The Bone Queen

This is a digital painting commission! A young woman in a huge dress kneels on the floor before a golden throne. Seated upon the throne is a skeleton queen in a red dress. Both the young woman and the skeleton are dressed in high fashion, but the young woman is clearly the lesser. Red stained glass windows throw pink light down onto a black marble floor. The throne is surrounded by candles.

Two years ago, Elise freed the bone queen and her undead army. After that, she figures she deserves whatever happens to her—being engaged to a skeleton she despises and imprisoned in a palace with a magic binding about her ankle. But when someone poisons her food, she realizes she wants to live, even if she doesn't deserve it. She wants freedom and her life back.

Uncovering the would-be murderer is just the first step. If Elise is to escape, she needs magic. She needs the spellbook she uncovered in the library, and she needs the ambassador who knows almost as much about magic as the queen. Elise is sure he'll save her. But his proclaimed love and his help aren't what they seem. If she is going to reclaim her life, she'll do it without him. And she'll tear down the bone queen in the process.

Art commissioned from Kozz Draws.