Bastian snarled in her face, but she had already moved on, stopping in front of Ryder. An appreciative sound slipped out of her and Ryder cringed when she ran a hand down his chest, poking at his wounds with her nails. "You have done such beautiful work, warden."
When she finally reached Kisten, she stepped in close, and without warning, she caught his chin in her hand and forced his head up.
Their mother warned them about the Queen's thrall, but nothing could've prepared him for it.
The ruby in the crown pulsed in tandem with the Queen's eyes flashing black, and he felt her invade his mind. She tore through his mental walls like paper, dredging up his most private thoughts, memories, secrets without mercy.
For the first time, Kisten understood what exactly Maisie had felt in the woods that night when he had pushed her into the grass and tried to mount her because he thought he was entitled to her.
