Poisoned Fate: Untold Tales, #3

By Laura Greenwood

Not all fairy tales have happy endings, certainly not for the Evil Queens. Or do they?

 

Not all evil comes from a bad place... 

 

After making a promise to a dying king, Katya changed herself into the person she needed to be to forge a hero. 

 

With her best friend raising an army against her, and the people ready to rebel, she has the pieces where she needs them to be. If only she can bring herself to complete the puzzle and force a princess to become the person she needs to be. 

- 

Poisoned Fate is part of the Untold Tales series of fantasy fairy tale retellings and is based on Snow White's Evil Queen. It includes a sweet m/f romance and can be read as a standalone. 

If you enjoy fairy tale retellings in fantasy settings, a dash of romance, adorable familiars, happy endings, and heroines who save themselves, start the Untold Tales series today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drowlgon Press
• Release date: Jul 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393632269

Laura Greenwood

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between. You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in The Paranormal Council Facebook Group. Happy Reading!

Book preview

Chapter One

My footsteps echoed as I made my way through the corridor and towards the room where I kept my mirror. I hated being reminded of the tool that made me who I had to be.

The guards parted, letting me sweep into the room, my long black cape trailing behind me and giving me the regal air they responded to.

The room was cold, with a sole fire flickering in the grate and illuminating the room with shadows that would freak normal people out. It was all part of the cover.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, show me the fairest of them all. The words pained me as they left my mouth, but there was nothing I could do about them. An enchantress long before my time had made this mirror, and she'd set the words that activated it.

Your Majesty, what can I do for you today? the mirror responded, the bright purple face filling the whole thing.

I didn't flinch like I had the first few times I'd summoned him. Or her. I wasn't sure which the mirror was. It had one of those genderless faces.

Please show me Princess Lucia.

The face faded and purple smoke swirled around in its place. It took a moment to clear, but when it did, I saw her. My beautiful best friend. The person I'd trusted with my secrets.

My mortal enemy.

A hawk fluttered down and rested on her arm and she turned to someone on her left, talking with them. No doubt it was one of the many generals who were helping with the army she'd amassed to tear down the kingdom I'd built for her.

How long until she attacks? I asked the mirror.

The scene changed to a huge map with markers on it. I recognised some of them as places my troops had been in the past few days. Only a couple of them were correct, but it was enough for me to think that there was a mole in our midst.

Good. That was exactly what we needed. Lucia had to win. That was the entire point of all of this.

Thank you, I whispered. Spread more rumours. Tell the people that I've increased the hangings inside the castle walls. Each word stabbed through my heart. I didn't want the people to think of me as ruthless. I'd heard them all say it. Evil too. To them, I was the woman who'd seized power when the man I'd married had died. They blamed me for everything that had gone wrong in the kingdom.

Lucia did too. The worst part about that was that they were right.

I might not be hanging people like I said, but I'd done the rest of it. I'd married Lucia's brother, and when their father died, we'd become the ruling couple.

Until Killian died too. Then there'd been no avoiding what I had to do. I'd made a promise to a dying man who'd treated her like a daughter. I wasn't clear on the specifics, just that I had to do what he wanted.

Thank you for your assistance today, I said to the mirror.

It is an honour, as always, Your Majesty. The face was back and did a weird bow thing. It disappeared from sight, leaving me standing in the middle of an empty room with nothing more than a fire to keep me company.

I wished I could have brought Riki in here with me, but she hated the mirror's magic and often ended up curled up in a corner with her tail over her eyes. Despite the whispers, I wasn't heartless.

But I couldn't leave here yet. I had work to do before I could try and find a small amount of happiness in this life I'd trapped myself in. Most of my days were spent playing a part, and this room was no different from any other in that regard. I was the Evil Queen in name, a scared young woman in reality.

I dropped into the chair behind my desk and searched through the papers. A wanted poster with Lucia's face on it caught my eye. I touched my fingers to the drawn cheek of my best friend. My sister.

I wish things could have been different, I whispered to her. I wish I could let you know what was really happening, but I know I can't. I made a promise to your father. One that can't be ignored.

I'd considered going back on my word for a day at most, but then I'd remembered what the old man said on his deathbed and I'd realised there was no getting around it.

A tear splashed onto the page. I scrunched it up and threw it into the fire, watching as it burned into nothing more than ashes. That was where it belonged. She'd done nothing wrong, and everyone in the kingdom knew it. That was just one of the many ploys I'd used to get people onto her side.

What's going to happen to me when this is all over? I asked the drawing as it burned. You'd forgive me if I asked for it, but we all know your people won't. I don't blame them either. As far as they know, I betrayed you.

I wasn't sure why I said that aloud. It had been a tradition I'd started the moment I'd taken the crown. I'd needed the clarity that came from talking to her. Maybe it was because no one else would ever hear the words. If I constantly reminded myself about what I was trying to do, then I wouldn't give in to the temptation of keeping it.

Perhaps I was going mad. There was no other explanation for it. At least when Riki was in the room I could pretend I was talking to her. One of the many advantages of having a wolf.

What was I doing? I needed to focus on the task at hand rather than my feelings about any of it.

I pulled the warrant towards me. I'd been putting off this moment for longer than I should have. But there was nothing else for it.

I dipped the quill in the ink and scrawled my name across the bottom. That was it. With one word, I'd condemned the woman I thought of as a sister to burning at the stake.

I'm sorry, I whispered on deaf ears. There was no coming back from this. She'd never forgive me, and I didn't blame her.

I would never forgive myself.

Chapter Two

I rested a hand on Riki's head, digging my fingers into her fur. She pushed back into my touch, giving me the comfort I so desperately needed. No one else would give it to me.

Another patrol set out from the opposite end of the hall, the gleam of their armour shining in the candlelight. It should give me pleasure, I'd tried going that way at the beginning of this awful journey, but I didn't have it in me.

Every sword in this room was one I wished didn't need to be sent out into the world. Every death stained my soul a little darker, and yet I couldn't embrace it. That was a curse I had to bear and a burden I had to carry alone.

The door closed behind them, leaving the room almost empty save for a few guards, I wished I was alone, then I could stop sitting up so straight. I wasn't sure how the previous royals had been able to stand sitting in this chair their entire lives.

The loud clunk of the door made me jump. I covered the mistake quickly, sure no one had noticed.

Your Majesty, a herald said, panting for breath as he approached my throne. There's a visitor.

I steeled my eyes and glared at him, distaste coating my tongue. He wasn't to know that it was aimed at myself and not to him. It was one of the many tricks I'd learned. Who? I barked.

He says he's the Prince of a neighbouring kingdom. The herald shivered in his boots.

Then send him in. It won't do to keep someone so important waiting, we have a reputation to uphold.

Very well, Your Majesty. He scampered away.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten, preparing myself for whatever it was that the prince wanted. They came here from time to time, mostly when they wanted Lucia's hand in marriage. They all went home with their tails beneath their legs after a while.

The doors swung open once again. At least I was ready this time. I expected some kind of