The Fiend Queen Read online

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  What Reviewers Say About Barbara Ann Wright’s Pyramid Series

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Chapter Forty-four

  Chapter Forty-five

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Other Barbara Ann Wright Titles Available via Amazon

  Books Available from Bold Strokes Books

  Synopsis

  Within the walls of her palace, Princess Katya’s best friend lies at her feet, close to death. Her pyradisté is overwhelmed by some mysterious power, and her former lady-in-waiting has stabbed her in the back. Wounded and nearly alone, Katya must find a way to sabotage the magic of her Fiendish uncle Roland, or those who fight for the capitol will be overwhelmed by hypnotized guards and Fiend-filled corpses.

  Starbride’s pain is nearly overwhelming. The agony inside her only lessens when she satisfies a strange new desire to hurt those around her. She may hold the key to banishing Fiendish power from Farraday, but only by using it herself. Together, Katya and Starbride must make a final desperate push to take back the kingdom, but even if they survive, can the strength of their love keep them from madness? After all, fighting evil with evil has its consequences.

  What Reviewers Say About Barbara Ann Wright’s Pyramid Series

  “…a healthy dose of a very creative, yet believable, world into which the reader will step to find enjoyment and heart-thumping action. It’s a fiendishly delightful tale.”—Lamda Literary

  “Barbara Ann Wright is a master when it comes to crafting a solid and entertaining fantasy novel. …The world of lesbian literature has a small handful of high-quality fantasy authors, and Barbara Ann Wright is well on her way to joining the likes of Jane Fletcher, Cate Culpepper, and Andi Marquette. …Lovers of the fantasy and futuristic genre will likely adore this novel, and adventurous romance fans should find plenty to sink their teeth into.”—The Rainbow Reader

  “The Pyramid Waltz has had me smiling for three days. …I also haven’t actually read…a world that is entirely unfazed by homosexuality or female power before. I think I love it. I’m just delighted this book exists. …If you enjoyed The Pyramid Waltz, For Want of a Fiend is the perfect next step…you’d be embarking on a joyous, funny, sweet and madcap ride around very dark things lovingly told, with characters who will stay with you for months after.”—The Lesbrary

  “This book will keep you turning the page to find out the answers. …Fans of the fantasy genre will really enjoy this installment of the story. We can’t wait for the next book.”—Curve Magazine

  The Fiend Queen

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  The Fiend Queen

  © 2015 By Barbara Ann Wright. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-292-2

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: January 2015

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])

  By the Author

  The Pyramid Waltz

  For Want of a Fiend

  A Kingdom Lost

  The Fiend Queen

  Acknowledgments

  Ross and Mom, you know who you are. Thanks to Writer’s Ink for always buying my books. Matt Borgard, Natsu Carmony, Deb de Freitas, and Erin Kennemer, you are the bestest beta readers since you okayed the use of bestest. Pattie Lawler, you always go above and beyond.

  Thanks to Radclyffe, Bold Strokes, and Cindy Cresap for slogging it out with me.

  I love you, pets.

  And I love you, wonderful readers, for continuing with me all the way to the end. Cheers!

  Dedication

  For my grandma, Sadie Fox, a life well lived.

  Chapter One

  Katya

  Pounding echoed down the corridors of the secret passageways. Katya’s eyes strained against the blackness, and she closed them rather than face the dark. She pictured bright, sun-filled halls, safety around every corner, anything but being bent double, knife wound screaming in her back as she dragged Brutal’s unconscious bulk.

  “Come on, Redtrue. Keep going,” Castelle said from beside her. “You can do it, dearheart. I know you can.”

  Katya clamped her lips together, swallowing the urge to tell Castelle to shut up. The huffing and puffing of Redtrue’s breathing kept pace with them. After they’d fought Averie in the pyramid room, Redtrue had fallen, blood trickling from her nose. The Fiend energy in the palace had overpowered her. Katya had heard her collapse several times, and Castelle’s words got her moving again.

  Even with two people pulling Brutal down the corridor, they barely moved. Katya had lost track of whether the trickling sensation down her spine was blood or sweat. She kept her shoulder against the wall, anxious to feel the first turn that would take them deeper inside the castle walls.

  “Come on, Red,” Castelle said. “One foot in front of the other.”

  Katya ground her teeth. The syrupy quality to Castelle’s voice, the certainty that everything would be okay, made Katya want to drop Brutal and leave them there. She could charge into battle where she belonged, confront Averie, and meet her death. At least then she wouldn’t have to be in the dark anymore.

