Darcy appears in front of me, pushing Iona out of the way.

"Isla!" she shouts. "Snap out of it!" A sharp pain smashes across my cheek as she slaps me. I growl and instinctually wrap my hands tightly around her throat before throwing her to the ground. She looks at me with wide eyes and I take deep breaths and stare at the broken girl.

"You," I whisper, "saved us," I say and walk over to her, extending my hand. She looks at me for a few moments. Her black hair is messy and her skin covered in mud and blood. Her dark red eyes glisten with tears. All this time I thought of her as our enemy but I now see the truth. Her mother had used her and manipulated her mind. I realise now how strong she is.  To break free from her mother's curse and to betray her family in order to try and save us. With slight hesitation, she takes my hand and I pull her up, wrapping my arms around her and bursting into tears again.

"Thank you," I say to her. She starts crying too.

"I'm so sorry," she sobs and her body shakes against mine. "For everything. Everything that I've done and said..."

"You have nothing to apologise for," I whisper in her ear as I pull away from our embrace.

"You saved everyone. You were brave enough to fight against your family. We are all grateful to you. It is us who should be apologizing," I say as I step back.

"Thank you," I say again, my voice a little louder. I take a deep breath, looking around the field at everyone. They all look at me and I remember the burning pain in my chest where the Heart of Shadow sits, glowing and beautiful. I am the High Queen now. I have to take control, to help these people. But my eyes fall on Tanya and Toryn who cradle Serenity. I gulp again as my lip quivers and pain rushes through me. Serenity. My beautiful little sister. I close my heavy eyes and take another breath and lick my lips, pushing the feelings of pain down for a moment.

"Collect the two traitors," I order as Eric wakes from unconsciousness. He struggles in his restraints before a shifter tugs him roughly. He shouts through the cloth shoved around his mouth and looks at me angrily. Ignoring him, I look over at Daniel who is sat on the ground by his mother's body. Tears run down his cheeks as he stares blankly at the ground.

"Iona, go to Daniel. Take him away from here," I tell her. She nods and goes over to Daniel. She gently presses a hand on his shoulder but he doesn't move.

"Daniel," she whispers. He leans into her and starts to sob. The two disappear as Iona teleports him away.

"Collect Katrina and put her on a stretcher," I order some of the soldiers. Their armour has changed now the I am bonded with the heart. They wear sleek silver metal breastplates with cloaks of soft blue. Softly, they pick up the two parts of Katrina and place them together on a stretcher. I sink to the ground around her and shake my head as another tear trickles down my cheek.

"I'm sorry," I whisper to her, closing her wide open eyes. I hold my hands over her and form ice around her body, to protect it.

"Do the same for Serenity," I whisper. Tanya screams as they go to lift her.

"No! Don't touch her!" she sobs. I walk over and take hold of my sister, pulling her away. She screams in my arms and tries to get back to Serenity.

"No, let me go! Don't touch her!" she shouts as Serenity is placed on a stretcher,

"Tanya," Toryn whispers and wraps her up in his arms. She sinks into him and sobs. I walk over to Serenity and form an ice shield around her with shaking hands. I stand slowly, unable to look away. General Xavier comes over to me.

"What next?" he asks his voice soft and sad. He also has tear stains running across his cheeks. I think for a second.

"We do what would have been done if everything had gone to plan," I say to the crowd. "We walk back to the High Palace. No doubt all the shifters waiting along the path to see the procession know that something bad has happened. We won't keep this hidden. Let the traitors be shown and shamed, let our fallen loved ones be respected. The soldiers will carry them," I instruct. The general nods.

"When we reach the palace, put Eric in the cells and put Aspen at the foot of my throne." I then look at the general. "Is there a place to put the dead?" I ask, my voice shaking again. He nods his head.

"Yes, I will have them taken there," he tells me. I nod my head.

"We will then discuss what we are going to do with their bodies," I say though my voice comes out a broken whisper. "After that has been sorted, we will address the rest of the shifters."

"Yes, my queen," he says before delivering orders to his soldiers. I watch as they pick up the ice coffins, carrying them on their shoulders. I look over at Eric as he continues to struggle. I grind my teeth as I glare at him.

"I want a chain around his neck," I order. "One that we can drag him with," I tell them. "Take off the ones around his ankles."

"Allow the scum bag to walk with dignity?" Oliver asks coming over to me with an angry expression. A cold expression falls across my face as one of the soldiers takes off his ankle bonds.

I look up at Oliver.

"Now break his kneecaps," I say, my voice dark. "And remove the gag whilst you do it. I want to hear him scream." Oliver nods his head, an almost sadistic smile crossing his features. Slowly he walks over to Eric who is shaking his head with fear.

"Isla," Maryanne rushes over to me.

"How do you know he wasn't being controlled like Darcy?" she asks.

"He wasn't," Darcy replies, walking toward her brother. "It was all him," she glares up at him. Oliver looks back at me and I nod my head, telling him to continue. He removes Eric's gag.

"Please, don't do this," he says. "Mother made me... Ahhhh!" he screams as Oliver kicks his right knee. There is a loud crunch and Eric screams again in pain. His leg is twisted at an awkward angle as he slumps in the guard's arms.

"You twisted whore!" he shouts at me before looking up at Oliver. "Already getting others to do your dirty work for you!" he screams as his spits toward me.

"The other one," I order, my voice still sounding oddly calm and cold. Oliver doesn't hesitate as he smashes his foot into Erics left knee. Eric screams again and drops to the ground as the guards release him. I look at Oliver.

"It should take him a while to heal from those breakages, especially as he walks back to the palace. Oliver, you are in charge of dragging him along. If his knees do manage to heal, break them again." Eric continues to scream. "Put the gag back on." I look around at all the shifters on the field. They still wear expressions of fear and shock. 

"Let's head back to the palace," I order as I walk over to Tanya and Toryn.

"It is time to go," I whisper to them. Tanya looks back at me and my heart breaks at her broken expression. I press my hand against her cheek softly, wiping away a tear.

"I'm sorry," I tell her. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect her," I say. Tanya leans into my hand but doesn't say anything. I gulp. "It is time to go," I say to them both. "Walk alongside Serenity," I whisper as fresh tears fall from my eyes. They both nod, moving away from me at towards our fallen sister.

"Let's get moving," I say and begin to walk to the steps leading down to the path. I can feel everyone following behind me as I do so.

Shifters have lined along the paths to see who was chosen as their new ruler. They should be cheering and waving flags, but the mood is sombre as we walk past them. Our long procession should be smiling, dancing and interacting with the shifters. Instead, we walk slowly and quietly. Erics muffled cries of pain as he is dragged by the neck and forced to walk with broken knees are one of the only sounds that can be heard. The shifters we walk past gasp and hold their heads sadly. Many cry upon seeing Katrina and Serenity. I just feel numbness as we continue past all the shifters. Shifters who expected today to be a celebration as new leadership takes over. Instead, it is a funeral march. I focus on holding myself proudly. To let off an image of strength even though inside I want to do nothing but fall to the ground and sob. But I have to be strong for them. I can't let them see my weakness. I need to be their ruler, the woman they trust to keep them safe throughout these times. I have to lead them through this war. Yet how can I lead them and keep them safe if I can't even protect my family? Then it occurs to me. No more guilt. No more being merciful. From now on, I will do anything to keep my people safe. To keep them from feeling the same way I feel now. I will never allow myself to be weak again and all those who have wronged us will feel more pain than they have ever felt in their lives. To defeat a monster, I will become one.