resounding thud. The muffled sounds of the ceremony, the mournful chants, and crackling flames were a world away now.

Fury, raw and unbridled, pulsed through my veins. Their Queen? Ari, that pathetic snow leopard? A vision that shimmered in my mind. When I got that damn potion, all of this would be over with. I could imagine it. The potion would only take a few drops into his drink, and he'd be mine. The power structure of this pride would be mine.

Queen Amra, they'd call me. No longer a ruler. I'd be in the highest position of the pack. I'd be basking in the lap of luxury while this pathetic pride bowed at my feet. A cruel smile twisted my lips. Amree was already on her way out. But Kara and a few others was still the problem. I could get rid of her. An unfortunate "accident" during training, perhaps, or a "hunting mishap" that left her prey a little too… enthusiastic.

The possibilities were endless, a delicious game of manipulation waiting to be played. The other contenders for Von's favor, those simpering females who preened and postured in the hopes of catching his eye, would be dealt with quickly. I didn't want another moment of distraction. The throne would be mine.

As I sank onto the plush cushions of my chaise longue, a flicker of unease sparked within me. The plan, intoxicating as it was, hinged on a single, crucial element – the potion's effectiveness and getting rid of Ari. Jasper had promised it to me for my help, but the fact that he wasn't replying was a problem. What if the potion didn't work? What if I never got it?

I'd just have to get it in some other way. But getting rid of Ari had to go through. The unease morphed into a cold knot of apprehension that settled in the pit of my stomach. I wouldn't allow myself to dwell on doubts. I was going to get what I wanted. I would find a way, one way or another, to bend Von to my will. The pride would be mine.

I closed my eyes, picturing myself draped in silks and furs, a jeweled crown adorning my head. Queen Amra. The very name sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. The flames of the funeral pyre might be dying, but the fire of my ambition burned brighter than ever. It was time to go back and play the part.

I headed out. The fury from earlier was leaving me. The fear was growing sharper with every message I sent to Jasper as I walked. I stalked down the hallway, the silence broken only by the soft padding of my feet. My destination was the celebratory feast, a grotesque mockery of grief considering the inferno that still raged in my heart.

As I rounded a corner, the murmur of voices drifted towards me. Two guards, burly figures clad in leather armor, stood engrossed in conversation, their backs to me. Instinctively, I ducked into the shadows, my breath catching in my throat.

"…still trying to figure out who could have tipped them off," one guard rumbled, his voice laced with frustration. "Glasgow? How in the world would anyone here have known they were there, let alone without a full unit to protect them?"

"I heard it was onyx they use. Magic. How would they have known to be prepared to deal with Amree?"

My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the sudden silence that followed. They were investigating the disappearance? Not just looking for her? Shit. I bit my lip. A cold sweat prickled my skin. They couldn't know. They couldn't even suspect that there was a traitor among them. The very thought of them tracing the threads back to me, of discovering the tangled web of deceit I had woven, sent a tremor of terror through me.

I'd have to kill Jasper at the least. I could frame it that I was avenging Ari. It would throw of suspicion. It would disgust me, but it would be fine. Anything was bearable if it meant I got to be with Von finally.

"Maybe it was some random encounter," the other guard offered, his voice doubtful. "Maybe someone overheard something they shouldn't have."

"Maybe," the first guard conceded, the skepticism evident in his tone. "But whoever it was, they set the whole thing in motion. And now Ember's gone... He's furious, and the priestess isn't going to stop until they're found."

I swallowed, breathing past the fear that threatened to erupt in me.

"Never mind about... her."

I smirked. He couldn't eve bear to say the queen, as it should be.

"Do you think we'll ever find her?"

"I'm not going to answer that."

I smirked.

"Is that because..."

"It's because I know how to stay alive."

I smiled and walked away from them. It seemed like even the guards knew that Ari wasn't fit to be queen. Good. It would make it easy to slip into the position that should have always been mine.

Trying to push down my glee, I focused on the immediate threat: Jasper. He was the only loose thread, the only one who could tie me to the whole thing. With any luck, he'd end up dead.

But if he was dead, how would I be sure that Ari was dead?

Damn it. This whole thing was so much more complicated than I first thought it would be. If they caught him, I'd be in trouble. I checked my phone again. He still hadn't answered me or called me back. Bastard.

It didn't matter.

I was the future queen and I wouldn't be exposed because of that asshole. Taking a deep, steadying breath, I forced myself toward the dining hall. The grand double doors of the dining room loomed ahead, the faint sounds coming from beyond the door almost sounded happy. Seemed like Amree wasn't around, no one would dare sound that happy if she were.

Pushing open the doors, I scanned the room. The long oak table was laden with a feast fit for a king, roasted meats and glistening vegetables piled high. But Von was absent, his usual seat at the head of the table conspicuously empty. Amree and Garren were also missing.

Most of the captains too.

Why hadn't I been called? Did he know? He couldn't have found Jasper already.

Forcing a smile onto my face, I strode across the room to listen to the conversations. Maybe they just hadn't entered yet. Maybe they were still outside with Amree, watching the pyre burn to ashes.

I sat down, listening to the chatter and hoping that everything would be alright.