  “That’s enough.” Katya lowered Brutal to the cold stones, dug a candle from her pocket, and lit it. She’d hoped they’d only need Redtrue’s pyramid for light, but she never went anywhere unprepared.

  Now she was reminded of why.

  Redtr
ue sagged down the wall, her mouth smeared with blood from her nose, turning her reddish-brown skin black. She rolled her shaven scalp against the wall until she rested on her one braided lock of black hair. Her dark eyes went half-lidded as she struggled to breathe.

  Castelle knelt and tucked her own curly dark hair behind her ears. She watched Redtrue with concern in her turquoise eyes, the tattoo around the right eye wrinkling. Redtrue drew a pyramid, and light flickered inside before it went dark again.

  “Leave it,” Castelle said, “until your strength returns.”

  They were a sorry, bleeding group. An arrow stuck out of Brutal’s chest like a flagpole. They hadn’t dared remove it. Brutal had taught her not to pull an arrow or blade unless she was ready to treat the wound, and they couldn’t stop long enough to treat any of them.

  Katya stalked past them, her body aching with every step. Away from their noise, pounding filled the corridor again. Averie and Roland’s thugs would be on them soon. Katya pushed herself to hurry until she spotted her mother lying in the gloom.

  As Katya bent and scooped her mother into her arms, she praised the spirits that Ma was petite instead of tall and muscled. She could have easily carried her mother before, but her arms now felt as if they were filled with porridge, and her back burnt like the sun.

  She cradled her mother’s blond head against her shoulder while settling the weight on her hips. The comforting rise and fall of Ma’s chest made Katya’s own breathing come a little easier. Katya held the candle between two fingers, tilted away, the wax dripping onto the stones.

  When she approached the others, Castelle held out her arms. Katya passed Ma and the candle over, and Castelle started down the corridor, the queen of Farraday snug against her chest.

  “Take the first left,” Katya said, “and then straight on.”

  “I won’t go far.”

  Katya knelt next to Redtrue as the candlelight faded. “How are you feeling?”

  “Useless.” She mumbled something Katya didn’t catch. The worse Redtrue fared, the thicker her Allusian accent became. She’d muttered as she followed them, and Katya was tempted to ask if she also wished Castelle would shut up.

  Katya snaked an arm around her and lifted her. “Come on. We’ll get a head start on Brutal.” In the dim light, they could see enough to step around him.

  “You’re supposed to be resting,” Redtrue said.

  “I’ll rest when I’m dead.” She winced, recalling a time Crowe had said those same words.

  “The Fiend magic,” Redtrue said. “We have to stop it.”

  That wouldn’t be possible, not when the palace was built on the prison of a greater Fiend, Yanchasa the Mighty, the monster that had allowed ancient Farradains to conquer this land and had forced Katya’s ancestors to carry its Aspect in order to keep their power.

  With her Aspect stripped away, Katya had been able to keep the secret of the Umbriels from Redtrue, but time spent with Katya’s mother undid all her work. Ma had already transformed into her Fiendish self in order to save Katya’s life.

  But no pyradisté had ever been sickened by the great capstone under the palace. Redtrue couldn’t even blame her mysterious illness on the fact that she was Allusian. After all, the capstone had never affected Starbride.

  Katya told herself not to wander there. Starbride was in the city fighting a rebellion, the same thing Katya was supposed to be doing from inside the palace. Katya had seen Roland venturing into the city as well. She had to destroy his pyramids, cripple his power before he could use it against anyone else. Instead she was crawling through the dark, looking for a place to hide her wounded while Starbride was entangled in the fight of a thousand lifetimes.

  “It’s in that direction,” Redtrue said, pointing ahead. “The pyramid with the Fiend magic, I can feel it.”

  Katya frowned. “Not down?”

  “Is there something beneath us I should know about?”

  “Not now.” Maybe not ever.

  Redtrue made a disgusted noise. “You and your secrets.”

  It was so close to what Starbride said on a regular basis that Katya didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  They couldn’t stop anywhere obvious. Averie knew the palace as well as Katya, and she knew the secret passageways twice as well. Katya hadn’t called her a first class lady-in-waiting just for her sewing skills. But Averie was gone, just as dead as Roland’s other victims. He’d stripped her mind and made her his puppet. At least it gave Katya a reason to focus on anger rather than grief.

  Averie might look in their old bedrooms or any of the Order’s meeting places, but the secret passageways connected more than just the royal apartments. As a young rake, Katya had taken great delight in maneuvering her lovers into certain rooms along the secret routes.

  After they’d dragged Brutal a little farther, Katya pressed her ear to a stone door. Nothing moved in the room beyond. She peeked out. An unmade bed and various objects scattered about said the occupant had left in a hurry, probably when Roland had taken over. Katya hurried to the door that led to the hallway and locked it.

  She and Castelle hauled the others inside. “Do you think we can get Brutal in the bed without hurting him?” Castelle asked.

  Katya shook her head. “Do you know how to stitch someone?”

  “No.”

  “I wouldn’t attempt it then,” Brutal said softly.

  Katya knelt by his side. “Are you back with us?”

  “I passed out, don’t remember when.” His baby face, usually so ruddy, was the gray of old stone. He waved weakly toward his chest. “I think it’s in my lung.”

  She brushed his short brown hair away from his slick forehead and fought the tears swimming in her eyes. “What can we do?”

  “Can you talk us through fixing you?” Castelle asked.

  “If it were you,” he said, “I’d bandage you and take you to a chapterhouse.”

  “The bandages we could do.” Katya clenched her fist. Before Roland, she couldn’t remember feeling so helpless. “We could stitch you up, but if you’re wounded inside…”

  “Leave me here.”

  “Brutal—”

  He captured both her hands in one of his. “Finish the mission. I trust in Best and Berth. Fortitude will see me through. Kill Roland, destroy his pyramids.”

  Katya made her voice as steady as she could. “I will come back for you.”

  “I know.”

  The faith in his eyes made her want to weep anew, and she could almost hear the echo of unspoken words: he knew she would come back, but he might not be alive to greet her.

  Katya’s mother began to stir as they were draping blankets around Brutal, curling them around the arrow shaft. Before Katya could help her, Ma sat up, inhaled sharply, and grabbed hold of her pyramid necklace.

  Her blue eyes locked with Katya’s. “What did I do?”

  “You took your necklace off—”

  “After that.”

  “You can’t just take it off, Ma. It’s not why you came.”

  “Is it not?” She stood, using the wall as support.

  “Ma…”

  “Did I kill Averie, or is she still hunting us?”

  “She’s still out there.”

  Redtrue watched them like a hunting hawk. “We must find the source of this Fiend magic. If it is a pyramid, I shall cleanse it and recover.”

  Katya and her mother exchanged a glance.

  Redtrue sighed long and loud. “Is now the time for secrets?”

  “Does she mean the capstone?” Ma asked.

  “I don’t think so. She didn’t think it was below us.”

  “Again you mention down,” Redtrue said. “What are you keeping below this place?”

  “Farraday is built on the backs of Fiends,” Castelle said.

  When Katya glanced at her sharply, Castelle shrugged. “Like she said, what good are secrets now? She’s seen her Majesty’s darker side.”

  “There is a great Fiend trapped
under the palace,” Ma said in clipped tones. “If you cleanse its prison, you could release it.”

  Redtrue closed her eyes and sagged in Castelle’s embrace. Exhaustion or despair, Katya couldn’t tell. “I can feel it.”

  “From all the way up here?” Katya asked. “That’s impossible.”

  Redtrue gestured toward her shoulder as if she might throw her braid over, but her arm dropped to her side. “Impossible or not, I can sense it, and it is not the pyramid I believe is sapping my strength.”

  “Fiendish magic.” Ma stared into space.

  “Something new?” Katya asked. “Something Roland made?”

  “Not a prison,” Ma muttered. Katya was reminded of how often she thought out loud. Maybe she’d gotten it from her mother instead of her father.

  “These wild Fiends,” Ma said, “we thought Roland might have summoned them.”

  “And how else but through a pyramid?” Katya asked. “This call must be doing something to Redtrue.”

  “Poisoning me,” Redtrue said.

  But Starbride hadn’t seemed sick, and she’d been in the city longer, closer to this pyramid. She hadn’t reported any of the pyradistés being afflicted, either, so why affect Redtrue and none of the others? Maybe it was one of those differences between Farradain and Allusian magic that Katya was starting to suspect were fundamental.

  “Can you walk?” she asked Redtrue.

  She nodded, but Castelle had to help her to her feet.

  “You’re going to have to lead the way,” Katya said.

  “We’ll be faster now that we’ve found Brutal a place to rest,” Castelle said.

  “If Averie’s broken into the secret passageways, we could find ourselves fighting in close quarters in a hurry.”

  “If we go via the hallways,” Castelle said, “we might have to fight every step of the way.”